Honda's owner's manuals for the 1998–2002 Accord call for 5W-30 (1998–2000), then 5W-20 (2001–2002). Capacity with a filter change: 2.3L 4-cylinder 4.5 US qt (4.3 L); 3.0L V6 4.6 US qt (4.4 L).
This is the only Accord generation where the oil grade changes and the capacity never does. The 1998, 1999 and 2000 manuals specify 5W-30 and allow 10W-30 only where the temperature never drops below 20°F (−7°C). For 2001 Honda moved to 5W-20. The 2002 manual keeps 5W-20 and attaches a condition: 5W-30 is acceptable only if 5W-20 isn't available, and it comes out at the next oil change in favor of 5W-20.
Quantity is the easy half. The 2.3L four-cylinder takes 4.5 US qt (4.3 L) with a filter in every one of these years, and the 3.0L V6 takes 4.6 qt (4.4 L). A tenth of a quart separates them. So the model year picks the bottle, and the engine only shifts where you stop pouring.
1998–2002 Honda Accord engine oil — from each year's Honda owner's manual
Year
Engine
Oil grade
Capacity with filter
Source
1998
2.3L 4-cylinder
5W-3010W-30 if the temperature never drops below 20°F (−7°C)
1998–2000 or 2001–2002: confirm the model year first
The grade split falls between the 2000 and 2001 model years, and both sides of it use the same 2.3L and 3.0L engines with the same fill quantities. Nothing under the hood tells you which side a car is on. Go by the model year on the title or registration. The build date on the door-jamb label can fall in the previous calendar year, which is how a 2001 ends up treated as a 2000.
The 10W-30 allowance for 1998–2000 is narrow: no temperatures below 20°F (−7°C), ever. A car that sees one hard frost a winter belongs on 5W-30. If a 2001 or 2002 has been running 5W-30 since its last shop visit, there's no emergency. Go back to 5W-20 at the next change; the 2002 manual asks for exactly that.
Frequently asked questions
What oil does a 1999 Honda Accord take?
5W-30 is the grade in the 1999 owner's manual, with 10W-30 permitted where the temperature never falls below 20°F (−7°C). The 2.3L four-cylinder holds 4.5 US qt (4.3 L) including a new filter, and the 3.0L V6 holds 4.6 qt (4.4 L). Check the dipstick after the engine has run and settled.
What oil does a 2001 Honda Accord take?
Honda changed the spec for 2001: 5W-20, replacing the 5W-30 listed for 1998–2000. Capacity stayed where it was. The 2.3L four takes 4.5 qt (4.3 L) with the filter and the 3.0L V6 takes 4.6 qt (4.4 L). If your car's paperwork says 2000, it's a 5W-30 car.
Can I put 5W-30 in my 2002 Accord?
Only as a stand-in. The 2002 manual specifies 5W-20 and accepts 5W-30 when 5W-20 isn't available, provided it's replaced with 5W-20 at the next oil change. The amount is the same either way: 4.5 qt (4.3 L) for the 2.3L, 4.6 qt (4.4 L) for the V6, filter included.
How many quarts of oil does a 2000 Accord V6 take?
4.6 US quarts (4.4 L) of 5W-30 with a filter change. The four-cylinder is a tenth lower at 4.5 qt (4.3 L). Either fits in a single 5-quart jug, so there's no need to empty it by habit. Stop a little short, let the oil settle, and bring it to the upper mark on the dipstick.
Is 10W-30 OK in a 1998 Accord?
In a warm climate, yes. The 1998 manual lists 5W-30 and permits 10W-30 only if the temperature never drops below 20°F (−7°C). Anywhere with a real winter, stay on 5W-30. The fill is 4.5 qt (4.3 L) for the 2.3L and 4.6 qt (4.4 L) for the V6, filter included.