2016–2022 Honda Pilot

2016-2022 Honda Pilot - Engine Air Filter Replacement

By Tom Becker ✓ Certified Mechanic · Published Sep 21, 2026 · Updated Oct 22, 2026

🔧 Easy 10-20 minutes $20 DIY

Save $45 by doing it yourself! Shop cost: $65

Quick answer: Engine Air Filter Replacement on a 2016–2022 Honda Pilot is rated Easy and takes about 10-20 minutes. No tools are required for this job, and parts cost about $20. This guide walks you through the full job step by step, including the mistakes to avoid.

Quick Video Tutorial

Parts You Need

Total Cost

$20.00

Part Name	Part Number	Price	Buy
Engine air filter	—	$20.00	Amazon

About prices: shown prices are typical retail averages and change frequently; cheaper alternatives may be available. Confirm the current price before buying.

💡 Pro tip: Order all parts at once to save on shipping

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps carefully

Prep and locate the air box

Park level, parking brake set, engine off. Find the tall black airbox with the intake snorkel running toward the grille — on the 3.5L J35 V6 it sits high and clear, and the job needs no tools at all. Let the engine cool briefly before reaching into the bay.

Open the air filter housing

Flip the spring clips outward until the lid lifts free — nothing is bolted down. If it binds against the intake tube, loosen the tube's clamp for slack; never pry with a screwdriver. Tilt the lid aside, leaving MAF wiring and intake hose connected.

🔧 Mechanic's note — Tom Becker

If a spring clip feels weak and won't hold tension, don't ignore it — the lid will whistle at idle and let dust past the filter. My dealer parts counter sells the clip for a few bucks and it snaps right on.

Remove the old filter and clean

Lift out the old filter — Honda boxes are keyed so the element only fits one way. The correct drop-in for the 2016-2020 Pilot is the Fram CA12061 family (also EcoGard XA10486, shared with the Ridgeline and Odyssey 3.5L). Vacuum grit from the box.

Install the new filter

Set the new filter the same way the old one came out, matching any airflow arrow to the original direction. Press the gasket flat and fully captured in the box's channel — a lifted seal lets unfiltered air bypass into the V6's intake.

Reseal and verify

Lower the lid evenly and snap every spring clip shut, checking the seam. Re-tighten the intake hose clamp if you loosened it. Start the engine and listen at idle for a whistle or hiss — shut down and recheck the seal if you hear one.

All Done!

Test your repair before closing everything up. If something doesn't work right, double-check your steps.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Installing the filter upside down or unseated so unfiltered air bypasses the element
• Leaving debris in the housing that then gets sucked into the intake
• Forcing clips/screws and cracking the plastic air box lid
• Reusing a heavily clogged filter instead of replacing it