The 2010 Honda Odyssey is renowned for its agile handling, excellent crash-test scores, and smooth V6 engine. But to keep this Honda’s engine performing at its best, you’ll need to know its engine oil capacity.

Keeping an older vehicle on the road usually means getting additional maintenance and repairs done. Unfortunately, when these costs are combined with the price of insurance and fuel, your vehicle-related costs can add up quickly. Luckily, you can save on your maintenance costs by completing simple tasks —like changing your oil—at home!

If you've never changed your oil before or aren't sure how much oil your car can hold, we can help. In this article, Jerry—the trusted super app for

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2010 Honda Odyssey engine oil capacity

Before you can swap out your old oil, you’ll need to know just how much engine oil your 2010 Honda Odyssey needs.

Let’s get right to it: The engine in your Honda has an oil capacity of 4.5 quarts or 4.2 liters. As such, you’ll need 4.5 quarts of fresh oil to fill your engine every time your Odyssey’s oil gets changed.

Keep in mind that your engine’s displacement—the 3.5-liter volume your Honda’s cylinders take up—differs from your engine’s oil capacity. While the two terms sound similar, their volumes are not interchangeable. Be sure you have the right number before performing an oil change to avoid inflicting major damage to the engine.

MORE:

How to find your Honda Odyssey radio code

What kind of oil does a 2010 Honda Odyssey need?

The next element to consider is what type of oil your vehicle needs. That’s right—oil capacity isn’t the only vehicle-specific factor you should be familiar with! Your vehicle also requires a specific type of oil to perform at its best.

When it comes to the Odyssey, Honda manufacturers recommend Genuine Honda 0W-20 Premium-Grade Motor Oil. If you’re new to the oil change biz, differences in oil grades can be a bit confusing. To give you a greater sense of what kind of oil to look for, we’ll break down exactly what this oil grade represents.

At different temperatures, each number tells us how thick the oil will be. The "0" before the "W" (which stands for "winter") means that this grade will be thin at 0°F. On the other hand, "20" means that the oil has a low viscosity at 212°F, which is the normal operating temperature.

Basically, this oil will stay pretty thin at different temperatures, so your engine won't wear out faster than it needs to.

For a specific oil that meets your vehicle’s specifications, it’s best to follow Honda’s recommendation and use

Genuine Honda 0W-20 motor oil

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Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change the oil on a 2010 Honda Odyssey

You’ve got the right oil for your Honda and you know how much you’ll need. It’s time for an

oil change

Or is it? Before you get to the nitty-gritty, it’s worth ensuring your car actually needs its oil changed.

While Honda suggests getting an oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, there are a number of factors to consider when it comes to your recommended oil change interval.

If you’re using conventional oil, for example, you’ll need to change your oil more frequently, while synthetic oil can keep your engine running for longer. Similarly, a frequently driven vehicle will require more frequent oil changes than one that spends the majority of its time in the driveway.

If you’re unsure which interval to follow, check out your oil to see if it's in need of a change. Some things to look out for that’ll tell you it’s time are dark, dirty-looking oil, unusual noises or smells, particularly burning, and deteriorated engine performance.

MORE: Does Honda have a self-driving car?

How to change your oil and oil filter

If your oil is looking darker than usual and you’ve decided it’s time to swap in some fresh oil, you can prepare your oil change materials. You’ll need a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a filter wrench designed to remove the old oil filter, along with 5 quarts of 0W-20 engine oil!

Before you pop the hood, let your engine heat up to its normal operating temperature by running your engine for about 5 minutes. You can then pop the hood of your Odyssey and do the following:

Locate the oil reservoir.

Remove the reservoir cap, the oil drain bolt, and the washer, and drain the old oil into your drain pan.

As the oil drains, replace the old oil filter with the new one.

Next, replace the oil drain bolt, refill your engine reservoir with the new oil, and replace the fill cap.

Finally, let your engine run with the new oil for a few minutes and watch out for leaks. At this point, your dashboard’s

oil pressure light

should turn off.

Before you hit the highway, make sure you dispose of the old oil in a container and drop it off at a recycling center!

Stay on top of regular insurance policy maintenance

Now that you’re an at-home vehicle maintenance expert, you won’t need to pay the extra costs of labor at a garage. Another easy way to save on your

Honda insurance costs

is to download the

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Jerry contacts your insurance company to get the details of your current coverage so you don’t have to scale a mountain of questions. You get all the best prices and coverage with none of the legwork. And if that isn’t enough for you, Jerry can even help cancel your old policy.

The best part? The average Jerry user saves over $800 per year on their

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