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Engine Oil
Recommended Oil Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade 5W-20 detergent oil displaying the API
Certification Seal. This seal indicates
the oil is energy conserving, and that
it meets the American Petroleum
Institute's latest requirements.
Genuine Honda Motor Oil is the
preferred 5W-20 lubricant for your
vehicle. It is highly recommended that you use Genuine Honda MotorOil in your vehicle for optimum
engine protection. Make sure the API Certification Seal
says "For Gasoline Engines."
The SAE number tells you the oil's
viscosity or weight. Select the oil for
your vehicle according to this chart. 5W-20 oil is formulated for year-
round protection of your Honda, to
improve cold weather starting, and
to help your engine use less fuel.
If 5W-20 oil is not available, a 5W-30 oil may be used. However, it should
be replaced with 5W-20 at the next oil change.
Synthetic Oil
You may use a synthetic motor oil if it meets the same requirements
given for a conventional motor oil: it displays the API Certification Seal,
and it is the proper weight as shownon 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 require any oiladditives. Additives may adversely
affect your engine's or transmission's
performance and durability.
Maintenance
API CERTIFICATION SEAL
Ambient Temperature
Page 239 of 372
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.
Maintenance
Page 240 of 372
Engine Oil
4-cylinder models
2. Open the hood and remove the engine oil fill cap. Remove the oil
drain 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.
5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
33 Ibf.ft (44 N.m , 4.5 kgf.m)
CONTINUED
Maintenance
DRAIN BOLT
WASHER
6-cylinder models WASHER
DRAIN BOLT
OIL FILTER
4-cylinder models
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Engine Oil
6. Refill the engine with the recom- mended oil.
Engine oil change capacity (including filter):
(4-cylinder models)
4.5 US qt (4.3 , 3.8 Imp qt)
(6-cylinder models)
4.6 US qt (4.4 , 3.9 Imp qt)
7. Replace the engine oil fill cap.
Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator 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
NOTICE
OIL FILTER
6-cylinder models
Page 253 of 372
Transmission Fluid
If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an API service SG, SH or SJ
grade motor oil with a viscosity ofSAE 10W-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.
Maintenance
Page 259 of 372
Hood Latch, Spark Plugs (4-cylinder Models)
Hood Latch
Clean the hood latch assembly with a
mild cleaner, then lubricate it with a
multipurpose grease. Lubricate all
the moving parts, including the pivot. Follow the time and distance
recommendations in the Maintenance Schedule. If you are
not sure how to clean and grease the
latch, contact your Honda dealer. Spark Plugs
The spark plugs in your car should be replaced according to the timeand distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.
Replacement
1. Clean up any dirt and oil around the spark plug caps.
2. Remove the spark plug cap by pulling it straight out.
3. Remove the spark plug with a five-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket.
Maintenance
LATCH ASSEMBLY
SPARK PLUG CAP
Page 261 of 372
Spark Plugs (6-cylinder Models)
The spark plugs in your car should be replaced according to the timeand distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.
1. Loosen the two holding clips by turning the heads one-quarter turncounterclockwise with a flat-tippedscrewdriver. Remove the cover on
the front cylinder bank by pulling
it straight up. 2. Clean up any dirt and oil that have
collected around the ignition coils.
3. Disconnect the wire connector from the ignition coil by pushingon the lock tab and pulling on the
connector. Pull on the plastic connector, not the wires. 4. Use a wrench to remove the
hexagon socket head cap boltholding the ignition coil. Remove
the ignition coil by pulling it straight out.
5. Remove the spark plug with a five-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket.
Maintenance
Replacement
HEXAGON SOCKET HEAD CAP BOLT
HOLDING CLIP
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Spark Plugs (6-cylinder Models)
6. Put the new spark plug into the socket; then screw it into the hole.
Screw it in by hand so you do not
crossthread it.
7. Torque the spark plug. (If you do not have a torque wrench, tighten
the spark plug two-thirds of a turn after it contacts the cylinder head.)
Tightening torque:
13 lbf .
ft (18 N .
m , 1.8 kgf .
m)
Tighten the spark plugs carefully. A
spark plug that is too loose can overheat and damage the engine.Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.
8. Install the ignition coil. Reinstall the hexagon socket head cap bolt. 9. Push the wire connector onto the
ignition coil. Make sure it locks in
place.
10. Repeat this procedure for the other five spark plugs.
11. Reinstall the cover on the front cylinder bank while putting its
mounting clip in the hole on the
passenger's side. Secure the cover
by turning the heads of the two holding clips one-quarter turn clockwise with a flat-tipped
screwdriver.
Specifications:
NGK:
DENSO:
PZFR5F-11
PKJ16CR-L11
Spark Plug Gap:
0.04 in
(1.1
mm)
Maintenance
NOTICE