1996 ACURA RL KA9 check engine

Hydraulic Tappets

Bleeding

1. Fill a container with 5W - 30 or 10W - 30 engine oil,

and place the hydraulic tappet in it. Press down on

the check ball with a thin wire. Bleed the tappet of

air by pumping the plunger slowly until no bubbles

come out of the hydraulic tappet.

WIRE

HYDRAULIC

TAPPET
PLUNGER

5W
- 30 or

10W
-
30

ENGINE OIL

CHECK BALL

2. Install the hydraulic tappet to the rocker arm.

NOTE:

• Use a new O-ring when reassembling.

• Apply oil to the O-ring before installation.

ROCKER ARM

O-RING

Replace.

HYDRAULIC

TAPPETProCarManuals.com

Cylinder Heads

Installation (cont'd)

4. Install the cylinder heads on the cylinder block.

5. Tighten the cylinder head bolts sequentially in 2 or

3 steps.

Specified Torque:

76 N-m (7.8 kgf-m, 56 Ibf-ft)

NOTE:

We recommend using a beam-type torque wrench.

When using a preset-type torque wrench, be sure

to tighten slowly and not to overtighten.

If a bolt makes any noise while you are torquing

it, loosen the bolt and retighten it.

CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS TORQUE SEQUENCE

CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS

Apply engine oil to the bolt

threads.
6. Install the head cover gasket in the groove of the

cylinder head cover. Seat the recesses for the cam-

shaft first, then work it into the groove around the

outside edges.

NOTE:

Before installing the cylinder head cover gasket,

thoroughly clean the seal and the groove.

When installing, make sure the head cover gasket

is seated securely in the corners of the recesses

with no gap.

CORNERS OF

THE RECESS
HEAD COVER

GASKET

Clean.
CORNERS OF

THE RECESS

CYLINDER

HEAD COVER

7. Apply liquid gasket to the head cover gasket at the

four corners of the recesses.

NOTE:

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

- 0003.

Check that the mating surfaces are clean and dry

before applying liquid gasket.

Do not install the parts if five minutes or more have

elapsed since applying liquid gasket. Instead, reap-

ply liquid gasket after removing old residue.

After assembly, wait at least 30 minutes before

filling the engine with oil.

Apply liquid gasket to

the shaded areas.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

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

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 Pan

Installation

Install the oil pan in the reverse order of removal:

• Always use new O-rings.

• Oil pan and cylinder block mating surface must be

clean.

1. Apply liquid gasket to the cylinder block, then install

the oil
pan.

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.

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

• To prevent oil leakage, apply liquid gasket to the

inner threads of the bolt holes.

• Do not install the parts if 5 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
fill-

ing the engine with oil.

CYLINDER

BLOCK

O-RING GROOVE

Apply liquid gasket

along the broken line.
NOTE: Use new O-rings. Apply oil to the O-rings

before installation.

DOWEL PIN
O-RINGS

Replace.

DOWEL PIN

OIL PAN

ASSEMBLY

8 x
1.25
mm

22 N-m (2.2 kgf-m,

16 Ibf-ft)

2. Tighten the oil pan bolts as shown.

OIL PAN BOLT TORQUE SEQUENCE

8 x 1.25 mm: 22 N-m (2.2 kgf-m, 16 Ibf-ft)ProCarManuals.com

Radiator
Illustrate d Inde x
Syste m is unde r hig h pressur e whe n th e
engin e i s hot . T o avoi d dange r o f releasin g scaldin g
coolant , remov e th e ca p onl y whe n th e engin e is cool .
Tota l Coolin g Syste m Capacit y (Includin g heate r an d
reservoir )
8.6 (9. 1 US qt , 7. 6 Im p qt )
Reservoi r capacity : 0.6 5 (0.6 9 U S qt , 0.5 7 Im p qt ) CAUTION
: Whe n pourin g engin e coolant , b e sur e t o
shu t th e rela y bo x li d an d no t t o spil l coolan t o n th e elec -
trica l part s o r th e painte d portion . I f an y coolan t spills ,
rins e it of f immediately .
NOTE:
Check al l coolin g syste m hose s fo r damage , leak s o r
deterioratio n an d replac e if necessary .
Chec k al l hos e clamp s an d retighte n i f necessary .
Us e ne w O-ring s whe n reassembling .
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIO NFLUID (ATF ) COOLE R HOSE SRefer t o sectio n 1 4 whe ninstalling .
RADIATO R CA PPressur e testing , pag e 10-7
6 x 1. 0 m m9 N- m (0. 9 kgf-m ,7 Ibf-ft )
RADIATO REngine coolan tRefilling an d bleeding , pag e 10-6Lea k test , pag e 10-7Inspec t soldere d joint s an dseam s fo r leaks .Blow ou t dir t fro m betwee ncore fin s wit h compresse d air .If insects , etc. , ar e cloggin gradiator, was h the m of f wit hlow-pressur e water .
CONDENSE RFAN SHROU D
6 x 1. 0 m m7 N- m (0. 7 kgf-m ,5 Ibf-ft )
O-RIN GReplace .
RADIATO R FA NCONTRO L SENSO R27 N- m (2. 8 kgf-m ,20 Ibf-ft )
FAN MOTO RRADIATO R FA NSHROU D
RADIATO RFAN
LOWE R RADIATO RHOSE
SELF-LOCKIN G NU T5.4 N- m (0.5 5 kgf-m , 3. 3 Ibf-ft )
O-RIN GReplace .
DRAINPLUG
UPPE R RADIATO RHOSE
ProCarManuals.com

Cap Testing
Testing

1. Remove the radiator cap, wet its seal with engine

coolant, then install it on the pressure tester.

RADIATOR

CAP

2. Apply a pressure of 93- 123 kPa (0.95- 1.25 kgf/cm2,

14-18 psi).

3. Check for a drop in pressure.

4. If the pressure drops, replace the cap.
1. Wait until the engine is cool, then carefully remove

the radiator cap and fill the radiator with engine

coolant to the top of the filler neck.

2. Attach the pressure tester to the radiator and apply

a pressure of 93-123 kPa (0.95 - 1.25 kgf/cm2, 14 -

18
psi).

RADIATOR PRESSURE

TESTER

(Commercially available)

3. Inspect for engine coolant leaks and a drop in pres-

sure.

4. Remove the tester and reinstall the radiator cap.

NOTE: Check for engine oil in the coolant and/or

coolant in the engine oil.
RADIATOR PRESSURE TESTER

(Commercially available)

SMALL ADAPTOR

(for 32 mm neck, low profile)
SMALL ADAPTOR

(for 32 mm neck, low profile)ProCarManuals.com