1998 HONDA PRELUDE octane

Break-in Period, Gasoline

Break-in Period

Help assure your vehicle's future
reliability and performance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the first 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period: Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid

acceleration.

Avoid hard braking. New brakes need to be broken-in by moderate
use for the first 200 miles (300

km).

You should follow these same re- commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined.
Gasoline

Your Honda is designed to operate on premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 91 or higher.
If you are unable to find premium
unleaded gasoline, you may substi-
tute an unleaded regular gasoline.
The engine will compensate for the lower octane, but you may notice aslight decrease in power as a result.
We recommend gasolines containing detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead willdamage your vehicle's emission
controls. This contributes to air
pollution. In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emission control system performance may deteriorate and
the Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on. If this happens, contact your
authorized Honda dealer for service.

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Maintenance Schedule

The Maintenance Schedule specifies how often you should have your
vehicle serviced and what things need attention. It is essential that
you have your vehicle serviced as scheduled to retain its high level ofsafety, dependability, and emissions
control performance.
The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the maintenanceschedule assume you will use your
vehicle as normal transportation for passengers and their possessions.
You should also follow these
recommendations:
Avoid exceeding your vehicle's
load limit. This puts excess stresson the engine, brakes, and many
other parts of your vehicle. The
load limit is shown on the label on
the driver's doorjamb.
Operate your vehicle on
reasonable roads within the legalspeed limit.
Drive your vehicle regularly over a
distance of several miles
(kilometers).

Always use unleaded gasoline with the proper octane rating (see page
120). Which Schedule to Follow:
Service your vehicle according to the
time and mileage periods on one of
the Maintenance Schedules on the
following pages. Select the schedule
for "Severe Conditions" if most of
your driving is done under one or more of the conditions listed on that
page. Otherwise, follow the schedule
for "Normal Conditions."

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Oxygenated Fuels

Some conventional gasolines are
being blended with alcohol or an
ether compound. These gasolines

are collectively referred to as

oxygenated fuels. To meet clean air

standards, some areas of the United

States and Canada use oxygenated

fuels to help reduce emissions.

If you use an oxygenated fuel, be
sure it is unleaded and meets the

minimum octane rating requirement.

Before using an oxygenated fuel, try

to confirm the fuel's contents. Some
states/provinces require this
information to be posted on the

pump.
The following are the EPA-approved
percentages of oxygenates:
ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol)
You may use gasoline containing up to 10 percent ethanol by volume.Gasoline containing ethanol may be
marketed under the name "Gasohol."
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)
You may use gasoline containing up to 15 percent MTBE by volume.
METHANOL (methyl or wood
alcohol)

You may use gasoline containing up to 5 percent methanol by volume as
long as it also contains cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors to protect
the fuel system. Gasoline containing more than 5 percent methanol by
volume may cause starting and/or performance problems. It may alsodamage metal, rubber and plastic
parts of your fuel system. If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
Fuel system damage or performance
problems resulting from the use ofan oxygenated fuel containing more
than the percentages of oxygenates
given above are not covered under

warranty.

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Driving in Foreign Countries

If you are planning to take your
Honda outside the U.S. or Canada,
contact the tourist bureaus in theareas you will be traveling in to find
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane

rating.

If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline in your Honda will affect perfor-
mance and fuel mileage, and damage
its emissions controls. It will no
longer comply with U.S. andCanadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North
America. To bring your vehicle back into compliance will require the re-
placement of several components, such as the oxygen sensors and the
three way catalytic converter. These replacements are not covered under
warranty.

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Index

Emergency Brake............................ 84
Emergency Flashers....................... 63
Emission Controls......................... 261

Engine

Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 57
Malfunction Indicator Lamp................................. 53, 242
Oil Pressure Indicator......... 53, 240
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 173
Overheating................................ 238
Specifications............................. 254
Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 259
Evaporative Emission Controls.... 261
Exhaust Fumes................................ 47
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by.........................................17
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 220
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 222

Fan, Interior...................................... 92

Features, Comfort and Convenience................................. 91
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 121 Filters

Air................................................187

Oil................................................175

First Gear, Shifting........................ 142 5-speed Manual Transmission Checking Fluid Level................ 184
Shifting the................................. 134
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 63
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 229
Fluids Automatic Transmission........... 183
Brake...........................................185
Clutch..........................................186

Manual Transmission............... 184
Power Steering........................... 186

Windshield Washer................... 182

FM Stereo Radio
Reception.................................... 105

Folding Rear Seat............................ 79

Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 260 Four-way Flashers........................... 63

Front End, Towing by
Emergency Wrecker................. 250

Fuel..................................................120

Fill Door and Cap....................... 121
Gauge............................................ 57
Octane Requirement................. 120

Oxygenated................................ 259

Reserve Indicator......................... 55
Tank, Filling the......................... 121

Fuses, Checking the...................... 245

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 125
Gasohol........................................... 259
Gasoline.......................................... 120 Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 55
Gauge............................................ 57Octane Requirement................. 120
Tank, Filling the......................... 121
Gas Station Procedures................. 121

Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 57

Fuel................................................57

Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic Transmission........... 137

5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 134
Glass Cleaning............................... 223
Glove Box......................................... 74ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Locks Anti-theft Steering Column........ 71
Fuel Fill Door............................. 121
Glove Box.....................................74

Power Door.................................. 72

Trunk............................................
73

Low Coolant
Level......................... 124
Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 134
Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 55
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 53, 240
Lubricant Specifications Chart........................................... 254
Luggage.......................................... 128
Maintenance................................... 159 Owner Maintenance Checks.... 171

Record................................. 169 - 170

Required Indicator....................... 58
Schedule............................. 162 -

168

Malfunction Indicator
Lamp ... 53,

242

Manual Transmission.....................
134

Manual Transmission

Fluid .......... 184
Maximum Allowable Shift
Speeds................................. 135, 142
Meters, Gauges................................ 56
Methanol in Gasoline.................... 259
Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 83

Moonroof.......................................... 82
Closing Manually....................... 244
Operation...................................... 82
Neutral Gear Position.................... 139
New Vehicle Break-in ................... 120
Normal Shift Speeds...................... 135
NOTICE, Explanation of.................... i Numbers, Identification................ 252
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 120Odometer.......................................... 56

Odometer, Trip................................ 56

Oil Change, How to ......................... 175
Change, When to....................... 164
Checking Engine....................... 123
Pressure Indicator............... 53, 240 Selecting Proper Viscosity
Chart....................................... 174
ON (Ignition Key Position) ............ 71
Opening the Hood ......................... 122
Opening the Trunk.......................... 73
Operation in Foreign Countries... 260 Outside Mirrors............................... 83
Overheating, Engine..................... 238
Panel Brightness Control............... 61
Park Gear Position......................... 138 Parking............................................ 144
Parking Brake.................................. 84
Parking Lights.................................. 60
Parking Over Things that Burn... 144
PGM-FI System.............................. 262
Polishing and Waxing ................... 221

Power
Door Locks................................... 72

Mirrors.......................................... 83

Steering.......................................186

Windows....................................... 80
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 17ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Service Information Summary

Gasoline:
Premium Unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or

higher.

Fuel Tank Capacity:
15.9 US gal (60l,13.2 Imp gal)
Recommended Engine Oil:

API Service SJ "Energy Conserving" oil, SAE 5W-30
viscosity (see page 173).
Oil change capacity (including

filter):

5.1 US qt (4.8 l,4.2 Imp qt)

Automatic Transmission Fluid:

Honda Premium Formula
Automatic Transmission Fluid
preferred, or a DEXRON ®
III ATF

as temporary replacement (see page 183).
5-speed Manual Transmission

Fluid:
Honda Manual TransmissionFluid preferred, or an API service
SG, SH or SJ, 10W-30 or 10W-40 motor oil as a temporaryreplacement (see page 184).
Capacity (including differential):
Type SH
2.2 US qt (2 .
1 l,1.8lmpqt)
Except Type SH
2.0 US qt (1.9 l,1.7lmpqt)

Power Steering Fluid:

Genuine Honda Power Steering Fluid preferred, or another brand
of power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page 186).

Brake Fluid:

Genuine Honda DOT3 Brake Fluidpreferred, or a DOT 3 or DOT 4
brake fluid as a temporaryreplacement (see page 185).
Tire Pressure (measured cold):

Front/Rear:

32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm2)
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