How to change the engine oil and filter in a Honda CR-Z DIY

On your Honda CR-Z, changing the engine oil is straightforward if you work safely. Park the car on a level surface, engage the parking brake, and if the engine has just been running, wait for the components to cool down. Raise the front end with a jack and jack stands (never use just the jack) and prepare a large container to collect the used oil. Under the engine, remove the lower protection panel to access the oil pan: unscrew the screws/fasteners of the cover and set them aside. Locate the drain plug on the oil pan and loosen the bolt with a 17 mm wrench. Before completely removing it, position the container properly: when you unscrew the last turn, the oil will come out forcefully. Let it drain until the flow becomes a trickle. While the oil is draining, take care of the drain plug: clean it and replace the sealing washer/gasket (recommended at every service). Once the draining is complete, re-screw the plug and tighten it to the torque specified in the manual (without over-tightening to avoid damaging the oil pan threads).

Next, move on to the oil filter: place the container under the filter as well, as more oil may leak out. When unscrewing the filter (by hand or with an oil filter wrench if it’s very tight), remove it and check that the old gasket has not stuck to the seat. Before installing the new filter, lightly lubricate the gasket with a thin layer of clean oil, screw it in by hand until it is snug, and then tighten it slightly more according to the filter's specifications (always without using levers to avoid deforming the gasket). Reattach the lower protection panel, lower the car, and proceed to top up from above. Open the fill cap and pour in the engine oil of the correct grade; for this procedure, 0W-20 is used. Pour gradually, then check the level with the dipstick and bring the level between the minimum and maximum without exceeding the mark. Start the engine for a few seconds, turn it off, and wait a couple of minutes: recheck the level and ensure there are no leaks from the drain plug and the filter.