To keep your Honda GCV170 engine running like new, you’ll need to perform regular oil changes. Get the specs your owner’s manual has here—and learn how to change the engine oil yourself.

With its improved efficiency and 18% more torque, the Honda GCV170 engine is a popular choice for powering home-use equipment like your lawn mower or pressure washer. But to achieve the best performance (and protect the longevity of your engine’s lifespan), you’ll need to perform regular oil changes.

If you need help tracking down your GCV170’s engine specs—like your engine oil capacity—you’re in the right place.

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Honda GCV170 engine oil capacity

The Honda GCV170 was ranked best in class for its power and torque—but how much oil does it take to keep this small-but-mighty engine performing at its best?

The easy starting, four-stroke Honda GCV170 has an engine oil reserve capacity of just 0.42 quarts of oil (or 0.41 liters). That means filling it up will take less than a full bottle of regular motor oil. Below, we’ll take a closer look at which oil is best for your GCV170 and how frequently you should perform oil changes.

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What kind of oil does a Honda GCV170 need?

Now that you know how much oil you need, it’s time to talk about oil type. You’ll find there’s a wide range of engine oils out there on the market—and not all of them are created equal! That’s why knowing your manufacturer’s recommendation is important.

For the GCV170, Honda recommends using a 10W-30 Honda Genuine Motor Oil.

If you’re new to the world of oil grades, you may be wondering what all those numbers mean. Simply put, the numbers in an oil grade refer to an oil’s viscosity—e.g., how thick the oil is at a given temperature. In general, oil grades range from 0W to 60, with a higher number indicating a thicker oil viscosity.

On the other hand, the letter “W” stands for winter and indicates an oil’s viscosity when an engine is cold.

With that information in mind, we can understand that a 10W-30 oil is relatively thin in freezing winter temperatures of 0°F, and remains so even when an engine reaches its normal operating temperature. Low viscosity oils have the added benefit of reducing wear and tear—protecting the overall longevity of your Honda engine.

Now that you’re an oil grade expert, you’re ready to purchase the correct oil for your GCV170. If you’re looking for the right place to start, here’s what we recommend:

The genuine article: To follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter, use

Honda Genuine motor oil

A high-quality synthetic blend: Synthetic oils include additives that further protect your engine. For your GCV170, try

Mobil 1® SAE 10W-30 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil

A budget-friendly alternative: Looking for a quality motor oil under $5? Try

ACDelco® Gold SAE 10W-30 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil

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Can you add oil to a hot engine?

How often to change the oil on a Honda GCV170

Part of maintaining your Honda GCV170 engine is performing regular oil changes—but just how often does your engine need it?

Honda recommends changing your GCV170’s engine oil after every 50 hours of use.

Exactly how often 50 hours passes for you ultimately depends on how much you use your GCV170. The best way to track how often your engine needs an oil change is simply by checking the oil levels often. To follow maintenance best practices, we’d suggest checking your engine oil levels before each use.

While there’s no set time period of weeks or months we can prescribe for every GCV170’s oil change, there are signs you can watch out for that let you know your current engine oil is due to be replaced, such as:

Motor oil that is dark brown or black in color (clean oil is light brown or amber, like a cup of tea. Dirty oil is like a cup of soda.)

Coarse or gritty oil

Unfamiliar noises coming from the engine, such as knocking, sputtering, or rough idling

New smells, especially anything that smells like oil, smoke, or burning

Frequent stalls or overheating

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What to do if you have black and gritty engine oil

How to change your GCV170 oil

Once you’ve determined that it’s time for an oil change, gather your materials. You’ll need a few things, including a drain pan or container to catch the dirty oil.

Once you’ve got these essentials on hand, start things off by running the engine for a couple of minutes. Warm engine oil will drain more quickly and completely than cold oil. When your engine’s warmed up, you can shut it back off and proceed with these next steps:

Turn the fuel valve to the “OFF” position

Place your drain pan/container beside the engine to catch excess dirty oil

Remove the oil filler cap/dipstick

Drain the old oil by tilting your engine toward the container (muffler-side down). The oil will drain from the oil filler neck

Return the engine to a level position, then fill to the upper mark as indicated on your dipstick

Double-check that the oil level is correct

Replace the oil fill cap/dipstick

And that’s it! Congratulations—you’ve successfully changed your Honda GCV170’s engine oil!

Before you throw in the towel, make sure to dispose of old engine oil responsibly. The best way to do so is by keeping it in a sealed bag or container and dropping it off at a

local recycling center

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance!

The Honda GCV170 is perfect for powering your residential essentials, like your lawnmower or pressure washer. Now that you know what it takes to keep your GCV170 engine healthy, why not take a few extra minutes to learn how you can protect your Honda’s auto insurance with the best coverage from

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