Short answer: every 2002–2005 US Civic with the 1.7-liter engine, and the 2.0-liter Si, calls for premium-grade 5W-20. The Hybrid prefers 0W-20. Oil capacity depends on the trim, not only on the engine size. A DX or LX takes 3.2 L (3.4 US qt) with a new filter. An EX or HX takes 3.5 L (3.7 US qt), and the Si takes 4.2 L (4.4 US qt). For the transmission, Honda's owner's manuals call for Honda MTF in manual gearboxes and Honda ATF-Z1 in the 4-speed automatic. For the HX, GX and Hybrid CVT, the manuals and a later Honda bulletin disagree; see the CVT section below.
Engine oil capacity and torque by trim
| Trim and engine | Oil | With filter | Without filter | Drain bolt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DX, LX: 1.7 L SOHC | 5W-20 | 3.2 L (3.4 US qt) | 3.0 L (3.2 US qt) | 44 N·m (33 lbf·ft) |
| EX, HX: 1.7 L SOHC VTEC | 5W-20 | 3.5 L (3.7 US qt) | 3.3 L (3.5 US qt) | 39 N·m (29 lbf·ft) |
| Si hatchback: 2.0 L i-VTEC DOHC | 5W-20 | 4.2 L (4.4 US qt) | 4.0 L (4.2 US qt) | 44 N·m (33 lbf·ft) |
| Hybrid: 1.3 L SOHC VTEC | 0W-20 (5W-20 if unavailable) | 3.2 L (3.4 US qt) | 3.0 L (3.2 US qt) | 39 N·m (29 lbf·ft) |
| GX: 1.7 L natural gas | 5W-20 | 3.2 L (3.4 US qt) | 3.0 L (3.2 US qt) | Not listed in the GX supplement |
Where to check: 2003 sedan manual PDF p. 204 (DX/LX/EX), 2003 coupe PDF p. 209 (EX/HX), 2005 sedan PDF p. 157, 2005 coupe PDF p. 163, and the Si manuals: 2002 PDF p. 173, 2003 PDF p. 169, 2005 PDF p. 144. The 2002 coupe manual lists the 39 N·m drain-bolt torque for the EX only. The 2003 and 2005 coupe manuals add the HX.
Why trim matters: the DX, LX, EX and HX all have a 1.7-liter engine, but the EX and HX hold 0.3 L more oil and use a lower drain-bolt torque. The federal fuel-economy records we use to identify each configuration do not name the retail trim on most sedans. Our exact pages therefore leave the sedan capacity blank rather than guess. Check the trim badge or your window sticker, then use the matching row.
Which oil: 5W-20, and the 2002 exception
The manuals ask for "premium-grade 5W-20 detergent oil" that carries the API Certification Seal for gasoline engines. Synthetic oil is allowed if it meets the same requirements. Only the 2002 manuals add that a 5W-30 may be used if 5W-20 is unavailable, and that it should be replaced with 5W-20 at the next oil change. We did not find that sentence in the 2003 or 2005 text. The Hybrid manuals prefer 0W-20 and allow 5W-20 when 0W-20 is not available.
Transmission fluid and how much to buy
| Transmission | Fluid in the owner's manual | Change | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-speed manual: 1.7 L models and Hybrid | Honda Manual Transmission Fluid | 1.5 L (1.6 US qt) | 1.6 L (1.7 US qt) |
| 5-speed manual: Si | Honda Manual Transmission Fluid | 1.5 L (1.6 US qt) | 1.7 L (1.8 US qt) |
| 4-speed automatic | Honda ATF-Z1 (DEXRON III only as a temporary replacement) | 2.7 L (2.9 US qt) | 5.9 L sedan / 6.0 L coupe |
| HX CVT | Honda ATF-Z1 only (see bulletin below) | 3.2 L (3.4 US qt); 2002: 3.1 L (3.3 US qt) | 5.7 L (6.0 US qt) |
| GX CVT | Honda ATF-Z1 only (see bulletin below) | 3.1 L (3.3 US qt) | 5.7 L (6.0 US qt) |
| Hybrid CVT | Honda ATF-Z1 only (see bulletin below) | 3.2 L (3.4 US qt) | 5.4 L (5.7 US qt) |
Buy for the "change" amount. A drain and refill replaces only part of the fluid, so the total is much larger than what you'll put in. For the manual gearbox, the manuals allow SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40 gasoline-engine motor oil only as a temporary replacement for Honda MTF.
ATF-Z1 and DW-1
In November 2010, Honda's ServiceNews A10110H announced that ATF DW-1 (part 08200-9008) "replaces ATF Z1" and would eventually be Honda's only ATF. The same notice said ATF-Z1 could still be used in 2010 and older models. It does not list the Civic or give quantities. For a 2002–2005 4-speed automatic, the owner's manual fluid is ATF-Z1, and DW-1 is the Honda fluid that replaced it.
The CVT: owner's manual vs Honda bulletin 07-050
The HX, GX and Hybrid owner's manuals say to use Honda ATF-Z1 only in the CVT. Honda's later bulletin 07-050 (revised February 5, 2008) is a warranty extension for CVT drive-belt slippage. It covers the 2001–2005 Civic HX and GX with CVT, and the 2003–2005 Civic Hybrid. It lists Honda Genuine CVT Fluid (part 08200-9006) as the required material and says that when a CVT is refilled, the fluid should be "Honda Genuine CVT Fluid, not ATF-Z1". Our exact CVT pages follow that later bulletin.
If you service one of these CVTs, ask a Honda dealer to confirm the fluid for your VIN and the transmission's repair history before you buy. The bulletin's 3.1-quart and "3 to 6 quarts" figures are repair amounts, not routine drain-and-refill quantities.
Check your exact Civic
Each link opens the record for one exact configuration, with its source, page locator and fitment notes:
- 2002: 1.7 L 5-speed oil, 4-speed automatic ATF, HX CVT fluid, Si oil, GX oil
- 2003: 1.7 L 5-speed MTF, 4-speed automatic ATF, HX CVT oil, Si oil, Hybrid CVT oil
- 2005: 1.7 L 5-speed oil, 4-speed automatic ATF, HX CVT fluid, Si MTF, Hybrid 5-speed oil, GX oil
To compare every recorded configuration, browse the Honda Civic model years. For another early-2000s compact, see our Toyota Corolla 2002–2007 oil capacity guide.
How we checked this
We read every figure from archived copies of Honda's US owner's manuals for the 2002, 2003 and 2005 model years. Page numbers count from the start of each PDF. The 2003 sedan, 2003 Si and 2002 coupe manuals are third-party reproductions of Honda's manuals; the others come from Honda's own technical-information site. We have not reviewed the 2001 or 2004 manuals, so we don't state figures for those years. The 07-050 bulletin covers 2001–2005 CVTs. Engine codes such as D17A and K20A3 do not appear in these manuals, so the table names engines the way Honda printed them.