2003 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK oil additives

During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration. We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
f uel system and engine deposits.
Avoidhardbraking.Newbrakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use f or the f irst 200 miles (300
km). In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emission control system
perf ormance may deteriorate and
the Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on.
If this happens, contact your
authorized Honda dealer f or service.
Help assure your car’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car’s emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
Do not change the oil until the
recommended time or mileage
intervalshowninthemaintenance
schedule.
Youshouldfollowthesesamere-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined. Your Honda is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy metallic rapping
noise in the engine that can lead to
mechanical damage.
Break-in Period, Gasoline
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period Gasoline 128

This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
......................
Maintenance Saf ety . 154
.
Important Safety Precautions . 155
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 156
...
Required Maintenance Record . 163
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 165
..............................
Fluid Locations . 166
......................................
Engine Oil . 167
..................................
Adding Oil . 167
....................
Recommended Oil . 167
..............................
Synthetic Oil . 168
....................................
Additives . 168
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 169
.............................
Cooling System . 171
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 171
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 173
....................
Windshield Washers . 176
.......................
Transmission Fluid . 177
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 177
............................
Brake System . 178
...........................
Clutch System . 178
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 179
....................................
Hood Latch . 181
....................................
Spark Plugs . 181
..............................
Replacement . 181
............................
Specif ications . 183
...........................................
Battery . 184 .................................
Wiper Blades . 186
..............
Air Conditioning System . 189
..................
DustandPollenFilter .190
.....................................
Drive Belts . 192
...............................................
Tires . 193
......................................
Inf lation . 193
Recommended TirePressures f or Normal ...........................
Driving . 194
Tire Pressure Adjustment ....
f or High Speed Driving . 194
..................................
Inspection . 195
..............................
Maintenance . 195
.............................
Tire Rotation . 196
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 197
......................
Wheels and Tires . 198
..........................
Winter Driving . 198
.............................
Snow Tires . 199
............................
Tire Chains . 199
.............................................
Lights . 200
.....................
Headlight Aiming . 202
........................
Replacing Bulbs . 202
...........................
Storing Your Car . 212
265
Maintenance
Maint enance
153

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 Honda does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
af f ect your engine’s or transmission’s
perf ormance and durability.
The oil’s viscosity or weight is
provided on the container’s label.
Select the oil f or your car according
to this chart.
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. A dditives
Synthetic Oil
Engine Oil
Maint enance
168 Ambient Temperature

Check the f luid level in the reser-
voirs monthly. There are up to two
reservoirs, depending on the model.
They are:Brake f luid reservoir
Clutch f luid reservoir
The brake f luid should be replaced
according to the time recommenda-
tion in the maintenance schedule.
Check the f luid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground. Remove the
transmission f iller bolt and caref ully
f eel inside the bolt hole with your
f inger. The f luid level should be up
to the edge of the bolt hole. If it is
not, add genuine Honda Manual
Transmission Fluid (MTF) until it
starts to run out of the hole. Reinstall
the f iller bolt and tighten it securely. 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 stiffer shifting. 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.
CONT INUED
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Maint enance
Transmission Fluid, Brake and Clutch Fluid
177
Correct level
FILLER BOLT

CONT INUED
BatteryCharging System ...........................
Indicator . 58, 235
............................
Jump Starting . 230
..............................
Maintenance . 184
............................
Specif ications . 251
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 127
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,43
...........................
Beverage Holders . 90
.................................
Body Repairs . 220
Brakes
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 128
...........................................
Fluid . 177
.....................
Light, Burned-out . 207
.........................................
Parking . 89
.................
System Indicator . 59, 238
........................
Wear Indicators . 147
.............................
Braking System . 147
........................
Break-in, New Car . 128
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 67
........................
Brights, Headlights . 66
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 135
................................
Accessories . 135
.
Additional Safety Precautions . 136
............................
Modif ications . 136
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) . 73
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 92
Adding
................................
Brake Fluid . 178
...............................
Clutch Fluid . 178
..........................
Engine Coolant . 171
..................................
Engine Oil . 167
....
Manual Transmission Fluid . 177
........
Windshield Washer Fluid . 176
Additional Inf ormation About .......................
Your Seat Belts . 43
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 43
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 45
..
Seat Belt System Components . 43
Additional Inf ormation About ...........................
Your Airbags . 46
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 51
How the Passenger Airbag
..........
Cutoff Indicator Works . 49 How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work . 46
....................
Airbag Components . 46
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 168
Adjustments
..........................
Head Restraints . 82
.........................................
Mirrors . 88
.............................................
Seats . 81
...........................
Steering Wheel . 71
...............................
Airbag (SRS) . 9, 46
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 179
................
Air Conditioning System . 96
..............................
Maintenance . 189
............................................
Usage . 96
.........................
Air Outlets (Vents) . 98
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 193
..................
High Speed Driving . 194
.........................
Normal Driving . 194
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 254
......................................
Antif reeze . 171
Anti-thef t Steering Column
..............................................
Lock . 73
..........................
Appearance Care . 213
................................
Audio System . 104
Index
A B
I