2001 Acura Integra service

Maintenanc
e Safet y

Regularly maintaining your car is the
best way to protect your investment. Proper maintenance is essential to
your safety and the safety of your passengers. It will also reward you
with more economical, trouble-free driving and help reduce air pollution. This section includes instructions for
simple maintenance tasks, such as
checking and adding oil. Any service
items not detailed in this section should be performed by an Acura
technician or other qualified
mechanic.
Some of the most important safety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you should perform a given task.

Maintenanc e

Improperly maintaining this car

or failing to correct a problem before driving can cause a
crash in which you can be
seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection

and maintenance
recommendations and

schedules in this owner's
manual.
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner's
manual.

Maintenanc
e Schedul e

The Maintenance Schedule specifies how often you should have your carserviced and what things need
attention. It is essential that you have
your car serviced as scheduled to retain its high level of safety,dependability, and emissions control
performance.
The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the maintenanceschedule assume you will use your
car as normal transportation for
passengers and their possessions.
You should also follow these
recommendations:
Avoid exceeding your car's load
limit. This puts excess stress onthe engine, brakes, and manyother parts of your car. The load
limit is shown on the label on the driver's doorjamb. Operate your car on reasonable
roads within the legal speed limit. Drive your car regularly over a
distance of several miles
(kilometers).
Always use unleaded gasoline with
the proper octane rating (see page
123). Whic
h Schedul e t o Follow :
Service your car 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."

Maintenanc e

Maintenanc
e Schedul e

Your authorized Acura dealer knows your car best and can provide competent, efficient service.
However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties in effect. Maintenance may be done
by any qualified service facility or person who is skilled in this type ofautomotive service. Keep all the
receipts as proof of completion, and
have the person who does the work fill out the Maintenance Record. Check your warranty booklet for
more information. We recommend the use of Genuine
Acura parts and fluids whenever you
have maintenance done. These are
manufactured to the same high-quality standards as the original
components, so you can be confidentof their performance and durability.
U.S. Vehicles:
Maintenance , replacemen t o r
repai r o f emission s contro l
device s an d system s may be don e
b y an y automotiv e repai r
establishmen t o r individua l usin g
part s tha t ar e "certified " t o EP A
standards . According to state and federal
regulations, failure to perform
maintenance on the items marked
with # will not void your emissions
warranties. However, Acura recommends that all maintenance services be performed at the
recommended time or mileage
period to ensure long-term reliability.

Maintenance

Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A
, B , C , D as required for each distance/time interval. Follow this
schedule if the severe driving conditions described in the Severe Conditions Schedule on the next page do not apply.
Canadia n owners : Follow the schedule for Severe Conditions.

#'. See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, lastcolumn, page 163.
* 1 : On Automatic transmission, thereafter replace transmission fluid every 90,000 mi/144,000 km/

5
yrs.
* 2 : Thereafter replace engine coolant every 60,000 mi/96,000 km/5 yrs.

NOTE:
Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop.
Check and adjust valve clearance, cold engine, only if noisy.
Maintenanc
e

page 201

Use this schedule if your vehicle is MAINLY driven in any of the following Severe Conditions, or normally driven in Canada; otherwise use the Normal
Schedule. Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A , B , C , D , E as required for each distance/time.

Sever e Conditions :
Driving less than 5 miles (8 km) per trip or, in freezing temperatures, driving less than 10 miles (16 km) per trip.
Driving in extremely hot (over 90°F/32°C) conditions.
Extensive idling or long periods of stop-and-go driving.
Trailer towing, driving with a roof rack, or driving in mountainous conditions.
Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads.

# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 163.
* : See timing belt on page 197 to determine need for replacement.

NOTE:
Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop.
Check and adjust valve clearance, cold engine, only if noisy.
CONTINUED

page
201

Maintenanc
e

Engin
e Oi l
Addin g Oi l
To add oil, unscrew and remove the engine oil fill cap on top of the valve
cover. Pour in the oil, and install the engine oil fill cap. Tighten it securely.
Wait a few minutes and recheck the oil level. Do not fill above the upper
mark; you could damage the engine. Recommende
d Oi l
Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade deter- gent oil. It is highly recommended
that you use Honda Motor Oil in
your vehicle for as long as you own it.
You can determine an oil's SAE
viscosity and Service Classification from the API Service label on the oil container.
A fuel-efficient oil is recommended for your Acura. This is shown on the
API Service label by the words "Energy Conserving." This oil is
formulated to help your engine use
less fuel. The API Service label also tells you
the service classification of the oil.
Always use an oil that is labeled "API Service SJ." This service rating may
include other classifications, such as CD. These additional classifications
are not a problem, as long as the
label also carries the SJ classification.
API SERVIC E LABE L

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

ENGIN
E OI L FIL L CA P

Engin
e Oi l
Syntheti c Oi l
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 intervalsgiven in the maintenance schedule. Additive
s
Your Acura 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 cost of operating your car. Changin
g th e Oi l an d Filte r
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.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

Transmissio
n Fluid , Brak e an d Clutc h Flui d
5-spee d Manua l Transmissio n
Check the fluid level with the
transmission at normal operating temperature and the car sitting on
level ground. Remove the
transmission filler bolt and carefully
feel inside the bolt hole with your
finger. The fluid level should be up
to the edge of the bolt hole. If it isnot, add Honda Manual Transmis-sion Fluid (MTF) until it starts to
run out of the hole. Reinstall the
filler bolt and tighten it securely. If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an API service SG, SH or SJ
grade motor oil with a viscosity of
SAE10W-30 or 10W-40 as a
temporary replacement. An SG
grade is preferred, but an SH or SJ
grade may be used if SG is not
available. However, motor oil does
not contain the proper additives and continued use can cause stiffershifting. Replace as soon as it is

convenient.

The transmission should be drained and refilled with new fluid according
to the time and distance recommen- dations in the maintenance schedule. Brak
e an d Clutc h Flui d
Check the fluid level in the reser-
voirs monthly. There are up to two reservoirs, depending on the model.
They are: Brake fluid reservoir (all models)
Clutch fluid reservoir
(manual transmission only)
The brake fluid should be replaced according to the time recommenda-
tion in the maintenance schedule.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

FILLE
R BOL T

Correc
t leve l