INTRODUCTION
Changing your oil is just like changing the cat litter box – dump out the old crap, inspect for any issues, and fill up with new, fresh goods. The only difference is – if you make a mistake during the change process, you can cause permanent damage to your motor. This manual details the process of changing the oil in a 2005 Honda Pilot. This manual was written for the average DIY-er who has a basic understanding of engine maintenance. This manual is broken down into several thorough steps to help explain the process from understanding the purpose of an oil change, the need for changing the oil, and steps for at home oil changes.
Motor Oil Purpose:
There are 5 main purposes of motor oil: protection, lubrication, cooling, cleaning, and restoration of performance (Arnold, n.d., para 1). According to Arnold (n.d.), “Motor oil creates a slippery coating of lubrication so that the moving parts can move more fluidly. Without the oil's lubrication, the friction in the moving parts of the motor is greatly compromised and the compression is decreased, resulting in the inability to reach optimal levels of speed and performance.” Oil lubrication creates protection for the moving engine parts without this lubrication; the metal engine parts begin to degrade. As oil travels through the engine, the debris is collected and cleans the metal parts within the motor (Arnold, n.d., para.4). Motor oil provides cooling just as antifreeze does within the engine. “Friction in the engine's moving parts creates heat. Motor oil is responsible for cooling the friction that is created in the car's lower portions, including the crankshaft, timing gears, pistons, rod bearings and camshaft, according to the Motor Oil Evaluator website .... Without motor oil's cooling capability, the
