What is most recommended oil and filter? oil change tips?

[insightbuyer]

What is the commonly best recommended oil and filter to use for an oil change?

Should I use mobil 1 synthetic? dealer oil? do they sell what I need at local stores? What weight should I use?

Also what filter should I use? Will any suffice? Should I get a honda oil filter?

Are there anything I should be aware when doing an oil change on a honda insight? Any pointers when jacking the car up? How about tips getting the proper oil level in this car?

This is a side question but what probably happened to my engine "honda" emblem missing on my car, and why do I notice many cars with that emblem missing?

Thanks guys for helping me out here.

[Eli]

While we don't mind helping, please search before posting. These subjects have been covered ad nauseum.

The only oil you should use is xW-20.

Use whatever filter you want. I use M1 filters.

The car takes roughly 2.5 quarts.

The emblem fell off. It happens.

[Varak]

If you are doing your own oil changes, I'd recommend getting the Fumoto Valve. The oil pan is very expensive to replace and you don't want to strip the threads by repeating removing and replacing the oil plug.

QuickOilDrainValve.com - the best way to change oil

You might also want to look at Rhino ramps instead of jacking up the car. They are low profile ramps that work with the Insight and cost $30-$40 at an auto parts store.

[Leeper]

Recommended oil - Massage oil! Seriously that question is asked WAY TOO many times on each and every vehicle forum including this one. "Search" is your friend on mundane questions like that same with "what filter", everyone is different filter-wise and that you'll find by reading "search". No one brand of oil is "far superior" nor is any filter, read and decide.

Procedure - same as any car with the exception of the torque specs.

Emblem - mine is missing now as well due to the engine temperatures working against the weak adhesive that holds the sticker to the plastic engine cover.

[Docrings]

I read the Mobil 1 (M1) filter is #110. You can order them on Amazon cheaply in a 2-pack.

Concur on the drain valve...the part number is on a thread (search).

0-w20 Mobil 1, good enough for my vette and my mercedes from the factory...good enough for my Insight.

[insightbuyer]

Thanks for replies. I just looked under my car for the first time today, while not jacked up or anything, just got on my knees and looked.

First thing I noticed is it looks like the black cover was ripped off. I determined this because it is missing, and also where it would attach to the bumber, those holes were broke.

Well, I could not believe how easy it would be to do an oil change on this car. The filter is right smack in the front, and the drain plug is almost right smack in the front. You could probably almost do an oil change without even jacking up the car.

Compared to my other cars, which require to remove the filter all the way up in the engine (And not easy to get tools to unscrew it) and then lift it over other parts of the engine, creating a mess., this car seems like it would be a breeze. Thank God actually.

[Eli]

What panels are you missing from under your car? There are supposed to be five; three in the front and two in the rear. The front most panel is aluminum, and should have two plastic panels attached to it. The rear two panels are also plastic.

The Insight's oil is actually kinda a PITA to change just because of how low the car is to the ground, but yeah it could be worse.

[insightbuyer]

Eli: it looks like everything from the front bumber to about the end of the front wheels are missing. This means under the entire front of the car it has no panels. I assumed it was one big plastic panel as my other cars have one big plastic panel there.

In the middle to rear of the car, it has the black plastic panels.

I was not too happy when I noticed these panels missing today. Surprisingly everything looks in very good condition under the engine. NO rust at all and very clean.

I am also missing the panels around the front passanger wheel. I was not happy about this either.

What I also noticed is that these panels must attach to the front bumber. THere were holes where probably a plastic fastener would attach to. These holes were broke, so I am not sure if I could now attach anything to the front bumber.

Is this really bad not having these panels? SHould I look to replace them ASAP?

[Eli]

It's not super ultra critical. It helps with aerodynamics. If you do a lot of highway traveling, you may want to get them replaced eventually. Otherwise, it's probably not a big deal. Just depends on how "perfect" you want your car to be.

Here are the panels so you can kinda see how it's supposed to be:

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...=FRONT+FENDERS

[Willie Williford]

If your drain plug is almost "right smack in the front" your engine is in backwards...HEE HEE
Oil change without raiseing the car is only good for "small people". RHINO RAMPS is the best investment.

HTH
Willie