Wondering when to change the oil or what type to use in a 2006-2012 Honda Civic? Perhaps you're trying to find out how often to change the fluids, what the service intervals are or check the brakes and perform other common jobs? Haynes has all the routine maintenance answers for your Honda Civic.
Modern cars like the Civic need much less maintenance than the vehicles of 25 years ago, but they still have needs. You no longer have to do a service every 6 months, or change the oil every 3 months, but regular fluid changes are still essential to your Honda’s longevity.
What follows is our quick reference guide to many of the recommended routine maintenance tasks for the 2006-2012 Honda Civic, most of which you can do yourself at home. If you need more guidance, or step-by-step instructions, check out the video tutorials in our online manual or get our traditional printed manual.
Oil Change
| Engine Oil Type | Honda HFS 5/40 or Honda HFS 0/20 or oils conforming to ACEA A1/B1, A3/B3 or A5/B5 0W/30, 0W/40, 5W/30 or 5W/40 weight oils (petrol engines) |
| Honda diesel oil 0W/30 synthetic (diesel engines) | |
| Engine Oil Capacity (including oil filter) | 3.6 litres (1.4 litre petrol engines) |
| 3.7 litres (1.8 litre petrol engines) | |
| 5.9 litres (diesel engines) | |
| Oil Drain Plug Torque | 39 Nm (all engines) |
| Oil Filter Housing Cap | 25 Nm (all engines) |
Transmission Fluid Change
| Manual Transmission Fluid Type | Honda MTF-3 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Type | Honda ATF-Z1 |
| Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity | 1.4 litres at fluid change (petrol models) |
| 2.2 litres at fluid change (diesel models) | |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 2.4 litres at fluid change |
| Manual Transmission Fluid Drain Plug Torque | 39 Nm |
| Manual Transmission Fluid Filler Plug Torque | 44 Nm |
| Manual Transmission Fluid Level Plug Torque | 12 Nm |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Drain Plug Torque | 49 Nm |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Filler Plug Torque | 44 Nm |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Level Checking Plug | 12 Nm |
Coolant Replacement
| Coolant Type | 50/50 mix of water and Honda coolant Type 2 |
| Coolant System Capacity | 4.0 litres (1.4 litre petrol engines) |
| 5.3 litres (1.8 litre petrol engines) | |
| 6.6 litres (diesel engines) |
Other Miscellaneous Fluid Types
| Brake And Clutch Fluid | DOT 4 brake fluid |
Other Miscellaneous Torque Specs
| ABS Sensor Bolt | 10 Nm |
| Roadwheel Nuts | 108 Nm |
| Brake Caliper Guide Pin Bolts | 35 Nm* |
| Front Caliper Mounting Bracket Bolts | 108 Nm |
| Fuel filter | 15 Nm (all engines) |
| Rear Caliper Mounting Bracket Bolts | 55 Nm |
| Spark plugs | 27 Nm |
*Do not re-use
Valve Clearances - Cold
| Inlet Valves | 0.15 to 0.19 mm (1.4 litre petrol engines) |
| 0.18 to 0.22 mm (1.8 litre petrol engines) | |
| Exhaust Valves | 0.26 to 0.30 mm (1.4 litre petrol engines) |
| 0.23 to 0.27 mm (1.8 litre petrol engines) |
2006-2012 Honda Civic Maintenance Schedule
The maintenance intervals in our Honda Civic manual are provided with the assumption that you, not the dealer, will be carrying out the work. These are the minimum intervals recommended by us for vehicles driven daily. If you wish to keep your vehicle in peak condition at all times, you may wish to perform some of these procedures more often. We encourage frequent maintenance, since it enhances the efficiency, performance and resale value of your vehicle.
If the vehicle is driven in dusty areas, used to tow a trailer, or driven frequently at slow speeds (idling in traffic) or on short journeys, more frequent maintenance intervals are recommended.
Petrol engine models
Every 250 miles
- Check the engine oil level
- Check the coolant level
- Check the screenwash fluid level
- Check the brake fluid level
- Check the clutch fluid level
- Check the tyres and tyre pressures
- Check the condition of the battery
- Check the condition of the wiper blades
Every 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first
In addition to the items listed above, carry out the following:
- Renew the engine oil and filter
- Check the operation of the lights and the horn
- Check under the bonnet for fluid leaks and hose condition
- Check the condition of the engine compartment wiring
- Check the condition of the seat belts
- Check the condition of the brake pads, shoes and discs
- Check the exhaust system
- Check the steering and suspension components for condition and security
- Check the condition of the driveshaft joints and gaiters
- Check the underbody and all fuel/brake lines
- Lubricate all hinges and locks
- Check roadwheel nut tightness
- Carry out a road test
- Check and if necessary adjust the handbrake
- Check the antifreeze/inhibitor strength
Every 25,000 miles or 2 years, whichever comes first
In addition to the items listed above, carry out the following:
- Renew the air filter
- Renew the pollen filter*
- Check the condition of the auxiliary drivebelt
*If the vehicle is used in dusty conditions, the air filter and pollen filter should be renewed more frequently .
Every 62,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first
- Renew the engine coolant*
- Check the valve clearances
*The second coolant replacement should be performed at 100 000 miles or 3 years after the first coolant change
Every 75,000 or 8 years
- Replace the spark plugs *
- Renew the manual transmission fluid
- Renew the automatic transmission fluid
*The second and subsequent spark plug changes should be after every 60 000 miles or 5 years
Every 3 years, regardless of mileage
- Renew the brake and clutch fluid
- Renew the remote control battery
Diesel engine models
Every 250 miles
- Check the engine oil level
- Check the coolant level
- Check the screenwash fluid level
- Check the brake fluid level
- Check the clutch fluid level
- Check the tyres and tyre pressures
- Check the condition of the battery
- Check the condition of the wiper blades
Every 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first
In addition to the items listed above, carry out the following:
- Renew the engine oil and filter
- Drain the fuel filter
- Check the operation of the lights and the horn
- Check under the bonnet for fluid leaks and hose condition
- Check the condition of the engine compartment wiring
- Check the condition of the seat belts
- Check the condition of the brake pads, shoes and discs
- Check the exhaust system
- Check the steering and suspension components for condition and security
- Check the condition of the driveshaft joints and gaiters
- Check the underbody and all fuel/brake lines
- Lubricate all hinges and locks
- Check roadwheel nut tightness
- Carry out a road test
- Check and if necessary adjust the handbrake
- Check the antifreeze/inhibitor strength
Every 25,000 miles or 2 years, whichever comes first
In addition to the items listed above, carry out the following:
- Renew the air filter*
- Renew the fuel filter
- Renew the pollen filter*
- Check the condition of the auxiliary drivebelt
*If the vehicle is used in dusty conditions, the air filter and pollen filter should be renewed more frequently.
Every 62,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first
- Renew the engine coolant*
*The second coolant replacement should be performed at 100 000 miles or 3 years after the first coolant change
Every 75,000 or 8 years
- Renew the manual transmission fluid
Every 3 years, regardless of mileage
- Renew the brake fluid
- Renew the remote control battery