🔧 Ridgeline - Engine Oil and Oil Filter Change

This service replaces the old engine oil and filter to protect your Ridgeline’s 3.5L V6 from wear and sludge. Use SAE 0W-20 oil and replace the drain-plug sealing washer every time.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a level, solid surface and never crawl beneath a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• 🧤 Warm oil drains better, but hot oil and exhaust components can cause burns. Let the engine cool for about 15 minutes after warming it.
• 🛑 Apply the parking brake and block both rear wheels before raising the front.
• 🔋 Battery disconnection is not required for this service.
• ♻️ Collect all used oil and take it to an approved recycling facility. Never pour it onto the ground or into a drain.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 17mm six-point socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive torque wrench rated 10-80 ft-lbs
• 65mm 14-flute oil filter socket (specialty)
• 3/8-inch drive 6-inch extension
• Flat-blade trim clip tool
• Phillips #2 screwdriver
• Low-profile floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Oil drain pan with 8-quart minimum capacity
• Long-neck oil funnel
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• SAE 0W-20 full-synthetic engine oil - Qty: 6 US quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Engine oil drain-plug sealing washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 📍 Park your Ridgeline on level, solid pavement. Shift into Park and apply the parking brake.
• 🛞 Place wheel chocks firmly in front of and behind both rear tires.
• 🌡️ Run the engine for three to five minutes, switch it off, and wait about 15 minutes.
• 🧰 An oil-filter socket fits over the end of the filter so a ratchet can loosen it.
• 📏 The oil capacity with a new filter is approximately 5.7 US quarts (5.4 liters). Verify the final level with the dipstick rather than adding all six quarts.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Open the Hood

• Pull the hood-release handle below the driver’s side dashboard.
• Release the secondary latch under the front edge of the hood, then raise the hood and secure it.
• Remove the engine oil filler cap by turning it counterclockwise by hand. Pull out the orange-handled dipstick and wipe it with a shop towel.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Front

• Put on safety glasses and nitrile gloves.
• Position the 2-ton floor jack beneath the reinforced front-center lifting point shown in the owner’s manual, then raise your Ridgeline.
• Place both 2-ton jack stands beneath the reinforced left and right front support points. Lower the vehicle onto the stands.
• Gently push the body to confirm it is stable before going underneath.
• Keep the floor jack nearby as backup support.

Step 3: Open the Lower Service Area

• If an access panel blocks the drain plug or filter, use the flat-blade trim clip tool to release its plastic clips.
• Use the Phillips #2 screwdriver for any cross-head retainers, then lower the panel carefully.
• Keep the retainers organized for reinstallation.

Step 4: Drain the Old Engine Oil

• Position the 8-quart drain pan beneath the oil-pan drain plug. Allow extra space because the oil initially flows outward.
• Use the 17mm six-point socket and 3/8-inch ratchet to loosen the drain plug counterclockwise.
• Finish removing the plug by hand while pressing it lightly toward the pan, then pull it away quickly.
• Allow the oil to drain until it slows to an occasional drip, usually five to ten minutes.
• Remove the old sealing washer from the drain plug and wipe the plug clean with a shop towel.

Step 5: Reinstall the Drain Plug

• Install one new drain-plug sealing washer with its flat face against the drain-plug head.
• Wipe the oil-pan sealing surface with a shop towel.
• Thread the drain plug clockwise by hand until seated. If it does not turn easily, remove it and start again to prevent cross-threading.
• Use the 17mm socket and 3/8-inch torque wrench to tighten the plug to 40 Nm (30 ft-lbs).
• Never tighten the drain plug with an impact wrench.

Step 6: Remove the Old Oil Filter

• Move the drain pan beneath the engine oil filter because oil will spill when the filter is loosened.
• Fit the 65mm 14-flute oil-filter socket onto the filter. Use the 6-inch extension and 3/8-inch ratchet to turn it counterclockwise.
• Once loose, remove the filter by hand and keep its open end upright.
• Confirm the old rubber filter gasket came off with the filter. A gasket left on the engine can cause a major leak.
• Wipe the filter mounting surface clean with a shop towel.

Step 7: Install the New Oil Filter

• Apply a thin film of fresh SAE 0W-20 oil to the new filter’s rubber gasket using a gloved finger.
• Thread the new filter clockwise by hand until its gasket first touches the mounting surface.
• Mark the filter’s starting position, then tighten it by hand an additional 7/8 turn.
• If access requires the oil-filter socket and torque wrench, tighten the filter to 12 Nm (9 ft-lbs). Do not exceed this specification.

Step 8: Reinstall the Lower Panel

• Clean any spilled oil from the drain plug, oil pan, filter, and nearby exhaust parts with shop towels.
• Raise the access panel into position by hand.
• Use the Phillips #2 screwdriver to reinstall its cross-head retainers.
• Use the flat-blade trim clip tool as needed to position the plastic clips, then press each clip securely into place by hand.

Step 9: Lower the Vehicle

• Use the 2-ton floor jack to raise your Ridgeline slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove both stands, then lower the vehicle slowly to level ground.
• Leave the rear wheel chocks in place until the service is complete.

Step 10: Add Fresh Engine Oil

• Place the long-neck funnel in the oil-filler opening.
• Add approximately 5.4 US quarts of SAE 0W-20 full-synthetic oil, then wait two minutes.
• Insert the cleaned dipstick fully, remove it, and read the oil level. Add oil in small amounts until it is near the upper mark.
• Do not overfill. The total capacity with a new filter is approximately 5.7 US quarts (5.4 liters).
• Remove the funnel and tighten the oil filler cap clockwise by hand.

Step 11: Check for Leaks

• Start the engine and confirm the red oil-pressure warning light turns off within a few seconds.
• Let the engine idle for about one minute. Do not rev the engine.
• Use a flashlight and visually inspect beneath your Ridgeline for leakage around the drain plug and oil filter. Keep hands and tools away from moving or hot parts.
• Switch the engine off and wait three minutes.
• Use a shop towel to wipe the dipstick, insert it fully, and check the level again. Add SAE 0W-20 oil through the funnel if needed.

Step 12: Reset the Maintenance Minder

• Press the ENGINE START/STOP button twice without pressing the brake pedal to switch the ignition on without starting the engine.
• Use the steering-wheel information controls or instrument-panel SEL/RESET control to display Engine Oil Life.
• Press and hold the SEL/RESET control for about 10 seconds until the maintenance display begins blinking.
• Release the control, then press and hold it again for about five seconds until the oil life resets to 100%.
• If a reset menu appears instead, use the steering-wheel controls to select Maintenance Reset > All Due Items > Reset.
• Switch the ignition off after confirming the display shows 100% oil life.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Recheck the dipstick on level ground after the engine has been off for at least three minutes.
• 🔍 Inspect beneath your Ridgeline after the first drive and again the next morning for fresh oil drops.
• 📊 Confirm the Maintenance Minder displays 100% oil life.
• ♻️ Pour the used oil into a sealed container and take it with the old filter to an authorized automotive-fluid recycling facility.
• 📝 Record the service date and odometer reading for your maintenance history.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $90-$150 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $40-$70 (parts only)

You Save: $50-$80 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.3-0.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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