Oil Change Question

[solar]

I just bought a 03 Si and I do all my own maintanance, I read in the manual that the engine holds 5.6 quarts of oil, but when you do a oil change with filter it calls for 4.4 quarts of oil. So is there 1.2 quarts of old oil in the engine? Doesn't seem right :?:

[mattyb]

I would maybe have the dealership you purchased the car from do the first oil change. I too do all of my own maintenance but that is a good question and in the interest of your warranty etc... It may be a good idea to have the dealership do the first one, and ask a tech what the dilly is with the extra oil. Just my opinion. 5000 mile intervals scare the hell out of me!

[HondaMan]

If I recall correctly approx. 4.4 quarts is correct...5.6 quarts is way too much.

I did my last oil change & almost due for my 3rd oil change...my '02 Si only has 10,100 miles on it (over 1 year old). :)

[Lev]

Ha. I just hit 10,500 and I bought my car in February :)

[solar]

If I recall correctly approx. 4.4 quarts is correct...5.6 quarts is way too much.

I did my last oil change & almost due for my 3rd oil change...my '02 Si only has 10,100 miles on it (over 1 year old). :)

5.6 quarts is what the manual states the engine holds, 4.4 quarts is what it takes to replace when doing a oil and filter change. Thats why I'm wondering if there's 1.2 quarts of old oil in the engine being mixed with fresh oil.

[HondaMan]

I'll have to look at my owner's manual because 5.6 qts. is a lot and I have no idea where they can be hiding 1.2 qts.? :? Must be a typo/misprint or something.

When you do an oil & filter change that replaces all the oil in your engine (I know 4.4 qts. is correct). If you replace that amount of oil you will be good to go.

[solar]

I would maybe have the dealership you purchased the car from do the first oil change. I too do all of my own maintenance but that is a good question and in the interest of your warranty etc... It may be a good idea to have the dealership do the first one, and ask a tech what the dilly is with the extra oil. Just my opinion. 5000 mile intervals scare the hell out of me!

This is my second Civic in a year, my 02 EX was totalled. The dealership guys they have changing oil have no clue as to what to look for. Twice I brought my old car in and they screwed up, I had low tire pressure and thought they'll take care of it, nope, never touched the tires. Coolant resivoir was over filled with water (not the 50/50 coolant Honda says to use) to the tippy top of the resivoir. Grease smugges on the door, plus they over filled my engine with oil, the manual shows 3.4 quarts on a EX they put 4 in, oil was way over the dipstick "full" mark, when I ask the kid if he put to much in he said, "All 4 bangers take 4 quarts"..

I used to be a ASE cerified mechanic in the late 80's early 90's until i got hurt, so I just feel better about doing the oil service and such myself.

[CIVICBOOST]

4 quarts on my last oil change and the oil barely registered on the dipstick, so I added another quart and that brought the oil reading in between the 2 dots on the dipstick. so this is very interesting :?

[HondaMan]

Doing an oil change again today, so I'll try to remember to post about it later i.e. how much oil and all.

[Jim Truett]

I just bought a 03 Si and I do all my own maintanance, I read in the manual that the engine holds 5.6 quarts of oil, but when you do a oil change with filter it calls for 4.4 quarts of oil. So is there 1.2 quarts of old oil in the engine? Doesn't seem right :?:

The only time you will remove all of the oil from an engine is during a disassembly for a rebuild. Realize that if all of the oil drained into the oil pan when the engine was shut off, the engine would wear out in a few thousand miles due to lack of lubrication upon startup.

There is a fair amount of oil retained in the oil pump, the various passages that supply the crank within the main cap saddle, and the passages within the crank itself that supply the connecting rods. There is also a main passage that leads to the head, but that is usually drained partially when the oil filter is removed. This is why it is very important to use an oil filter with an anti-drainback (check) valve on your Honda. The head itself holds back about .25 quarts of oil for cam lubrication upon startup, and the rocker arm tubes hold oil as part of the VTEC or i-VTEC system, and it cannot drain out with the spool valve closed.

I have to jack up my car a little when I change the oil, so this is what I do:

If you use the stock size OEM Honda (small diameter) filter, get five quarts and put it all in. This will bring the level to just slightly below the upper hole on the dipstick.

[Jim Truett]

:!: There is also a Moly additive in the first fill to aid break-in, so I don't recommend changing it early. It went against everything I believe in, but I waited until 4500 miles to change my oil, and I don't have any oil consumption problems.

[02SilverSiHB]

:!: There is also a Moly additive in the first fill to aid break-in, so I don't recommend changing it early. It went against everything I believe in, but I waited until 4500 miles to change my oil, and I don't have any oil consumption problems.
ditto.

My helms manual says:
4.2qts at oil change.
4.4qts at oil change including filter
5.6qts after engine overhaul

[Jim Truett]

:!: There is also a Moly additive in the first fill to aid break-in, so I don't recommend changing it early. It went against everything I believe in, but I waited until 4500 miles to change my oil, and I don't have any oil consumption problems.
ditto.

My helms manual says:
4.2qts at oil change.
4.4qts at oil change including filter
5.6qts after engine overhaul

Precisely.

I think that I need 5 because I tilt the engine back far enough when I jack it up that some of the oil drains out of the galley in the head.



The pic is of a RSX-S head, but it is similar to ours. There are many places that confine oil.

[02SilverSiHB]

:!: There is also a Moly additive in the first fill to aid break-in, so I don't recommend changing it early. It went against everything I believe in, but I waited until 4500 miles to change my oil, and I don't have any oil consumption problems.
ditto.

My helms manual says:
4.2qts at oil change.
4.4qts at oil change including filter
5.6qts after engine overhaul

Precisely.

I think that I need 5 because I tilt the engine back far enough when I jack it up that some of the oil drains out of the galley in the head.


yeah, I think a lot do not thing about this and that is why some burn oil quicker than others.

[HondaMan]

If you use the stock size OEM Honda (small diameter) filter, get five quarts and put it all in. This will bring the level to just slightly below the upper hole on the dipstick.

Well, I did my oil change last night and this is exactly what I had happen (I used the OEM Honda filter).

[K2EP3]

i usually use 5 qts too after changing oil, and oil filter. of course, i'll look for the amount of oil after running engine for 3 min to circulate oil to oil filter.