The 2018 Honda Odyssey falls in the realm of top-rated minivans of its time, with agile handling, spacious seating throughout the cabin, and a myriad of standard tech features. Keeping the Odyssey in tip-top shape will require knowledge of the engine oil capacity to complete an oil change.

Purchasing a larger vehicle like a 2018 Honda Odyssey minivan often means higher ownership costs. However, there are many ways to lower your car-related expenses, like doing your oil changes at home. Before you start, you should always confirm the oil capacity and type for your specific model in your owner’s manual.

If you no longer have your 2018 Honda Odyssey owner’s manual, we can help!

Jerry

, the

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super app, has compiled a guide to help make your Odyssey oil change easy-peasy. We also threw in a tip on how to lower your

Honda Odyssey insurance costs

2018 Honda Odyssey engine oil capacity

Before you jump into your oil change, you’ll need to know how much engine oil the 2018 Honda Odyssey needs.

One important detail to remember is that the oil capacity and the engine’s displacement are different and are not interchangeable:

Oil capacity is the volume of oil required for each oil change

Engine displacement is the volume in the engine taken up by the cylinders

The Honda Odyssey’s 3.5-liter V6 engine has an oil capacity of 5.7 quarts (or 5.4 liters). It is important to not mix up oil capacity with engine displacement, as you can damage the engine with the wrong amount of oil—and have to pay for costly repairs!

What kind of oil does a 2018 Honda Odyssey need?

Now that you know how much oil the Odyssey needs, let’s talk about what type of oil it needs. Each engine requires a specific oil type to optimize performance. Honda recommends premium-grade 0W-20 detergent oil with an API Certification Seal, specifically a

Genuine Honda Motor Oil

Here’s what this means:

The numbers indicate how thick the oil is—the oil viscosity. The thicker the oil, the higher the number.

The “W” stands for winter. Oils with a W have different viscosities depending on the temperature to protect the engine in different seasons.

Detergent oil indicates that the oil has additives that help prevent rust, sludge, and oil deterioration.

In this case, the 0W means that the oil viscosity is like a 0-weight oil at 0°F. The number 20 indicates that the oil becomes like a 20-weight oil when it reaches 210°F. The Odyssey’s engine can run smoothly in different temperatures thanks to this multi-grade oil, and the rate of wear and tear is reduced.

You can also use a high-quality synthetic oil as long as it has the same requirements and the API Certification Seal—for example, a premium-grade 0W-20 synthetic oil.

Not only does using the recommended oil help your engine run without problems, but using the wrong oil could lead to severe engine damage. You can even void your warranty, which would greatly increase your ownership costs down the line.

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

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How often to change the oil on a 2018 Honda Odyssey

Now that you know your 2018 Honda Odyssey oil capacity and type, let’s walk through how to

change your oil

Honda recommends an oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles for conventional oil. However, for those who don’t drive frequently, every six months would be an easier timeline to remember.

Synthetic oil users will have more time (and distance) between oil changes. Typically, a synthetic oil change can be done every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.

The large ranges can make it hard to gauge if it’s time to get an oil change. However, you can confirm this by regularly checking your engine oil level. The following signs are indicators that you need an oil change:

Motor oil has changed from light brown or amber to dark brown or black

The engine is making unusual noises

Abnormal smells, including oil, smoke, or burning

Vehicle performance noticeably decreases

MORE:

What to do if you smell oil in your car

How to change your oil and oil filter

To do an oil change, you’ll need to gather your tools: hydraulic jacks, jack stands, a 17 mm box end wrench, a funnel, a drain pan, and a filter wrench designed to remove the old oil filter. You’ll also need a replacement filter and six quarts of premium-grade 0W-20 engine oil.

Before you start, allow the engine to run until it reaches normal operating temperature. This should take around five minutes. Follow these steps once you reach the temp:

Turn off your engine before starting the oil change

Raise up the front end and secure with jack stands

Remove the oil fill cap found on top of the engine

Place the drain pan under the drain plug

Remove the oil drain bolt and washer

Allow old oil to drain into the drain pan and clean the oil plug

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to 29 ft-lb

Lower the car

Remove the old oil filter and install the new filter

Refill the engine with new oil and replace the fill cap

Turn your car on and let it warm up for a few minutes to allow the oil to circulate the engine. Use the dipstick to ensure enough oil is added to the engine—top off as needed.

Allow your Odyssey to run for a few more minutes to check for any leaks. Your dashboard’s

oil pressure light

should turn off if everything was done correctly.

To clean up, the old oil should be sealed in a container and disposed of at a local recycling facility. Do not put the oil in your trash or pour it out onto the ground. Incorrect disposal of the oil can damage the environment!

MORE:

Here’s how to save money on car expenses

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Give yourself a pat on the back for the hard work you’ve done! You can keep your 2018 Honda Odyssey at its peak for many years by regularly doing oil changes. The best part is that you can save

time

and money when you do it at home!

You can also save time and money on your

Honda car insurance

by using the

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