Changing the oil filter on a 2018 Honda Pilot Rant

[PWMDMD]

This is more of a rant than a question. Just changed the oil and filter on a 2018 Honda Pilot and it leaves me asking the question - who’s the genius who decided the filter should be blocked by a structural brace of the chassis? Hard to get to, impossible to tighten from under the car (easiest to turn the wheel to the right and grab from the wheel well BUT my car was on ramps) and oil all over the structural brace. I cleaned the oil as well as I could and it’s raining here so I’ve spent the last 3 hours trying to decide if the watered down oil on my garage floor is from an actively leaking filter that was nearly impossible to tighten or just diluted runoff from the chassis member.

Again, I ask why? I’ve changed the oil and filter on plenty of cars where the drain plug and filter sat side-by-side and could not be easier to get to and even though these 3.5L V-6’s go in a bunch of different cars designed over multiple generations I can’t image making this easier is all that difficult. If just to make it easier for Honda service people.....

For the record - I do not believe the filter is leaking.....

Rant over...

 

[NHGUY]

Most times,the engine is already made/designed and then dropped in and ooppss....what do we do about this??? A case where the powertrain engineers aren't talking and coordinating with the chassis/body people.

 

[simple_gifts]

Perhaps a filter relocation kit is in order.

 

[gregk24]

Shame on Honda. Easy DIY is one of the reasons I love mine.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Most times,the engine is already made/designed and then dropped in and ooppss....what do we do about this??? A case where the powertrain engineers aren't talking and coordinating with the chassis/body people.


This. Top mounted cartridges are the way to go.

 

[PWMDMD]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Most times,the engine is already made/designed and then dropped in and ooppss....what do we do about this??? A case where the powertrain engineers aren't talking and coordinating with the chassis/body people.


This. Top mounted cartridges are the way to go.


I’m surprised this isn’t standard across all makes/models. This is just brilliant!

 

[Omahaug]

Originally Posted By: PWMDMD
I’m surprised this isn’t standard across all makes/models. This is just brilliant!
Yup, absolutely beautiful. First time I saw that, really made me envious.

On some Hondas they put the oil filters in a good location like the ones on the Civics and Fits.

But then on some of them they just go full retard with it. Like on some of the K series engines like the ones they used in the Civic Si, oil filter mounted on back of engine, up high above the CV joint. When you unscrew the filter it drops oil all over the CV boot. Nice! The best way to access that one is by removing the passenger side wheel, putting aluminum foil over the CV boot and letting the oil drop on that instead.


I worked on a Nissan Altima that was just like that. Oil filter mounted behind the block way up high past a bunch of wires and brackets and the drive axle. You have to go all the way under the car deep, then snake your arms up through everything, undo the oil filter and let it drip oil all over everything on the way down. What a pain in the [censored].

 

[Bud]

Unless something has changed on the 2018, I don't have a problem on the 2016 Pilot. Yes, for sure the filter is not in an ideal position, but I have no problem hand tightening the filter and I use a gallon zip lock bag when removing. Minimal mess.

 

[PWMDMD]

Originally Posted By: Bud
Unless something has changed on the 2018, I don't have a problem on the 2016 Pilot. Yes, for sure the filter is not in an ideal position, but I have no problem hand tightening the filter and I use a gallon zip lock bag when removing. Minimal mess.


You must be Plastic Man. Zip lock bag is a good idea.

 

[PimTac]

I used to own a Mitsubishi that had the oil filter mounted sideways and right above the ac compressor. I had to contort my arm in a very uncomfortable way to reach it. I learned quickly to drain the sump first and use newspaper to protect the compressor.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: PWMDMD
Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Most times,the engine is already made/designed and then dropped in and ooppss....what do we do about this??? A case where the powertrain engineers aren't talking and coordinating with the chassis/body people.


This. Top mounted cartridges are the way to go.


I’m surprised this isn’t standard across all makes/models. This is just brilliant!




No thank you! That would be a mess to change...unless it drains back into the crankcase, but then it's sucking all the dirt that builds up in that little channel down into the motor...and you better have a good ADBV.

This is an oil filter done right -

 

[Kira]

My brother got me a "Pig". It's a green, rubberized, bendable splash shield. You fold it any which way you need to in order to direct the stream of draining oil.
You can fabricate your own skid out of....something.

I'd use it on my sister's Jeep where the side mounted filter (1999 4.0l) held back all the upper end oil. I'd set it in place and crack the filter. Let it drip as long as needed. It always hit the catch can.

You can cleverly cut a jug and fix a tube to the threaded spout and direct the oil that way.

Hey, if they can get to the Moon and fashion animal heart valves to humans you sure-as-heck can route a stream of oil....can't you?

 

[PWMDMD]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: PWMDMD
Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Most times,the engine is already made/designed and then dropped in and ooppss....what do we do about this??? A case where the powertrain engineers aren't talking and coordinating with the chassis/body people.


This. Top mounted cartridges are the way to go.


I’m surprised this isn’t standard across all makes/models. This is just brilliant!




No thank you! That would be a mess to change...unless it drains back into the crankcase, but then it's sucking all the dirt that builds up in that little channel down into the motor...and you better have a good ADBV.

This is an oil filter done right -

No mess at all! Go to 2:50....couldn’t be easier or cleaner.

Subaru Oil Filter

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: PWMDMD

No mess at all! Go to 2:50....couldn’t be easier or cleaner.

Subaru Oil Filter


Not bad at all!

 

[parshisa]

Yep, changing that filter ain’t fun. Will be doing the same next week: at 20% MM right now and 4500 on the fill. Will grab a sample as well - this will be the longest interval on the vehicle thus far

 

[Wolf359]

Makes you wonder if they're just doing that on purpose now. Make it difficult to change so you take it to the dealer instead. Sorta like how some transmissions don't even have a dipstick and you have to change it at the right temperature to get the correct amount of fluid into it.

The drain bolt on my Mercedes E-350 is on the side so that when you first undo the bolt, it splashes all over the place. I just clean up the mess and use a bigger pan. The dealers just suck the oil out from the top.

 

[double vanos]

Both of my 3.5 Ecoboosts positivity suck. I thought my ‘11 F150 was bad until we bought the wife’s Expedition - the very little space my truck gives you to get your hand in to change the filter has been taken away by some extra intercooler piping. Have to break your arm in 3 places instead of 2. Makes the 2.7 look very tempting come purchase time.

 

[sxg6]

I haven't changed the oil on a pilot, but I've changed the oil on an acura that I think has the filter in the exact same location. It would be annoying to remove if you're on ramps, I usually just jack up the front of the car and turn the wheel, which I understand doesn't help much.

What I do is I'll crack the filter loose by hand or with a wrench, and then basically unscrew the filter using a solo cup. The mess spills into the cup instead of onto that brace. If the filter is loose enough, you might even be able to unscrew the thing from the start with the cup over the filter.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
This is an oil filter done right -

Umm, no, no it's not. First off, it's a cartridge, which means it's always got a plastic housing supporting the material. Second off, that retarded cap has a 36mm nut on top, which requires a SPECIAL low-profile socket to get on it without getting in the way of other parts of the cylinder head. I'd take 100 filter changes on the Subaru FB25 before I did one more on the Ecotec 2.4. I like integral metal filter housings and center tubes.

Also, yes, Honda is retarded on oil filter mount location on the J35s. The Odysseys are the same way, and if you were to blow a tire where it shredded, you'd almost certainly destroy the oil filter as well. I have a big pile of red rags that I drag one under the van when I change the filter.

 

[PWMDMD]

Originally Posted By: sxg6
I haven't changed the oil on a pilot, but I've changed the oil on an acura that I think has the filter in the exact same location. It would be annoying to remove if you're on ramps, I usually just jack up the front of the car and turn the wheel, which I understand doesn't help much.

What I do is I'll crack the filter loose by hand or with a wrench, and then basically unscrew the filter using a solo cup. The mess spills into the cup instead of onto that brace. If the filter is loose enough, you might even be able to unscrew the thing from the start with the cup over the filter.


Solo cup is genius! You can absolutely access the oil filter from the right front wheel well and slide a solo cup over the filter. Thank you!