When To Change Your Oil

Nowadays, you want to change your oil around every 7,500 miles, or once every 6 - 12 months for synthetic oil, and between every 3,000 - 5,000 miles or at least once per year for non-synthetic oil.

The good news is Honda eliminates the guesswork and makes knowing when to do maintenance easy. This is thanks to the Honda Pilot's in built Maintenance Minder system on newer (2009+) models. The Maintenance Minder system will alert you when your oil is between 5% - 15%, so you can plan your Honda Pilot's oil change accordingly.

Synthetic vs. Non-Synthetic Oil

We mentioned both synthetic and non-synthetic oil above, but what exactly do they mean? Similar to non-synthetic oil, synthetic oil has a crude oil base. However, in synthetic oil this crude oil base is chemically engineered to optimize its stability and be resistant to high temperatures. It is thanks to this extra refinement that synthetic oil is less viscous when coming in contact with the engines heat, allowing it to last longer without needing to be changed.

Non-synthetic oils meanwhile, do not undergo optimization and are made up of unrefined crude oils. without the changes synthetic oil has, non-synthetic oil is less resistant to heat. This makes it more likely to form sludge over long periods of time being exposed to the engines heat. When this happens, it's time for an oil change.

Why Get My Oil Changed?

It's easier to answer why your Honda Pilot needs to get its oil changed if we understand what oil does for the engine. Oil keeps you Honda Pilot engine running efficiently by keeping it lubricated while in use. As the engine runs, it has many different parts moving and interaction with each other. This causes friction that can wear down and degrade these parts. This is where oil comes in. It keeps these parts lubricated so when they collide as part of their function, less harmful friction is generated.

Additionally, oil prevents dirt and debris from entering you engine, preventing harmful particles from affecting the rest of your engine system. If you don't get your oil changed, it will be unable to do these vital tasks, and your engine will slowly become damaged over time.

Next Steps

It is important when taking care of your Honda Pilot to always be keeping up to date with its maintenance, especially if your Honda Pilot's Maintenance Minder system has alerted you that it is time. Ignoring your cars general maintenance can lead to major problems later on as damaged parts may then also damage other nearby components, compromising the vehicles ability to drive.

If your Honda Pilot's oil is running low, or you just haven't brought your car in for maintenance in a while, schedule using the link below and our team of expert technicians will make sure your ride stays safe and smooth.