1992 HONDA PRELUDE maintenance

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
OIL DRAIN BOLTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

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

OIL DRAIN BOLTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Cooling System

Checking the Coolant Level

Check the level of the engine
coolant by looking at the radiator
reserve tank next to the battery. If
the level is at or below the MIN line, add coolant to bring it up to the
MAX line. This coolant should
always be a mixture of 50%
antifreeze and 50% water. Never
add straight antifreeze or plain
water. Always use Genuine Honda Anti-
freeze/Coolant. The cooling system contains many aluminum compo-
nents which can corrode if an
improper antifreeze is used. Some
antifreeze, even though labeled as
safe for aluminum parts, may not
provide adequate protection.
Adding Radiator Coolant

If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
1. Make sure the engine and radiator are cool.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

RESERVE TANK

MAX
MIN

Removing the radiator cap

while the engine is hot can

cause the coolant to spray out,

seriously scalding you.

Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Cooling System

2. Turn the radiator cap counter- clockwise, without pressing
down on it, until it stops. This
relieves any pressure remaining
in the cooling system.
3. Remove the radiator cap by pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.
4. The coolant level should be up to
the base of the filler neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
5. Put
the radiator cap back on.
Tighten it fully.
6. Pour coolant into the reserve tank. Fill it to halfway between
the MAX and MIN marks. Put
the cap back on the reserve tank.

Do no t
add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your car's
cooling system. They may not be
compatible with the coolant or
engine components.

Replacing Coolant

The cooling system should be
completely drained and refilled
with new coolant according to the
time and mileage recommendations in the maintenance schedule. Only
use recommended antifreeze.
Draining the coolant requires
access to the underside of the car.
Unless you have the tools and
knowledge, you should have this
maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.

Maintenance
RADIATOR CAP
RESERVE TANKProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Cooling System

1. Slide the heater temperature control lever to maximum heat.
Open the hood. Make sure the
engine and radiator are cool to

the touch.

2. Remove the radiator cap. 3. Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will drain through the
splash guard. Remove the drain
bolt from the engine block. 4. Remove the reserve tank from
its holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back in its holder.
5. When the coolant stops draining, tighten the drain plug in the
bottom of the radiator. Apply non-hardening sealant to the
drain bolt threads and reinstall
the bolt in the engine block.
Tighten it securely.

Maintenance

DRAIN
PLUG
DRAIN
BOLT RESERVE TANK

HOLDER
RESERVE

TANK CAP

CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Cooling System

6. Mix the recommended antifreeze with an equal amount of purifiedor distilled water in a clean
container. The cooling system
capacity is:

With 5-speed transmission:

(US: S, Canada: S)
3.5
(0.92 US gal, 0.77 Imp gal)

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

3.8
(1.00 US gal, 0.84 Imp gal)
With automatic transmission:
(US: S, Canada: S)
3.4
(0.90 US gal, 0.75 Imp gal)

(US: Si, Si 4WS, Canada: SR, SR 4WS)
3.7
(0.98 US gal, 0.81 Imp gal)

7. Pour coolant into the radiator up to the base of the filler neck.
8. Loosen the bleeder bolt on top ofthe engine. Tighten it again
when coolant comes out in asteady stream with no bubbles.
9. Refill the radiator to the base of the filler neck. Put the cap on the
radiator, only tighten it to the
first stop. Start the engine and
let it run until it warms up (the
radiator cooling fan comes on at
least twice).

Maintenance

FILLER NECK
Fill up to here
BLEEDER
BOLTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Cooling System, Windshield Washers

10.Turn off the engine. Check the
level in the radiator, add coolant
if needed. Install the radiator cap,
tighten it fully.

11.Fill the
reserve tank to the MAX

mark. Install the reserve tank
cap.

Windshield Washers
Chec
k the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
during normal usage. In bad
weather, when you use the washers often, check the level every time
you stop for gas.
The windshield washer reservoir is
located behind the left headlight.
Check the reservoir's fluid level by
removing the cap and looking at the float. It should be up to the top of the neck. If the float is at the
bottom of the neck, the reservoir is
nearly empty.
Fill the reservoir with a good- quality windshield washer fluid.
This increases the cleaning
capability and prevents freezing in cold weather.
Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your car's paint, while a vinegar/water
solution can damage the windshield
washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.

Maintenance

NOTICE

RESERVE TANK
FLOATProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

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
LOWER MARKProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t