2016–2024 Honda Pilot Oil Capacity & Fluid Specs
Quick answer
Every 2016–2022 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6 takes 5.7 quarts of 0W-20 with a filter change — the same number in the 2016, 2019 and 2022 owner's manuals. The redesigned 2023+ takes about 5.8 quarts. Lug nuts are 94 lb-ft (not Honda's usual 80), and AWD models have a rear diff that wants Honda DPSF-II.
Specs verified against Honda's own owner's manuals (2016, 2019 and 2022 editions) for the third-generation Pilot; 2023+ fourth-gen rows come from Honda's online manual and are flagged where we couldn't verify them the same way. Two things define maintenance on this truck-sized Honda: it ran TWO different automatics side by side — the 6-speed (shift lever) takes ATF DW-1 while the ZF 9-speed (push buttons) takes ATF-TYPE 3.1, and mixing them up is a warranty-voiding mistake Honda warns about by name — and the V6 still uses a timing belt, not a chain. AWD adds the i-VTM4 rear differential, the most commonly skipped fluid on these.
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3.5L V6 SOHC i-VTEC with VCM (J35Y6, 2016–2022)
| Specification | Capacity / type |
|---|---|
| Engine oil — with filter | 5.7 qt (5.4 L) — identical in the 2016, 2019 and 2022 manuals |
| Engine oil — without filter | 5.4 qt (5.1 L) |
| Oil viscosity | 0W-20 (full synthetic recommended) |
| Oil filter | Honda 15400-PLM-A02 |
| 6-speed automatic (shift lever — LX/EX/EX-L, 2016–2020) — drain & refill | 3.3 qt (3.1 L) — Honda ATF DW-1 ONLY (do not mix or substitute) |
| 9-speed ZF automatic (push-button selector — Touring/Elite 2016–2020; all trims 2021–2022) — drain & refill | 3.5 qt (3.3 L) — Honda ATF-TYPE 3.1 or higher ONLY (not DW-1) |
| Coolant (engine) | 7.5–7.8 qt (7.1–7.4 L) total system per year/transmission — Honda Long Life Type 2 (blue), 50/50 premix |
| Rear differential — i-VTM4 (AWD) | 1.92 qt (1.82 L) — Honda DPSF-II ONLY (this generation does NOT use the old VTM-4 fluid) |
| Transfer assembly (AWD) | 0.45 qt (0.43 L) — Honda HGO-1 (or hypoid 75W-85 / SAE 90, GL4–GL5) |
3.5L V6 DOHC (J35Y8, 2023–2024 — 4th gen)
| Specification | Capacity / type |
|---|---|
| Engine oil — with filter | 5.8 qt (5.5 L) — per Honda's online owner's manual; confirm against your printed manual |
| Oil viscosity | 0W-20 |
| Oil filter | Honda 15400-PLM-A02 |
| 10-speed automatic | Per dealer procedure — Honda ATF-TYPE 2.0 (per Honda's online manual — NOT the 9AT's Type 3.1; verify for your year) |
| Coolant (engine) | Honda Long Life Type 2 — capacity per your manual (4th-gen manual not yet in our verified set) |
| Rear differential — i-VTM4 (AWD) | ≈1.9 qt (verify) — Honda DPSF-II (verify in your 2023+ manual) |
Oil drain plug torque: 29 lb-ft (39 N·m) — printed in the 2016/2019/2022 manuals; new crush washer every change
Capacities compiled from the owner’s manual. Always confirm with your own manual before servicing.
Quick reference
| Lug nut torque | 94 lb-ft (127 N·m) — NOT Honda's usual 80; printed in all three manuals |
| Factory tire sizes (2016–2022) | 245/60R18 @ 32 psi · 245/50R20 @ 35 psi (2023+ differs by trim — check the door jamb) |
| Spark plugs (2016–2022) | NGK DILZKR7B11G (iridium, per the manual) |
| Fuel / tank | Regular 87 octane · 19.5 gal (73.8 L) tank (2016–2022) |
| Max towing | 5,000 lbs AWD with ATF cooler · 3,500 lbs otherwise (2016 manual; drops as you add occupants — verify per year) |
Maintenance schedule highlights
| Item | Interval |
|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | Per Maintenance Minder (code A/B), typically 7,500–10,000 mi |
| Tire rotation | Minder sub-code 1 — every 5,000–7,500 mi |
| Transmission + transfer fluid | Minder code 3 — earlier if you tow (the 9AT especially appreciates fresh ATF 3.1) |
| Timing BELT + water pump (yes, this V6 has a belt) | Minder code 4, ~100,000 mi typical — 60,000 mi if you tow or see extreme temps (manual's own note) |
| Spark plugs | Minder code 4 (~100,000 mi) — sooner if VCM is fouling them (see issues) |
| Rear differential fluid (AWD) | Minder code 6 — towing/mountains: first change at 7,500 mi, then every 15,000 mi (manual's severe-service note) |
| Coolant (Type 2) | Minder code 5 |
| Brake fluid (DOT 3) | Every 3 years regardless of mileage (manual) |
Exact products for this vehicle
- 0W-20 full synthetic — you need 5.7–5.8 qt, so a 5-qt jug plus one extra quart ↗
- Honda 15400-PLM-A02 filter (or quality equivalent) ↗
- Drain plug crush washer 14mm (Honda 94109-14000) — every change ↗
- 17mm socket + torque wrench (drain bolt spec is 29 lb-ft) ↗
- 6-qt drain pan + funnel — the V6 drains more than a compact's pan holds ↗
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DIY oil change — quick steps
-
1 Set up
Warm the engine, park level. The Pilot's ground clearance means most people clear without ramps. Pop the hood, pull the fill cap and the orange dipstick area gives you your bearings.
-
2 Drain
17mm drain bolt under the engine. The aluminum crush washer is single-use — fit a new one and torque the bolt to 29 lb-ft (the manual prints the spec, so there's no excuse for 'good and tight').
-
3 Filter and refill
Spin-on filter; oil the gasket, hand-tight plus three-quarter turn. Refill 5.7 quarts (5.8 on 2023+) of 0W-20 — a 5-quart jug won't do it alone, bring a sixth quart.
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4 Verify and reset
Run it, check for leaks at bolt and filter, wait three minutes, confirm on the dipstick. Reset the Maintenance Minder from the instrument-panel Maintenance menu (hold ENTER/RESET on the oil-life screen; exact buttons vary by year and audio package).
Common problems on this vehicle
ZF 9-speed harsh shifting (2016–2018 especially)
The 9AT's early software earned its reputation: hard upshifts under steady throttle, clunky low-speed behavior, surging on downhill braking. Honda's documented fix is a TCM software update (service bulletin filed with NHTSA: '9-Speed A/T Hard Upshift with Steady Acceleration', covering 2016 Pilot VIN ranges), and owners consistently report it helps — note the transmission then takes roughly 500 miles to re-learn your driving. If a used Pilot you're considering shifts rough, ask the dealer to check for outstanding software first; a fresh ATF-TYPE 3.1 service is sensible cheap insurance on higher-mileage 9ATs.
VCM oil consumption and fouled spark plugs
Honda's Variable Cylinder Management shuts down cylinders to save fuel, and on J35 engines it has a long-documented side effect: oil sneaking past the rings on deactivated cylinders, fouling the front-bank plugs and triggering misfires (P0300/P0301/P0303-type codes). Earlier-generation J35s drew class actions over it; the third-gen engine is improved but the pattern still shows up. Defense is simple: check the dipstick monthly (consumption creeps up quietly), don't stretch oil changes, and replace fouled plugs promptly. Aftermarket VCM-disable devices are popular in the owner community — they do prevent the deactivation that causes this, but weigh the fuel-economy and warranty trade-offs yourself; we're reporting the practice, not prescribing it.
Related code: P0300
Fuel injector warranty extension (2016)
Honda service bulletin 20-100 extended fuel-injector warranty coverage to 10 years/150,000 miles on affected 2016 Pilots after rough-running and misfire complaints. If your 2016 runs rough or sets persistent misfire codes, have a dealer run your VIN for open extensions before paying for diagnosis — this one is free money if you qualify.
Related code: P0301
Auto idle-stop failing to restart
Third-gen Pilots with auto idle-stop have a well-known complaint pattern: the engine shuts off at a light and then won't restart promptly, which drew federal scrutiny and plenty of owner reports. A tired battery or corroded grounds make it much more likely — idle-stop is the first thing to misbehave when the battery weakens. If yours does this, have the battery and starter circuit tested before assuming the worst, and remember the OFF button by the shifter disables idle-stop for the current drive.
Codes this vehicle is known for
Recall results below are shown for 2024 models — check your exact year with the free VIN tool.
Open recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Service bulletins (TSBs)
Manufacturer communications and technical service bulletins for this vehicle are available on NHTSA’s site:
View TSBs on NHTSA.gov ↗Frequently asked questions
- How much oil does a Honda Pilot take?
- 2016–2022: 5.7 quarts of 0W-20 with a filter change (5.4 without) — verified in the 2016, 2019 and 2022 manuals. 2023+: about 5.8 quarts per Honda's online manual. Either way a single 5-quart jug comes up short.
- What fluid does the Pilot's rear differential take — VTM-4?
- Not on this generation. The 2016+ i-VTM4 rear differential takes Honda DPSF-II (1.92 qt change), not the old VTM-4 fluid from earlier Pilots — the manual specifies DPSF-II by name. It's Maintenance Minder code 6, and the manual itself says to change it at 7,500 miles then every 15,000 if you tow or drive mountains. A shudder or binding feel in tight, slow turns is the classic overdue-fluid symptom, and fresh DPSF-II usually cures it.
- Which transmission does my Pilot have, and which ATF?
- Look at the shifter: a traditional lever means the 6-speed (Honda ATF DW-1, 3.3 qt drain-and-fill); push buttons mean the ZF 9-speed (Honda ATF-TYPE 3.1 or higher, 3.5 qt). 2016–2020 split by trim — 6AT on LX/EX/EX-L, 9AT on Touring/Elite; 2021–2022 are all 9-speed. The 2023+ 10-speed uses ATF-TYPE 2.0. Honda explicitly voids transmission warranty coverage for damage from the wrong fluid, so don't guess.
- Does the Pilot have a timing belt or chain?
- A belt — one of the few modern V6s that still does. It's Maintenance Minder code 4 (roughly 100,000 miles, or 60,000 under severe heat/cold/towing per the manual's own footnote), and the water pump rides on it, so they're replaced together. Don't skip this one; it's an interference engine.
- What's the lug nut torque on a Pilot?
- 94 lb-ft (127 N·m), star pattern — printed in all three manuals we verified. Note this is higher than the 80 lb-ft most Hondas use, so don't carry the Civic/CR-V number over.