Honda Ridgeline oil type and capacity

Ridgeline oil by year

Capacities are for an oil change with a new filter, as Honda prints them. For 2024 and later we could not check a manual, so those cells are blank: the same 3.5-liter V6 is likely to match 2023, but confirm with your owner’s manual or the oil cap under the hood before you buy oil.

What 0W-20 means on a Ridgeline

The first number is how the oil flows cold: 0W pours more easily at start-up than 5W, which matters for a V6 that pushes oil up to two cylinder heads. The second number, 20, is the thickness when the engine is hot. Honda moved the Ridgeline from 5W-20 to 0W-20 for 2012, so a 2012–2014 truck and a 2010 truck take different oil even though they look the same. Use the grade printed in your manual or on the oil filler cap. Look for the API “starburst” certification mark on the bottle.

Synthetic or conventional?

Honda’s Ridgeline manuals ask for a premium-grade detergent oil with the API mark, not specifically a full synthetic. In practice, almost every 0W-20 on the shelf is a synthetic or a synthetic blend, because that is how oil makers reach the 0W rating. If you tow often, synthetic is the safer pick: it holds up better in a hot engine pulling 5,000 lb up a grade.

How often to change it

There is no fixed mileage. The Maintenance Minder counts down oil life from 100% and shows an A or B code at 15%. Steady highway driving stretches the interval, while short trips, cold starts, and towing shorten it. Change it at least once a year even if the Minder never asks. Reset the display after each change: Honda oil life reset. More on intervals: how often to change oil and oil change due.

Tips for a Ridgeline oil change

• Fill to about 5 quarts on a 2017–2023 truck, run the engine, wait a few minutes, and top up to the upper dot on the dipstick. Overfilling is as bad as running low.
• Match the filter to your model year: the first- and second-generation V6 engines are different designs, and a parts catalog lookup by year avoids a wrong fit.
• Write down the date, odometer, oil brand, and Minder code. The Ridgeline maintenance schedule shows what else each code adds.

FAQ

What oil does a Honda Ridgeline take?

0W-20 for 2012 and later, and 5W-20 for 2008–2011, according to Honda’s manuals. Honda Genuine Motor Oil is recommended; any API-certified premium-grade detergent oil of that grade is allowed.

How many quarts of oil does a Ridgeline hold?

5.7 quarts with the filter on 2017–2023 trucks and 4.5 quarts on 2008–2014 trucks. For 2024 and later, check your owner’s manual.

How often should I change the oil in a Ridgeline?

When the Maintenance Minder shows an A or B code, and at least once a year.

Does the Ridgeline need synthetic oil?

Honda doesn’t require full synthetic, but most 0W-20 oils are synthetic or a blend, and synthetic is a good choice if you tow.

Milealot is an independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by American Honda Motor Co. Honda, Ridgeline, and Maintenance Minder are trademarks of their owner and are used here only to name the vehicles.

Sources

1. 2008 Honda Ridgeline Owner’s Manual: specifications, oil, Maintenance Minder, towing (archived copy of techinfo.honda.com) (checked November 12, 2026)
2. 2023 Honda Ridgeline Owner’s Manual: specifications, oil, Maintenance Minder, towing (archived copy of techinfo.honda.com) (checked November 12, 2026)
3. 2014 Honda Ridgeline Owner’s Manual: specifications, oil, Maintenance Minder, towing (archived copy of techinfo.honda.com) (checked November 12, 2026)
4. 2017 Honda Ridgeline Owner’s Manual: specifications and towing table (archived copy of techinfo.honda.com) (checked November 12, 2026)
5. Honda, 2026 Honda Ridgeline Specifications & Features (hondanews.com) (checked November 12, 2026)