What oil does a 2010 Honda Civic take?

The 2010 Honda Civic (8th gen, 1.8L R18A1) requires 3.9 quarts of 5W-20 full synthetic per Honda's spec. Avoid 5W-30 — it will trigger oil-consumption issues on this generation due to the tight piston-ring tolerances. Change every 5,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first, regardless of what the Maintenance Minder says.

When should I change the transmission fluid on my 2010 Civic?

The 2010 Civic uses a 5-speed automatic (not a CVT). Drain-and-fill with Honda ATF DW-1 (NOT the older Z1) every 30,000 miles. NEVER flush this transmission; only drain-and-fill. Aftermarket ATF — especially Dexron — will destroy the torque converter clutch packs within 20,000 miles.

Is the Honda Maintenance Minder reliable on a 2010 Civic?

Yes, the 2010 Civic's Maintenance Minder accurately tracks engine operating conditions, but it does NOT account for time. If you drive fewer than 6,000 miles per year, change the oil annually regardless of the percentage — moisture and acids degrade oil sitting in a cold engine.

2010 Honda Civic Maintenance Schedule: Intervals + Costs by Mileage

2010 Honda Civic maintenance schedule

Interval	Service
Minder Code A (every ~5-7.5k mi)	Oil & filter change (0W-20 or 5W-20), Inspect fluid levels
Minder Code B (every ~15k mi)	Oil & filter change, Tire rotation, Inspect brake system, Inspect steering & suspension, Inspect fuel lines & hoses
Minder Code 1 (add-on)	Tire rotation & balance
Minder Code 2 (every ~25k mi)	Replace engine air filter, Replace dust/pollen filter (cabin)
Minder Code 3 (every ~30k mi)	Transmission fluid exchange (CVT or auto)
Minder Code 5 (every ~60k mi)	Coolant replacement, Inspect water pump drive belt (if equipped)
Every 100,000 mi	Replace iridium spark plugs, Inspect timing chain, Full drivetrain inspection

Fastener	Torque	Size
Lug nut	80 ft-lbs (108 Nm)	19mm
Oil drain plug	29 ft-lbs (39 Nm)	17mm

2010 Honda Civic oil life reset

Maintenance Minder reset (SEL/RESET knob)

Ignition to ON/II, engine off.
Press the SEL/RESET knob repeatedly to cycle the display until "Engine Oil Life %" or the Maintenance Minder code appears.
Press and hold SEL/RESET for about 10 seconds, until the oil-life percentage and maintenance code(s) start blinking.
To reset only the completed item, rotate the knob to highlight it first. To reset everything, press and hold SEL/RESET again for about 5 more seconds while it is blinking.
The display stops blinking and resets to 100% - reset confirmed.

2010 Honda Civic Maintenance Schedule

2010 Honda Civic maintenance schedule

2010 Honda Civic torque specs

2010 Honda Civic oil life reset

Maintenance Minder reset (SEL/RESET knob)

2010 Honda Civic recalls