The 2013 Honda CR-V is a sporty, versatile SUV that’s well-suited for families, frequent road trippers, or drivers who simply need more cargo space than a typical sedan. To keep your CR-V in top shape, you’ll need to know its oil capacity.

Oil changes: every car needs them on a routine basis to run smoothly, yet most drivers hate completing this job. While regular oil changes can feel like a nuisance, they’re an incredibly important part of your

basic car maintenance schedule

Interested in skipping the auto shop prices and waiting for an oil change? To take this job on yourself, you’ll need to know your 2013 CR-V engine’s oil capacity, what kind of oil it needs, and how often to change it. Not sure where to start?

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2013 Honda CR-V engine oil capacity

Before getting to work on replacing your 2013 Honda CRV’s oil, it’s crucial that you know your car’s oil capacity—or how much oil your CR-V’s engine needs to function optimally.

Your 2013 Honda CR-V has an oil capacity of 4.2 quarts or nearly 4 liters. It’s very important to make sure that you don’t mix up your engine’s oil capacity with its engine displacement, which describes the volume its cylinders take up.

These measurements aren’t the same, so they cannot be interchanged. This is especially important for replacing your oil, as getting this measurement wrong can cause serious engine complications.

What kind of oil does a 2013 Honda CR-V need?

Your Honda CR-V needs 0W-20 motor oil—but you can use conventional or synthetic depending on your needs. Engine oil grades can be difficult to read with no experience, but they’re pretty simple once you understand what each number and letter represents. Let’s go through it together.

The “0” is the oil’s viscosity (thickness) at startup when the engine is cold, meaning that this oil runs pretty thin at startup temperature. The “W” stands for its winter certification, meaning it works well in colder climates, and the “20” is the viscosity at your engine’s operating temperature, which is relatively thin as well.

Overall, 0W-20 oil is a great oil for cold start-ups because the oil runs thin. This means that it’s dispersed throughout the engine quickly and doesn’t become thick from the cold.

Choosing synthetic or conventional oil comes down to your engine’s needs and your desired price point. Synthetic oil breaks down slower than conventional oil, so it lasts longer between oil changes, but conventional oil is the more wallet-friendly choice.

There are tons of great conventional and synthetic options to choose from for your CR-V, but it's best to use the owner's manual reccomendation:

Honda 0W-20 Ultimate Full Synthetic Motor Oil

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Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change the oil on a 2013 Honda CR-V

You’re almost ready to change your CR-V’s oil—now, you need to verify that it’s time for an oil change.

Honda recommends that you change your 2013 Honda CRV’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or about every six months, whichever comes first.

Regularly changing your vehicle’s oil within the recommended time frame helps preserve your engine’s health, prevents damage from occurring, and keeps your car running smoothly past the 100k odometer mark. It’s a simple task, but it’s crucial to your car’s overall functionality.

Occasionally, you’ll have to change your car’s oil earlier than the suggested timeframe, especially if you’ve put a lot of miles on your car in a short span of time.

Watch out for these signs that your CR-V needs its oil replaced:

Your engine oil looks dark brown or black instead of light amber

The oil looks coarse or gritty, like there are grains of sand in it

Weird noises coming from under your car’s hood

You notice strange smells, especially anything that smells like oil, smoke, or burning

Decreased vehicle performance and fuel efficiency

MORE:

How long is a Honda CR-V?

How to change your oil and oil filter

Once it’s finally time to change your 2013 Honda CR-V’s oil, you’ll need to gather a few tools and materials in your garage to prepare for your DIY oil change. Here’s what you’ll need for the job:

Funnel

Rags

Oil filter

Oil collection pan

4.2 quarts of 0W-20 oil

First, run the car for about five minutes or until it reaches its normal operating temperature. After it’s reached the temperature, shut the engine off and follow these easy steps:

Place the collection pan under your car close to the oil drain plug. Ensure your pan can hold at least 4.2 quarts. Unscrew the plug to drain all of the old oil into the pan.

Remove the oil filter currently in your car and install a fresh one.

Screw the oil drain plug tightly shut to prevent leaks.

Remove the engine oil cap, which is under your CR-V’s hood.

Slowly add 4.2 quarts of 0W-20 oil to the engine with your funnel. Watch for any leaking oil while you're filling your engine.

Remove the oil dipstick and take a look to confirm you’ve put the right amount of oil in the engine. You can add more if needed, but be careful not to overfill it.

After you’ve replaced your engine’s oil, let your engine run for a few extra minutes to get the new oil flowing throughout the engine parts. Keep an eye out for any leaks while it's running.

Last, but not least, dispose of your old engine oil at a recycling center in a sealed container. Dumping it or throwing it out with other household waste is incredibly harmful, so don’t skip this step!

MORE:

How to test an oil pump

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

In addition to paying regular attention to your car’s maintenance, experts recommend that you re-shop for car insurance every six months to guarantee you’re getting the best rate. If that sounds like a hassle, have no fear—

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