The 2020 Honda Civic LX has been praised as a jack of all trades—having great handling, fuel economy, build quality, and customization options. And if you want to keep your Honda running for years to come, you need to learn how to change its oil.

Being a car owner is expensive, especially as we watch gas prices soar. That’s why so many people choose to save some money on maintenance costs by changing their Honda’s oil at home—but to truly save money, it needs to be done correctly.

Here with all the info to change your vehicle’s oil,

Jerry

, the

trusted insurance comparison super app

can help you save some money and provide tips on saving on your

Honda Civic LX car insurance policy

Jerry sends free alerts to keep your car up-to-date so you can avoid costly repairs

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Get ahead of my car maintenance

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

2020 Honda Civic LX engine oil capacity

The first thing you need to figure out before breaking out your tools is how much oil your 2020 Honda Civic LX needs.

The 2020 Honda Civic LX has a 2.0L engine and an oil capacity of 3.4 quarts. You might be wondering: why are these numbers so different? Essentially, 2.0L refers to your Honda’s engine displacement, meaning the volume its cylinders take up in the engine. In comparison, your oil capacity tells you how much oil your engine uses and how much motor oil you need to purchase for an oil change.

Mixing these numbers can lead to underfilling your engine, which can cause long-term problems that are difficult to fix.

What kind of oil does a 2020 Honda Civic LX need?

Now that you have an idea of how much oil you need to purchase, you also need to determine what brand or oil type is compatible with your Honda. Simply taking the first bottle you see can lead to engine damage, so it’s crucial to stick to Honda’s recommendation of 0W-20 motor oil.

But what do those numbers and letters mean? The numbers tell you how viscous the oil is at certain temperatures, whereas the W stands for winter—meaning it works well in colder temperatures. The 0 tells you that the oil is less viscous at lower temperatures, and the 20 refers to its relative thinness at the engine’s high operating temperature.

These are some of our choices for your Honda Civic LX:

Genuine Honda Motor Oil – specifically premium-grade 0W-20

Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Synthetic Motor Oil 0W-20

Valvoline - Advanced Full Synthetic 0W-20 Motor Oil

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

Are you overpaying for your car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds

Compare Rates Now

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees

4.717k Ratings

5M+Drivers Joined

7M+Cars Garaged

How often to change oil on a 2020 Honda Civic LX

Now that you have the information to buy your motor oil, you also need to know when it’s time for an

oil change

Typically, a regular

car maintenance schedule

will recommend drivers change their Honda Civic LX’s oil every 7,500 miles. But in reality, the time between oil changes will depend largely on your driving habits. That’s why it’s good to get into the habit of checking on your engine after every other refuel. You should be looking out for the following signs that your Honda needs an oil change:

Grimy oil: When your motor oil is new, it should be light in color, almost amber. Dirty motor oil is dark brown or black and can feel coarse in texture. This is a sign of debris in your oil, and you should aim to change it as soon as possible to avoid engine damage.

Noises: Have you been hearing sudden noises that weren’t happening before? Look out for screeching sounds or loud engine noises as a sign you need to change your Honda’s oil.

Unfamiliar smells: Noticing a burning, oil, or

smoke smell from the engine

? This can indicate your Honda needs an oil change.

Performance issues

MORE:

The most common Honda problems

How to change your oil and oil filter

Once you’ve noticed your Honda needs an oil change, make sure you gather the following tools: a socket wrench, drain pan, filter wrench, new filter, and 0W-20 motor oil.

The first step is to start the engine to warm it up. This should take five minutes, but if you’re living in colder weather, it might take longer. Once your engine is ready, turn it off and open the hood.

Follow these steps:

Remove the oil fill cap and screw off the oil drain bolt and washer. Be ready with a drain pan to catch the oil as it drains

Replace the old filter

Screw the oil drain bolt and washer back on, and fill up the engine with oil

Use the dipstick to let you know when you’re done

Check for leaks by running the engine again

Dispose of your waste by bringing a container of the old oil to a recycling depot

If your

oil pressure light

has turned off, that’s a good sign! Congrats, you’ve changed your Honda’s oil!

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

And that’s it! If you want to keep saving money after changing your oil, consider using the

Jerry

app for your car insurance. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new

car insurance

. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.

And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.7/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.

“Because I have a luxury car, I was more interested in finding better coverage than the exact price.
Jerry
helped me upgrade my policy, and when my record is cleared next year, I will be using Jerry again to choose an even cheaper plan!” —Paige W.

RECOMMENDED