90K Service

Complete 90,000 mile service for 2016-2021 Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo including engine oil and filter, air filter, cabin filter, spark plugs, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid inspection, and multi-point inspection.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Engine oil filter × 1 — Honda 15400-RTA-003 or equivalent
• Oil drain plug crush washer × 1 — Honda 94109-14000
• Engine air filter × 1 — Honda 17220-5AA-A00
• Cabin air filter × 1 — Honda 80292-TBA-A11
• Spark plugs (NGK or Denso iridium) × 4 — NGK DILKAR7G11GS or Honda OEM
• Coolant drain plug O-ring × 1 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

• Honda Genuine 0W-20 Engine Oil — 4 qt
• Honda DW-1 ATF — 3 qt
• Honda Type 2 Coolant (Blue) — 1 qt
• DOT 3 Brake Fluid — 0.5 qt

Preparation

1. Verify engine is completely cold (has not run for at least 3 hours).
2. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake.
3. Gather all required fluids, filters, and tools before beginning.
4. Lift front of vehicle and secure on jack stands rated for vehicle weight.
5. Remove engine cover by pulling upward on perimeter clips.
6. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels for additional safety.

Procedure

1. 1

   Drain engine oil and remove filter
   Place drain pan under oil drain plug located on passenger side of oil pan. Remove drain plug using 17mm socket and allow oil to drain completely (approximately 10 minutes). While draining, remove oil filter located on front of engine block using oil filter wrench, turning counterclockwise. Allow filter to drain into pan. Inspect drain plug threads and oil pan threads for damage. Discard old crush washer from drain plug.
2. 2

   Install new oil filter and drain plug
   Apply thin film of clean 0W-20 oil to new filter gasket. Hand-tighten new filter until gasket contacts mounting surface, then rotate an additional 3/4 turn. Install new crush washer on drain plug. Clean drain plug threads and oil pan surface. Install drain plug and torque to specification.
3. 3

   Replace engine air filter
   Open hood and locate air box on driver side of engine bay. Release four clips securing air box cover. Lift cover and remove old air filter element. Inspect air box housing for debris and clean if necessary. Install new air filter ensuring proper orientation (arrow on filter points toward engine). Reinstall air box cover and secure all four clips.
4. 4

   Replace cabin air filter
   Open glove box and remove contents. Press inward on both sides of glove box to release stops and lower completely. Locate cabin filter access door behind glove box. Press tabs on filter door and remove. Slide old cabin filter out noting airflow direction arrow. Slide new filter into position with arrow pointing down (toward floor). Reinstall filter door and reset glove box stops.
5. 5

   Remove ignition coils and spark plugs
   Disconnect electrical connectors from all four ignition coils on top of engine. Remove mounting bolt from each coil and carefully pull coils straight up from spark plug wells. Inspect coil boots for damage or oil contamination. Using compressed air, clean debris from around spark plug wells. Remove all four spark plugs using 14mm spark plug socket with extension. Inspect old plugs for abnormal wear patterns that may indicate engine issues.
6. 6

   Install new spark plugs
   Verify new spark plugs are pre-gapped to 0.028-0.031 inches (0.7-0.8mm) using gap tool. Apply small amount of anti-seize to plug threads (avoid electrode area). Hand-thread each plug into cylinder head being extremely careful not to cross-thread. Torque plugs to 18 Nm (13 lb-ft) - DO NOT EXCEED. Reinstall ignition coils ensuring they seat fully into boots. Install coil mounting bolts and reconnect electrical connectors.
   ⚠Spark plug torque is NOT listed in database. Use Honda service manual specification of 18 Nm (13 lb-ft). Over-torquing will strip aluminum threads.
7. 7

   Perform transmission fluid drain and refill
   Locate transmission drain plug on bottom of transmission (driver side of vehicle). Place drain pan underneath and remove drain plug using 3/8 inch square drive. Allow approximately 3 quarts to drain (10-15 minutes). Clean drain plug magnet of metal particles (normal wear). Install drain plug with new washer if available and torque to 36 Nm (26 lb-ft) per Honda specification. Remove transmission fill bolt on front of transmission case. Using fluid transfer pump, add exactly 3.0 quarts of Honda DW-1 ATF through fill hole. Reinstall fill bolt.
   ℹ️This is a drain-and-refill service, not a complete flush. Draining removes approximately 40% of total fluid capacity.
8. 8

   Drain and refill engine coolant
   Locate radiator drain plug at bottom of radiator on passenger side. Place drain pan underneath and carefully open drain plug. Allow coolant to drain completely. Remove coolant reservoir cap to aid drainage. Inspect drained coolant for contamination or discoloration. Close radiator drain plug with new O-ring if available. Using coolant funnel adapter on radiator cap opening, slowly pour Honda Type 2 Blue coolant until level reaches bottom of filler neck. Start engine and allow to run until cooling fan cycles on. Add additional coolant as level drops. Fill coolant reservoir to MAX line.
   ⚠Cooling system will be under pressure once engine reaches operating temperature. Do not remove radiator cap on hot engine.
9. 9

   Fill engine with oil
   Lower vehicle from jack stands. Using funnel, pour 3.5 quarts of Honda Genuine 0W-20 oil into engine through oil fill cap on valve cover. Wait 2 minutes for oil to settle. Start engine and allow to run for 30 seconds, then shut off. Wait 5 minutes and check oil level on dipstick. Add remaining oil as needed to bring level between MIN and MAX marks. Inspect drain plug and filter for leaks.
10. 10

    Inspect brake fluid and perform multi-point inspection
    Check brake fluid level in reservoir (driver side of engine bay). Inspect fluid color - should be clear to light amber. Dark fluid indicates moisture contamination and requires replacement. Test with brake fluid test strips if available. Check tire pressures and adjust to door placard specification (32-33 PSI front, 30-31 PSI rear for most models). Inspect tires for wear, damage, and proper tread depth. Check all exterior lights for operation. Inspect belts for cracks or glazing. Check battery terminals for corrosion. Inspect undercarriage for fluid leaks, damage, or loose components.
11. 11

    Reinstall engine cover and reset maintenance light
    Align engine cover with mounting grommets and press firmly until all clips engage. To reset maintenance reminder: Turn ignition to ON position (do not start engine). Press and hold SELECT/RESET button on instrument cluster. While holding, turn ignition OFF then back to ON. Continue holding for 10 seconds until oil life resets to 100%. Verify all warning lights extinguish after starting engine.

Reassembly

1. Verify all drain plugs are properly torqued and not leaking.
2. Confirm all electrical connectors are fully seated and locked.
3. Ensure air box and engine cover clips are fully engaged.
4. Double-check that oil filter is secure and not leaking.
5. Verify coolant reservoir is filled to MAX line with correct Honda Type 2 coolant.
6. Confirm transmission fill bolt is reinstalled after fluid service.

Verification

• Start engine and verify no warning lights remain illuminated after initial bulb check.
• Allow engine to reach operating temperature and verify cooling fan cycles normally.
• Check for leaks around oil filter, drain plug, and all other service points.
• Verify oil level is between MIN and MAX on dipstick with engine off and level.
• Test drive vehicle for 10-15 minutes to verify normal operation and transmission shifting.
• Recheck all fluid levels after test drive and top off as needed.
• Verify maintenance reminder has been reset to 100% oil life.
• Inspect ground under vehicle for any fluid leaks after test drive.

More procedures for this vehicle