2003 Acura CL oil

The oil’s viscosity or weight is
provided on the container’s label.
Select the oil f or your vehicle
according to this chart.
5W-20 oil is f ormulated f or year-
round protection of your Acura, to
improve cold weather starting, and
to help your engine use less f uel.
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.You may use a synthetic motor oil if
it meets the same requirements
given f or a conventional motor oil: it
displays the API Certif ication Seal,
and it is the proper weight as shown
on the chart. When using synthetic
oil, you must f ollow the oil and f ilter
change intervals given in the
maintenance schedule.
Your Acura does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
af f ect your engine’s or transmission’s
perf ormance and durability.
Engine Oil
Maint enance
Synthetic Oil
Additives
240
A Am
m b
bi
iee n
n t
t T
Te
emm p
pe
er
raat tuu r
ree

Always change the oil and f ilter
accordingtothetimeanddistance
(miles/kilometers) recommenda-
tions in the maintenance schedule.
The oil and f ilter collect contami-
nants that can damage your engine if
they are not removed regularly.Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.
Open the hood and remove the
engine oil f ill cap. Remove the oil
drain bolt and washer f rom the
bottom of the engine. Drain the oil
into an appropriate container.Remove the oil f ilter and let the
remaining oil drain. A special
wrench (available f rom your Acura
dealer) is required to remove the
f ilter.
Changing the oil and f ilter requires
special tools and access f rom
underneath the car. The car should
be raised on a service station-type
hydraulic lif t f or this service. Unless
you have the knowledge and proper
equipment, you should have this
maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.
1.
2.3.
CONT INUED
Changing the Oil and Filter
Engine Oil
Maint enance241
W WA
AS
SHH E
ER
R O
OI
ILL D
DR
RAA I
INN
B
BO OL LTT O
OI
ILL F
FIILL T
T E
ER
R

Let the engine run f or several
minutes and check the drain bolt
and oil f ilter f or leaks.
Turn of f the engine, let it sit f or
several minutes, then check the oil
level. If necessary, add oil to bring
the level to the upper mark on the
dipstick.
Install a new oil f ilter according to
instructions that come with it.
Put a new washer on the drain bolt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
Refill the engine with the recom-
mended oil.
Engine oil change capacity
(including f ilter):
Replace the engine oil f ill cap.
Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator light should go out within
f ive seconds. If it does not, turn of f
the engine and reinspect your
work.
6. 7.
8.
9.
4.
5.
Engine Oil
Maint enance242
29 lbf·ft (39 N·m , 4.0 kgf·m)
4.6 US qt (4.4
, 3.9 Imp qt)
Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmf ul 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.

The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
If you are not sure how to add f luid,
contact your Acura dealer.Insert the dipstick all the way back
into the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
Check the f luid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground.
Remove the check bolt and look for
transmission f luid coming out of the
bolt hole. If a small amount of f luid
drips out of the bolt hole, reinstall
the check bolt. If no f luid comes out, remove the
f iller bolt. Slowly add Honda Manual
Transmission Fluid (MTF) until it
starts to run out of the check bolt
hole. Let the f luid run out until it
stops, then reinstall the check bolt
and the f iller bolt.
If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40
viscosity motor oil with the API
Certif ication seal that says ‘‘FOR
GASOLINE ENGINES’’ as a
temporary replacement. However,
motor oil does not contain the proper
additives and continued use can
cause stif f er shif ting. Replace as
soon as it is convenient.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
6.
6-speed Manual Transmission
Maint enance
T ransmission Fluid
251
F FIILLL LE
E R
R B
BOOL LT
T
C
CH H E
EC
CK K B
BOOL LTT
D
D R
RAA I
INN B
BOOL LTT

The spark plugs in your car are a
special platinum-tipped design f or
longer lif e. The spark plugs should
be replaced according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.Loosen the two holding clips by
turning the heads one-quarter turn
counterclockwise with a f lat-tipped
screwdriver. Remove the cover on
the f ront cylinder bank by pulling
it straight up.
Clean up any dirt and oil that have
collected around the ignition coils.Disconnect the wire connector
f rom the ignition coil by pushing
on the lock tab and pulling on the
connector. Pull on the plastic
connector, not the wires.
1.
2. 3.
Replacement
Spark Plugs
Maint enance256
H H
O
OL LDD I
INNG G C
CLLI
IPP I
IG
GN NIITT I
IOON N C
COOI ILL
C
CO
ON NNNEEC
CT TO
OR R
L
L O
OC CKK
T
T A
A B
B

Use a wrench to remove the
hexagonsocketheadcapbolt
holding the ignition coil. Remove
the ignition coil by pulling it
straight out.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:
Remove the spark plug with
a f ive-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket. 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.
4.
5. 6.
7.
Spark Plugs
Maint enance257
H HE
EX
X A
AG
GO ONN S
SOOC CKKEET
T H
HE
EA
A D
D C
CAA P
P B
BOOL LTT
13 lbf·ft (18 N·m , 1.8 kgf·m)

´
µ´
µ
Install the ignition coil. Reinstall
the hexagon socket head cap bolt.
Push the wire connector onto the
ignition coil. Make sure it locks in
place.
Repeat this procedure f or the
other f ive spark plugs.
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 f lat-tipped
screwdriver.
Spark Plug Gap:
Spark Plug Gap:
8.
9.
10.
11. NGK:
DENSO:
NGK:
DENSO: Specif ications:
Spark Plugs
Maint enance
Premium model
T ype-S
258
0.04 in (1.1 mm)
0.04 in (1.1 mm) PZFR5F-11
PKJ16CR-L11
PZFR6E-11
PKJ20CR-M11
0
0.1 mm0
0.1 mm
Tighten the spark plugs caref ully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine.
Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.

Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it f or at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the ref rigerant.If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Ref rigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specif ications on page
.)
Periodically check the engine’s
radiator and air conditioning
condenser f or leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the f ront surf ace. These
block the air f low and reduce cooling
ef f iciency. Use a light spray f rom a
hose or a sof t brush to remove them. Your car’s air conditioning is a sealed
system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualif ied mechanic. You can do
a couple of things to make sure the
air conditioning works ef f iciently. 326
A ir Condit ioning Syst em
Maint enance264
A AI
IRR C
COON NDDI
ITT I
IOON NIINNG G C
COON NDDE
EN
NS SEER
R
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
f acility uses a ref rigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
ref rigerant f or reuse. Releasing
ref rigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
The condenser and radiator f ins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or sof t-bristle brush to clean them.