As the most rugged SUV Honda has ever offered, the Pilot offers a wide variety of benefits for those looking for an off-road capable SUV with adequate features. Like any Honda vehicle, the Pilot is known for its excellent reliability and long-lasting engines. However, like any vehicle, you will need to ensure that it is adequately maintained to ensure that it lasts for years.

Keeping your Honda Pilot in top shape is easy by following the Honda service maintenance schedule outlined in your owner’s manual and ensuring repairs are completed on time. Today, we will look at a few maintenance tips to keep your Honda Pilot running at its best.

Engine Care: The Heart of Your Honda Pilot

The engine is the heart of your Honda Pilot, so maintaining it is crucial to your SUV’s longevity. While there are many items you can do to keep your engine well cared for, we will touch on the most important ones.

Keeping Up With Regular Maintenance – The most important thing you can do for your engine is keep up with regular maintenance. Changing the engine oil, cleaning or changing the air filter, checking fluid levels, and maintaining the cooling system are some of the most important aspects of maintaining your vehicle’s engine.

Driving With Care – When driving your Honda Pilot, it is essential to drive conservatively and not overrev, drive at high speeds, or drive aggressively to keep your engine running smoothly.

Fixing Any Needed Repairs – Even the smallest of repairs must be made as soon as possible to avoid them causing larger problems for your engine. Oil leaks, coolant leaks, and even worn items can cause bigger issues if not taken care of on time.

Transmission and Drivetrain Maintenance

Another key component of your Honda Pilot’s driveline is the transmission and drivetrain. The transmission is the second most expensive component next to the engine, so it is essential to keep it well-maintained to avoid costly repairs.

Have Your Transmission Serviced – The automatic transmission in your Pilot is a complicated component, so keeping it well maintained will ensure you get the most life from your transmission. Follow your recommended service interval for changing your transmission fluid and filter to keep your transmission running smoothly.

Have Your CV Axles Inspected – Since the Honda Pilot is front-wheel and all-wheel, it will be equipped with CV axles. CV axles must be inspected routinely to avoid any potential problems later down the road.

Have Your Differential Fluid Changed – The transmission is not the only drivetrain component whose fluid needs to be changed. Your differential fluid must be changed regularly to keep your drivetrain in the best shape.

Tire Care: Ensuring a Smooth and Safe Ride

Tires are a part of any vehicle, not just your Honda Pilot, that should be inspected, maintained, and replaced regularly to avoid more significant issues. Worn-out tires can cause many issues, from a flat tire to a full-on blowout that can damage other vehicle components.

Inspect Your Tires Regularly – The tires on your vehicle are designed to wear over time and are susceptible to road hazards such as nails and screws. Keeping an eye out for uneven treadwear, foreign objects, or tires that need replacing can help you save money.

Keep Your Tires At The Right Air Pressure – Car tires are designed to be filled to a specific PSI to give you the best MPGs and ensure your tire tread wears evenly. A quick check on your tire pressure once weekly or at each fill-up will ensure your tires are kept at the correct pressure.

Rotate Tires Correctly – For your tires to wear appropriately, you must ensure they are rotated at the right interval and direction. The direction of tire rotation will depend on whether your Pilot is front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, so ensure you know the correct direction if you choose to do this yourself.

Brake System: Crucial For Safety

The brake system on your vehicle is the most significant safety feature for stopping your car. This is one of the most intricate systems in your Honda Pilot, as it stretches from your engine bay to each wheel. It includes various components, including a hydraulic system, fluid, and electronic controls. By keeping your brake system well maintained, you not only keep your Pilot lasting longer but also keep yourself and your passengers safer.

Replace Brake Pads On Time – Brake pads are made from a compound designed to wear out over time. Keeping an eye on your brake pads’ life and having them inspected when you have regular maintenance is vital to ensure they do not get worn down past the wear indicators.

Inspect Brake Fluid Regularly – Brake fluid is one of the fluids in your vehicle that is not changed out as often as other fluids. However, it should be inspected regularly to ensure it has not gotten discolored or is too low. You will want to top off your brake fluid if it is low and bleed the system if it has become discolored.

Listen For Unusual Noises – Lastly, you will want to listen for any unusual noises when braking to ensure you do not hear clunking, grinding, or metal-on-metal noises. This can indicate that your brake pads must be replaced or your brake system has an issue.

Exterior and Interior Maintenance

While the interior and exterior of your Honda Pilot are not often looked at as things you must maintain to make your car last longer, they will undoubtedly help keep your Pilot in great shape. Your paint, upholstery, and carpet can quickly become worn out if not properly maintained, leading to a worn-out look in your Honda SUV.

Regularly Wash Your Vehicle – While washing your vehicle may seem second nature to most people, it is often one thing many people don’t think about for maintenance. Your vehicle’s paint requires constant cleaning, waxing, and sealing to keep it looking its best for years.

Keep Your Upholstery Cleaned – Cleaning cloth, vinyl, or leather upholstery is essential to keeping your interior looking its best. This includes vacuuming, shampooing, and conditioning your upholstery to give it a brand-new look.

Vacuum and Shampoo Your Carpet – The carpet in your Pilot sees a lot of abuse from dirt, mud, and grime being smudged into it by the feet of you and your passengers. Your Pilot’s carpet can be vacuumed and shampooed to remove dirt, stains, and foul odors.

Honda Pilot FAQs

What maintenance does my Honda Pilot need?

A Honda Pilot is going to need the same routine maintenance as most vehicles will need. Regularly changing the oil, transmission fluid, brake pads, and other maintenance parts outlined in your owner’s manual maintenance schedule should be done to your Pilot.

What is routine maintenance on a Honda?

Routine maintenance on a Honda includes oil changes, rotating tires, changing your air filter, regularly washing your vehicle, and other items outlined in your owner’s manual.

How can I make my Honda last longer?

To make your Honda last longer, you must ensure it stays adequately maintained, cleaned regularly, and repairs are fixed promptly.

How often do I need to change my oil?

The oil in your vehicle should be changed every 5,000 to 7,000 miles or every three months, whichever comes first.

Keeping Your Honda Pilot Maintained With Endurance

Now that you know how to keep your Honda Pilot in tip-top shape, you should be able to keep your used car or SUV looking and running its best for years. One of the most essential components of maintaining your Pilot is making repairs before they cause more significant issues. An extended warranty ensures coverage for small and large repairs without worrying about a large repair bill.

You can choose various customizable plans at Endurance to fit your budget and coverage needs. If you need something a little more custom that we do not offer, give our award-winning customer service team a call to discuss a bespoke plan tailored to your needs

As part of each Endurance plan, you will get great features such as 24/7 roadside assistance, trip interruption, rental car reimbursement, and more. All new Endurance customers will get one year of Elite Benefits for a small activation fee to make things even better. These benefits include tire repair/replacement, total loss protection, key fob replacement, and many other excellent services.

Call our customer care team at (800) 253-8203 for a FREE quote and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can also shop online to see your price immediately.

Read more about different Honda models, automotive news, and expert how-to’s on the Endurance blog.