I've never owned a Honda before so I'm still learning Honda tech, but I just picked up a '95 Civic DX Coupe last week. The other day I changed the oil and filter for the first time and I have a couple questions:

#1: Is it normal for NO oil to spill out of the filter? It's mounted on it's side and I was worried I'd get oil all over the place. I was surprised that no oil drained out of the filter. But also, it looked empty. I tried draining the filter into the oil bucket but nothing really came out. Is this just by design?
PS, when I acquired the car the oil was 1 qt low. I added oil right then. So when I drained the oil it was not low.

#2: Anyone use the Napa Gold filters? That's what I bought but when I removed the old filter I noticed it was a lot smaller in diameter. The seal circumference is the same but the filter body is bigger. I think the filter I removed was a dealer filter. It's blue and had some funky name I'd never heard of. I also spotted the same blue filter on someone elses engine in a non-related photo in another thread.

Dumb questions I know, but we all gotta start someplace.

 

I have the same car. When i change my oil, I have always had a small amount run out of the filter, and down the block. What color was the used oil? Have you driven much since the change/ Pull the dipstick, and check the color of the oil.
When I invert the old filter, there is some oil in it as well. Does your oil light on the dash go out, shortly after starting the engine?

 

Sometimes if you drain the oil before you take off filter, some oil will drain out of the filter.....so theoratically the filter would be dry....some oil filters have a good drain back system

 

I did drain the oil first before pulling the filter.
Old oil looked normal (...well for old oil. It was black, not milky or foamy). I guess I won't worry about it unless there's a chance the oil pump may not be pushing oil up that far.

After adding the recommended amount of oil to the engine I started the car and the light never came on.
It comes on initially along with all the other lights but does did not stay on for that couple seconds like the SRS light does. Is that a concern?

 

Oh every time I change my oil, I move my drip pan over before I take that filter off because I just know oil is going to pour out of it. As far as filters go, I like the FRAM ones because they have a nice rubberized grip.

 

NAPA gold is MUCH better than fram. Even napa silver is much better than fram. Did you drain your oil after getting the engine up to temp or was it on a cold engine? I always do mine with a hot engine and there is usually a fair amount of oil in the filter, enough to pool maybe an inch in the bottom of it.

 

I get oil everywhere when I drop my filter, really anyoying.

 

If the engine was off for a while (not warm) the oil may have drained out of the filter. Usually 99% of the time I change my oil when Hot and oil always runs out of the filter. 2x when I did it cold no oil came out of the filter.

The blue filter is the OEM honda filter. They are excellant. If I were you I'd stick to using those. If your dead set on aftermarket, Amsoil, Wix, Mobil 1 is all I'd use.

 

I only change the oil when it's hot.

 

i use nothing but OEM oil filters, on all my cars

 

Wix filters all the way!
(and sometimes OEM ^^;; )
Since we're on the subject of oil draining down the back of the block, any cons to using brake parts or carb cleaner to clean the back of the block after the change?
Or do ya'll just use a garden hose like meself?
(rust-proof aluminum blocks ftw!)

 

I just clean it up as best I can with a shop towle and call it good.

 

I let it drip on to my exhaust and burn off.

 

It is abnormal and a concern that no oil drained from the head and the filter was dry after removal. Oil filters have an internal seal that should prevent all oil from draining out of the head when the engine is off. Hopefully, your old filter just had a bad internal seal.

 

Thanks for the comment. That's what I was looking for.
I did drain the oil while the engine was cold. That would explain why no oil came out of the filter.

Someone also mentioned WIX filters as being the way to go. I was informed by the NAPA guy that the Gold filters are rebranded WIX filters made specifically for NAPA.

 

After I have changed my oil, when I start the engine the oil light will light for a second or 2