1992 HONDA PRELUDE engine oil

Fluid Locations

Maintenance
BRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
(5-M/T only)
CLUTCH FLUID (Gray cap)
ENGINE OIL
FILLER CAP
POWER STEERING
FLUID (Red cap)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
RESERVOIR
(Gray cap)
COOLANT

RESERVOIR

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION FLUID DIPSTICK
(Yellow loop)

ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
(Orange loop)WASHER FLUID
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Engine Oil

Checking Engine Oil

Check the engine oil a couple of
minutes after shutting off the
engine. This will allow the oil to
drain down to the bottom of the
engine. Make sure the car is parked
on level ground.
1. Pull out the dipstick (orange
loop) and wipe it with a cloth orpaper towel.

2. Insert
it all the way back in its

tube.

3. Pull
it out again and look at the
oil level at the end of the dipstick.
If it is between the upper and
lower marks, the level is correct.
Add oil if the level is at or below
the lower mark.
Adding

To add oil, unscrew and remove the
oil filler cap on top of the valve
cover. Pour in the oil, and replace
the filler cap. Tighten it securely.
Wait a few minutes and recheck
the oil level. Do not fill above the
upper mark; you could damage the

engine.

Maintenance

UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
OIL FILLER CAP
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Engine Oil
Recommended Oil
Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade deter-
gent oil. You can determine an oil's
SAE viscosity and Service Classifi-
cation from the API Service label
on the oil container. It should look
like this: The numbers in the middle tell you
the oil's SAE viscosity or weight. Select the oil for your car accord-
ing to this chart:

Ambient Temperature

An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 is preferred for improved fuel econo-
my and year-round protection in
your Honda. You may use a 10W-30
oil if the temperature in your area never goes below 20°F (—7°C). A fuel-efficient oil is recommended
for your Honda. This is shown on
the API Service label by the words "Energy Conserving II." This oil is
formulated to help your engine use less fuel.
The API Service label also tells you
the service classification of the oil.
Always use an oil that says "API
Service SG." This service rating
may also include other designations,
such as CD. These additional
classifications are not a problem, as long as the label also carries the SG

classification. An oil that is only

classified SF is not recommended.

Additives

Your Honda does not need any oil additives. Purchasing additives for
the engine or transmission will not
increase your car's performance or
longevity. It only increases the cost
of operating your car.

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Engine Oil

Oil and Filter Changes

Always change the oil and filter according to the time and mileage
recommendations on the mainte-
nance schedule. The oil and filter collect contaminants that can dam-
age your engine if they are not
removed regularly. Changing the oil and filter requires
special tools and access from
underneath the car. The car should
be raised on a service station-type
hydraulic lift for this service. Unless you have the knowledge
and proper equipment, you should
have this maintenance done by a
skilled mechanic. 1. Run the engine until it reaches

normal operating temperature,

then shut it off. 2. Open the hood and remove the oil
filler cap. Remove the oil drain
bolt from the bottom of the
engine. Drain the oil into an
appropriate container.
3. Remove the oil filter and let the remaining oil drain. A special
wrench (available from your Honda dealer) is required to
remove the filter.

Maintenance
CONTINUED

The oil, engine components
and the exhaust system are
hot and can burn you.
Use caution and wear protec-
tive clothing while working in
the engine compartment.
Repeated, prolonged exposure
to used motor oil may cause
skin cancer.
Wash your hands thoroughly
with strong soap as soon as possible after handling used oil. OIL FILTER
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Engine Oil

4. Install a new oil filter according to instructions that come with it.
5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt, then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
40 N .
m (4.0 kg-m , 29 Ib-ft) 6. Refill the engine with the recom-

mended oil.

Engine oil capacity
(including filter):
(US: S, Canada: S)
3.8
(4.0 US qt, 3.3 Imp qt)

(US: Si, Si 4WS, Canada: SR, SR 4WS)

4.3
(4.5 US qt, 3.8 Imp qt)

7. Replace the oil filler cap. Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator light should go out
within five seconds. If it does not, turn off the engine and reinspect
your work.
8. Let the engine run for several minutes and check the drain bolt
and oil filter for leaks.
9. Turn off the engine, let it sit for several minutes, then check the
oil level. If necessary, add oil to
bring the level to the upper mark
on the dipstick. If you change your own oil, please
dispose of the used oil properly. Put
it in a sealed container and take it

to a recycling center. Do not

discard it in a trash bin or dump it

on the ground.

The oil and filter should be chang-

ed every 6 months or 12,000 km

(7,500 miles), whichever comes first.

Under severe driving conditions,

they should be changed every 3
months or 6,000 km (3,750 miles).

See page 130 for a description of

severe driving conditions.

Maintenance
NOTICE

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Transmission Oil

Automatic Transmission

Check the fluid level with the
engine at normal operating tempe-
rature.
1. Park the car on level ground. Shut off the engine.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop) from the transmission and
wipe it with a clean cloth. 3. Insert the dipstick into the

transmission.

4. Remove the dipstick and check the fluid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
5. If the level is below the lower
mark, add fluid into the tube to
bring it to the upper mark. Use
Honda Premium Formula
Automatic Transmission Fluid or an equivalent DEXRON ®
II
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) only.
6. Insert the dipstick back in the transmission.
The transmission should be drained
and refilled with new fluid every 24
months or 48,000 km (30,000 miles),
whichever comes first.
Maintenance
DIPSTICK

UPPER MARK
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Transmission Oil

5-Speed Transmission

Check the oil level a couple of mi-
nutes after shutting off the engine.
Make sure the car is on level
ground. Remove the transmission
filler bolt. The oil level should be
up to the edge of the bolt hole. Feel
inside the bolt hole with your finger.
If you do not feel any oil, slowly
add oil until it starts to run out of
the hole. Reinstall the filler bolt
and tighten it securely. Only use an SF or SG grade motor
oil with a weight of 10W-30 or
10W-40.

The transmission should be drained and refilled with new oil every 24
months or 48,000 km (30,000 miles),
whichever comes first.

Maintenance

Correct
level

FILLER

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Air Conditioner

Optional for S model

Your car's air conditioner is a
sealed system. Any major mainte-
nance, such as recharging, should
be done by a qualified technician. There are a couple of things you
can do to make sure the air condi-
tioner works efficiently. Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the front surface.
These block the air flow and
reduce cooling efficiency. Use a light spray from a hose or a soft
brush to remove them.
The condenser and radiator fins
bend easily. Only use a low- pressure spray or soft-bristle brush

to clean them.

Run the air conditioner at least
once a week during the cold
weather months. Run it for at least ten minutes while you are driving
at a steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature.
This circulates the lubricating oil contained in the refrigerant. If the air conditioner does not get
as cold as before, it is probably
because some of the refrigerant has
leaked from the system. Have your dealer check the system for leaks
and recharge the system with
Refrigerant 12 (R-12).
Charging quantity: 750 — 800 g (26.5 — 28.3 oz)
Whenever you have the air condi-
tioning system serviced, make sure
the service facility uses a refrige-
rant recycling system. This system captures the refrigerant for reuse.
Releasing refrigerant into the at-
mosphere can damage the environ-
ment.

Maintenance

AIR CONDITIONING

CONDENSER
NOTICE
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