2003 HONDA ACCORD COUPE Owners Manual

To add oil, unscrew and remove the
engine oil f ill cap on top of the valve
cover. Pour in the oil, and install the
engine oil f ill cap. Tighten it securely.
Wait a f ew minutes and recheck the
oil level. Do not f ill above the upper
mark; you could damage the engine.Pour the oil slowly and caref ully so
you do not spill. Clean up any spills
immediately. Spilled oil could
damage components in the engine
compartment.Oil is a major contributor to your
engine’s perf ormance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade 5W-20
detergent oil displaying the API
Certif ication Seal. This seal indicates
the oil is energy conserving, and that
it meets the American Petroleum
Institute’s latest requirements.
Honda Motor Oil is the pref erred
5W-20 lubricant f or your vehicle. It is
highly recommended that you use
Honda Motor Oil in your vehicle f or
optimum engine protection.
A dding Oil
Recommended Oil
Engine Oil
Maint enance294
ENGINE OIL FILL CAP
4-cylinder models6-cylinder modelsENGINE OIL FILL CAP

Make sure the API Certif ication Seal
says ‘‘For Gasoline Engines.’’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.
5W-20 oil is f ormulated f or year-
round protection of your Honda, to
improve cold weather starting, and
to help your engine use less f uel. The oil’s viscosity or weight is
provided on the container’s label.
Select the oil f or your car according
to this chart. Synthetic Oil
Engine Oil
Maint enance295
API CERTIFICATION SEAL
Ambient Temperature

Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.
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. 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.
Your Honda does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
af f ect your engine’s or transmission’s
perf ormance and durability.
1.
Changing the Oil and Filter
A dditives
Engine Oil
Maint enance296

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 from your
Honda dealer) is required to
remove the f ilter.Install a new oil f ilter according to
instructions that come with it.
Make sure to clean of f any dirt
and dust on the connecting
surf ace of a new oil f ilter.
4.
3.
2.
CONT INUED
Engine Oil
Maint enance297
4-cylinder models OIL DRAIN BOLT OIL DRAIN BOLT
WASHER
OIL FILTER
4-cylinder models
6-cylinder models WASHER

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.
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 check your work.
Let the engine run f or several
minutes, then check the drain bolt
and oil f ilter f or leaks.
Put a new washer on the drain bolt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
(4-cylinder models)
(6-cylinder models) 9.
8. 7. 6. (4-cylinder models)
(6-cylinder models)
5.
Engine Oil
Maint enance298
OIL FILTER
6-cylinder models
4.4 US qt (4.2)
4.5 US qt (4.3
)
33 lbf·ft (44 N·m , 4.5 kgf·m)
29 lbf·ft (39 N·m , 4.0 kgf·m) 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.

Always use Honda All Season
Antif reeze/Coolant Type 2. This
coolant is pre-mixed with 50 percent
antif reeze and 50 percent water. It
does not require any additional
mixing. If it is not available, you may
use another major-brand non-silicate
coolant as a temporary replacement.
Make sure it is a high-quality coolant
recommended f or aluminum engines.
However, continued use of any non-
Honda coolant can result incorrosion, causing the cooling
system to malf unction or f ail. Have
the cooling system f lushed and
ref illed with Honda antif reeze/
coolant as soon as possible.
If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add
coolant to bring it up to the MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system f or leaks.
The coolant you add should always
be a mixture of 50 percent antif reeze
and 50 percent water. Never add
straight antif reeze or plain water.
CONT INUED
A dding Engine Coolant
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance299
6-cylinder models RESERVE TANK
4-cylinder models RESERVE TANKRemoving the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

Pour coolant into the reserve tank.
Fill it to half way between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.
The coolant level should be up to
the base of the f iller neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
Pour the coolant slowly and caref ully
so you do not spill. Clean up any
spills immediately. Spilled coolant
could damage components in the
engine compartment. Put the radiator cap back on.
Tighten it f ully.
Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise. Turn the radiator cap counter-
clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops. This relieves
any pressure remaining in the
cooling system. Make sure the engine and radiator
are cool.
4.
5. 6.
1.
2.
3.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance300
RESERVE TANK
4-cylinder models
6-cylinder models4-cylinder models
RADIATOR CAP
RADIATOR CAP

Thecoolingsystemshouldbe
completely drained and ref illed with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use
Honda All Season Antif reeze/
Coolant Type 2.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance
done by a skilled mechanic.
Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your car’s cooling
system. They may not be compatible
with the coolant or engine compo-
nents. Openthehood.Makesurethe
engine and radiator are cool to the
touch.
Turn the ignition ON (II). Turn
the temperature control dial all the
way clockwise. Turn off the
ignition and remove the key. 1.
CONT INUED
On cars with Manual A/C
Replacing Engine Coolant
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance301
4-cylinder models
6-cylinder models RESERVE TANK