1996 ACURA RL KA9 engine

*1: RIKE N manufacture d pisto n ring .
*2 : TEIKOK U PISTO N RIN G manufacture d pisto n ring .
PISTO N RIN G
END GA P
15 - 2 0 m m(0.6-0. 8 in )
Pisto n Ring s
End Ga p
1. Usin g a piston , pus h a ne w rin g int o th e cylinde r
bore 15-2 0 m m (0. 6 - 0. 8 in ) fro m th e bottom .
2 . Measur e th e pisto n rin g end-ga p wit h a feele r
gauge :
• I f th e ga p is to o small , chec k t o se e if yo u hav e th e
prope r ring s fo r you r engine .
• I f th e ga p i s to o large , rechec k th e cylinde r bor e
diamete r agains t th e wea r limit s o n pag e 7-15 .
I f th e bor e i s ove r th e servic e limit , th e cylinde r
bloc k mus t b e rebored .
Pisto n Rin g End-Gap :
To p Rin g
Standar d (New) : 0.2 5 - 0.4 0 m m
(0.01 0 - 0.01 6 in )
Servic e Limit : 0.7 0 m m (0.02 8 in )
Secon d Rin g
Standar d (New) : 0.4 0 - 0.5 5 m m
(0.01 6 - 0.02 2 in )
Servic e Limit : 0.8 5 m m (0.03 3 in )
Oi l Rin g
Standar d (New) : 0.2 0 - 0.7 0 m m
(0.00 8 - 0.02 8 in ) * 1
0.2 0 - 0.5 0 mm
(0.00 8 - 0.02 0 in ) * 2
Servic e Limit : 0.8 0 m m (0.03 1 in )
Replacemen t
1. Usin g a rin g expander , remov e th e ol d pisto n rings .
2 . Clea n al l th e rin g groove s thoroughly .
NOTE:
• Us e a squared-of f broke n rin g o r rin g groov e
cleane r wit h a blad e t o fi t th e pisto n grooves . Fil e
dow n th e blad e i f necessary .
• To p rin g groov e i s 1. 5 m m (0.0 6 in ) wide , th e
secon d rin g groov e i s 1. 2 m m (0.0 5 in ) wide , an d
th e oi l rin g groov e is 2. 8 m m (0.1 1 in ) wide .
CAUTION : D o no t us e a wir e brus h to clea n th e rin g
grooves , o r cu t rin g groove s deepe r wit h th e clean -
in g tool .
NOTE : I f th e pisto n i s t o b e separate d fro m th e con -
nectin g rod , d o no t instal l ne w ring s yet .
3 . Instal l ne w ring s i n th e prope r sequenc e an d posi -
tio n (se e page s 7-21 , 7-22 ).
NOTE : D o no t reus e ol d pisto n rings .
PISTO N RIN G
RING EXPANDE R(Commerciall y available )
ProCarManuals.com

3. Stop after the ring compressor pops free, and check

the connecting rod-to-crank journal alignment

before pushing the piston into place.

4. Install the rod caps with bearings, and torque the

nuts to 44 N-m (4.5 kgf-m, 33 Ibf-ft).
RUBBER HOSES
CORRECT
Pistons

Installation

Before installing the piston, apply a coat of engine

oil to the ring grooves and cylinder bores.

1. Install the ring compressor, check that the bearing

is securely in place; then position the piston in the

cylinder and tap it in using the wooden handle of a

hammer.

2. Install the piston/connecting rod assemblies in the

cylinder block.

• Guide the piston carefully to prevent damage.

• Fit long rubber hoses (about 30 cm (12 in) long)

to the connecting rod bolts to protect the crank-

shaft.

• Install the pistons after setting the crankshaft to

BDC for each cylinder.

INCORRECT
The arrow must face

the timing belt side

of the engine and the

connecting rod oil hole

must face the right side

of the engine.

CONNECTING ROD

OIL HOLE

RUBBER

HOSE

NOTE: Maintain downward force on the ring com-

pressor to prevent the rings from expanding before

entering the cylinder bore.

Use the wooden handle

of a hammer to push, or

tap the piston into the

cylinder bore.

RING COMPRESSOR

(Commercially available)ProCarManuals.com

Line u p th e mar k whe ninstallin g th e connectin grod cap .
THRUS T WASHER S
5. Instal l th e piston/connectin g ro d assemblie s (se e
pag e 7-23 ).
6 . Chec k th e connectin g ro d bearin g clearanc e wit h
plastigag e (se e pag e 7-9 ), the n torqu e th e connect -
in g ro d ca p nuts .
NOTE : Referenc e number s o n th e connectin g rod s
ar e fo r big-en d bor e toleranc e an d d o NO T indicat e
the positio n o f th e pisto n in th e engine .
9 x 0.7 5 mm44 N- m (4. 5 kgf-m ,33 Ibf-ft )Apply engin e oi l t o th enut threads .
7. Tighte n th e 9 x 1.2 5 m m ca p bolt s t o th e specifie d
torque .
Torque : 3 9 N- m (4. 0 kgf-m , 2 9 Ibf-ft )
Appl y engin e oi l t o th e bol t threads .
8 . Tighte n th e 1 1 x 1. 5 m m ca p bolt s t o th e specifie d
torque.
Torque : 7 6 N- m (7. 8 kgf-m , 5 6 Ibf-ft )
Appl y engin e oi l t o th e bol t threads .
9 . Tighte n th e 1 0 x 1.2 5 m m ca p sid e bolt s t o th e spec -
ified torque .
Torque : 4 9 N- m (5. 0 kgf-m , 3 6 Ibf-ft )
9 x 1.2 5 mm39 N- m (4. 0 kgf-m ,29 Ibf-ft )
11 x 1. 5 m m76 N- m (7. 8 kgf-m ,56 Ibf-ft )
10 x 1.2 5 mm49 N- m (5. 0 kgf-m ,36 Ibf-ft )
BEARIN G CA P BOLT S TORQU E SEQUENC E
CAUTION: Wheneve r an y crankshaf t bearin g o r con -
nectin g ro d bearin g is replaced , i t i s necessar y afte r
reassembl y t o ru n th e engin e a t idlin g spee d unti l i t
reache s norma l operatin g temperature , the n continu e
to ru n it fo r approximatel y 1 5 minutes .
(cont'd)
ProCarManuals.com

Crankshaft

Installation (cont'd)

10. Apply liquid gasket to the cylinder block mating sur-

face of the rear cover, then install the cover on the

cylinder block.

REAR COVER

Apply liquid gasket

along the broken line.

Do not apply liquid gasket

to O-ring groove.

NOTE:

• Use liquid gasket, Part No. 08718 - 0001 or 08718

- 0003.

• Check that the mating surfaces are clean and dry

before applying liquid gasket.

• Apply liquid gasket evenly, being careful to cover

all the mating surface.

• To prevent oil leakage, apply liquid gasket to the

inner threads of the bolt holes.

• Do not apply liquid gasket to O-ring grooves.

• Do not install the parts if five minutes or more

have elapsed since applying liquid gasket.

Instead reapply liquid gasket after removing old

residue.

• After assembly, wait at least 30 minutes before

filling the engine with oil.

Apply liquid gasket

along the broken line.
O-RING GROOVE
NOTE:

• Apply a light coat of oil to the crankshaft and to the

lip of the oil seal.

• Use a new O-ring and apply oil when installing it.

REAR COVER
DOWEL PINS

6 x 1.0 mm

12 N-m (1.2 kgf-m,

8.7 Ibf-ft)
O-RING

Replace.

11. Apply liquid gasket to the cylinder block mating sur-

face of the oil pump.

NOTE: Do not apply liquid gasket to the O-ring

grooves.

OIL PUMP

HOUSINGProCarManuals.com

Engine Oi l
1. Par k th e vehicl e o n leve l ground , an d tur n of f th e
engine . Allo w th e oi l a fe w minute s t o drai n bac k
int o th e oi l pa n s o th e dipstic k wil l sho w th e actua l
level .
2 . Mak e certai n tha t th e oi l leve l indicate d o n th e dip -
stic k is betwee n th e uppe r an d lowe r marks .
DIPSTIC K
UPPERLOWE R
3. I f th e leve l ha s droppe d clos e t o th e lowe r mark ,
ad d oi l unti l i t reache s th e uppe r mark .
CAUTION : Inser t th e dipstic k carefull y to avoi d bend -
ing it .
Inspectio n
ProCarManuals.com

Engine Oi l
Replacemen t
CAUTION: Remov e th e drai n bol t carefull y whil e th e
engin e is hot ; th e ho t oi l ma y caus e scalding .
1 . War m u p th e engine .
2 . Drai n th e engin e oil .
WASHE RReplace.
DRAIN BOL T44 N- m (4. 5 kgf-m , 3 3 Ibf-ft )Do no t overtighten .
3. Reinstal l th e drai n bol t wit h a ne w washer , an d refil l
with th e recommende d oil .
Requiremen tAPI Servic e Grade : Us e "Energ y
Conserving " S J o r "Energ y Con -
servin g II " S H grad e oil . SA E 5 W - 30
preferred . Yo u ca n als o us e a n oi l tha t
bear s th e AP I CERTIFICATIO N mark .
Capacit y
4.3 (4. 5 US qt , 3. 8 Im p qt )
at oi l change .
4.6 (4. 9 US qt , 4. 0 Im p qt )
at oi l chang e includin g filter .
5.3 (5. 6 US qt , 4. 7 Im p qt )
afte r engin e overhaul .
Change
interval Ever
y 7,50 0 mile s (12,00 0 km ) o r
1 2 month s
(Norma l conditions) .
Ever y 3,75 0 mile s (6,00 0 km ) o r
6 month s (Sever e conditions) .
NOTE : Unde r norma l conditions , th e oi l filte r shoul d b e
replace d a t ever y othe r oi l change . Unde r sever e condi -
tions , th e oi l filte r shoul d b e replace d a t eac h oi l change .
ProCarManuals.com

The numbers in the middle of the API Service label tell

you the oil's SAE viscosity or weight. Select the oil for

your vehicle according to this chart:

Ambient Temperature

An oil with a viscosity of 5W - 30 is preferred for

improved fuel economy and year-round protection in

the vehicle. You may use a 10W - 30 oil if the climate in

your area is limited to the temperature range shown on

the chart.

API SERVICE LABEL

4. Run the engine for more than 3 minutes, then check

for oil leakage.ProCarManuals.com

Oil Filter

Replacement

CAUTION: Loosen the engine oil filter carefully while

the engine is hot, the hot oil may cause scalding.

1. Remove the oil filter with the special oil filter

wrench.

2. Inspect the threads and rubber seal on the new fil-

ter. Wipe off the seat on the engine block, then

apply a light coat of oil to the filter rubber seal.

NOTE: Use only filters with a built-in bypass sys-

tem.

Inspect threads and

rubber seal surface.

Apply oil to rubber seal

before installing.

(cont'd)ProCarManuals.com