1999 HONDA CIVIC COUPE oil filter

Maintenance

This section explains why it is important to keep your car wellmaintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to per-form more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page 263 for information on how to obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 158
Important Safety Precautions.. 159
Maintenance Schedule.................. 160
Maintenance Record..................... 167 Owner Maintenance Checks........ 169
Fluid Locations............................... 170

Engine Oil....................................... 171
Adding Oil................................... 171

Recommended Oil..................... 171Synthetic Oil............................... 172

Additives..................................... 172
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 173

Cooling System.............................. 175
Adding Engine Coolant............. 175Replacing Engine Coolant........ 177
Windshield Washers..................... 180

Transmission Fluid........................ 180
Automatic
Transmission.......................... 180

5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 182

Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 182
Brake System............................. 183
Clutch System............................ 183

Power Steering............................... 184
Air Cleaner Element...................... 185 Hood Latch..................................... 186
Spark Plugs..................................... 187

Replacement............................... 187

Specifications............................. 188

Battery............................................ 189

Wiper Blades.................................. 191
Air Conditioning System............... 193 Drive Belts...................................... 194

Timing Belt..................................... 194

Tires................................................ 195 Inflation....................................... 195
Recommended Tire Pressures
for Normal Driving............ 196
Inspection................................... 197
Maintenance............................... 197
Tire Rotation.............................. 198
Replacing Tires and Wheels .... 199

Wheels and Tires....................... 200
Winter Driving........................... 200
Snow Tires.............................. 200

Tire Chains............................. 201
Lights.............................................. 202 Replacing Bulbs......................... 204

Storing Your Car............................ 212

MaintenanceMain Menu s t

Engine Oil

The oil container may also display the API Certification seal. Make sureit says "For Gasoline Engines."
API CERTIFICATION MARK The SAE numbers tell you the oil's
viscosity or weight. Select the oil for
your car according to this chart.

An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 is

preferred for improved fuel economy

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).
Synthetic Oil
You may use a synthetic motor oil if it meets the same requirements
given for conventional motor oil;energy conserving, a service
classification of SJ, and the proper
weight as shown on the chart. When using synthetic oil, you must follow
the oil and filter change intervals
given in the maintenance schedule.
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 costof operating your car.

Maintenance
Ambient TemperatureMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Engine Oil

Changing the Oil and Filter
Always change the oil and filter according to the time and distance (miles/kilometers) recommenda-
tions in the maintenance schedule.
The oil and filter collect contami- nants that can damage 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 engine oil fill cap. Remove the oildrain bolt and washer 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.
4. Install a new oil filter according to instructions that come with it.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

WASHER
OIL DRAIN BOLT OIL FILTERMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Engine Oil

5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt, then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:

(U.S.: DX and Si, Canada: DX and
SIR)

33 Ibf.ft (44 N.m, 4.5 kgf.m)
(U.S.: HX, EX, Canada: Si)
29 Ibf.ft (39 N.m, 4.0 kgf.m)
6. Refill the engine with the recom-
mended oil.

Engine oil change capacity
(including filter):
(DX) 3.8 US qt (3.6 ,3.2 Imp qt)

(U.S.: HX, EX, Canada: Si)
3.5 US qt (3.3 ,2.9 Imp qt)

(U.S.: Si, Canada: SIR)
4.2 US qt (4.0 ,3.5 Imp qt) 7. Install the engine oil fill cap. Start
the engine. The oil pressureindicator 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.
Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmful to the environment. 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.

Maintenance
NOTICEMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Storing Your Car

If you need to park your car for an

extended period (more than one

month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.

Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to

get your car back on the road. If possible, store your car indoors.

Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 173).

Wash and dry the exterior
completely.

Clean the interior. Make sure the

carpeting, floor mats, etc. are

completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put

the transmission in Reverse (5-
speed manual) or Park
(automatic). Block the rear wheels.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front wiper blade
arms with a folded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. Cover the car with a "breathable"
cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once a month).
If you store your car for 12 months
or longer, have your Acura dealer
perform the inspections called for in the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule as soos as you take it out of storage (see
page 162). The replacements called
for in the maintenance schedule are not needed unless the car has
actually reached that time or mileage.

MaintenanceMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index

Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 252
Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 254

Exhaust Fumes................................ 49

Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by......................................... 19
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 214
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 216
Fan, Interior...................................... 88
Features, Comfort and Convenience................................. 87
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 125
Filters Air................................................ 185

Oil................................................ 173

5-speed Manual Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 182
Shifting the................................. 138
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 64
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 221
Fluids Automatic Transmission........... 180Brake........................................... 183Clutch.......................................... 183 Manual Transmission............... 182
Power Steering........................... 184
Windshield Washer................... 180
FM Stereo Radio Reception.................................... 120
Folding Rear Seat............................ 78
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 253
Four-way Flashers........................... 64
Front End, Towing by Emergency Wrecker................. 241

Fuel.................................................. 124

Fill Door and Cap....................... 125Gauge............................................ 58
Octane Requirement................. 124
Oxygenated................................ 252
Reserve Indicator......................... 58
Tank, Filling the......................... 125
Fuses, Checking the...................... 236

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 129
Gasohol........................................... 252

Gasoline.......................................... 124
Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 58
Gauge............................................ 58
Octane Requirement................. 124

Tank, Filling the......................... 125

Gas Station Procedures................. 125

Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 58

Fuel................................................58
Gearshift Lever Positions
Automatic Transmission........... 140

5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 138

Glass Cleaning............................... 217

Glove Box......................................... 83

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 204
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 64
Headlights
Daytime Running Lights............. 61
High Beam Indicator................... 55
High Beams, Turning on............ 61
Low Beams, Turning on............. 61
Reminder Beeper......................... 61
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 204

Turning on.................................... 61

Head Restraints............................... 77Main Menu s t

Index

Reclining the Seat Backs................ 76 Recommended Shift Speeds ........ 138

Reminder Lights.............................. 53

Remote Transmitter........................ 72
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.................. 185Coolant........................................ 177
Engine Oil and Filter................. 173

Fuses........................................... 236

Light Bulbs................................. 202
Schedule..................................... 160

Spark Plugs................................. 187

Timing Belt................................. 194

Tires............................................ 195
Wiper Blades.............................. 191
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash............................................. 44

Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 128

Restraint Child................................ 21
Reverse Gear Position................... 143
Rotation, Tire................................. 198

Safety Belts......................................... 8

Safety Defects, Reporting* .......... 262
Safety Features.................................. 7
Airbags............................................ 9Door Locks................................... 11
Head Restraints........................... 10
Seat Belts........................................ 8
Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10

Safety Labels, Location of.............. 50
Safety Messages................................ii
Seat Belt, Additional Information.. 42 Lap Belt.........................................43
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 44
Seat Belt System Components... 42

Seat Belts............................................ 8
Cleaning...................................... 216
Maintenance................................. 44
Reminder Light and Beeper....... 54
System Components.................... 42
Tether Attachment Points.......... 40 Use During Pregnancy................ 19
Seats, Adjusting the......................... 76
Serial Number................................ 244
Service Intervals............................ 160
Service Manual* ............................ 263
Service Station Procedures.......... 125
Setting the Clock............................. 99 Shifting
The Automatic Transmission .. 140
The 5-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 138
Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 140
Shift Lock Release......................... 144
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 205

Signaling Turns................................ 62

Snow Tires...................................... 200

Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 214
Sound System................................... 96
Spare Tire Inflating....................................... 195Specifications............................. 248
Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 187
Specifications Charts..................... 246
Speed Control................................... 66
Speedometer.................................... 57
CONTINUEDMain Menu s t