2004 Acura TSX adding oil

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 . This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Acura, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Acura
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .230
.
Important Safety Precautions . 231
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 232
...
Required Maintenance Record . 239
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 242
..............................
Fluid Locations .243
......................................
Engine Oil .244
..................................
Adding Oil .244
....................
Recommended Oil .244
..............................
Synthetic Oil .245
....................................
Additives .246
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 246
.............................
Cooling System .249
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 249
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 251
....................
Windshield Washers .255
.......................
Transmission Fluid .256
Automatic .........................
Transmission .256
6-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .257
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 259
............................
Brake System .259
...........................
Clutch System .260
..............................
Power Steering .260
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .261 ....................................
Hood Latch .262
....................................
Spark Plugs .262
..............................
Replacement .262
............................
Specif ications .264
...........................................
Battery .265
.................................
Wiper Blades .267
..............
Air Conditioning System . 269
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 270
.......................................
Drive Belt .272
...............................................
Tires .273
......................................
Inf lation .273
..................................
Inspection .275
..............................
Maintenance .275
.............................
Tire Rotation .276
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 276
......................
Wheels and Tires .277
..........................
Winter Driving .278
.............................
Snow Tires .278
............................
Tire Chains .278
.............................................
Lights .280
........................
Replacing Bulbs .282
...........................
Storing Your Car .293
351
Maintenance
Maint enance229

Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.
Regularly maintaining your car is the
best way to protect your investment.
Proper maintenance is essential to
your saf ety and the saf ety of your
passengers. It will also reward you
with more economical, trouble-f ree
driving, and help reduce air pollution. This section includes instructions f or
simple maintenance tasks, such as
checking and adding oil. Any service
items not detailed in this section
should be perf ormed by an Acura
technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.
Maintenance Saf ety
Maint enance230
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.
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.

Pour the f luid to the f iller hole slowly
and caref ully so you do not spill.
Clean up any spills immediately.
Spilled f luid could damage
components in the engine
compartment.
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.If you are not sure how to check and
add f luid, contact your Acura dealer.
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.
Af ter checking and adding the f luid,
put the under cover back in place
and tighten the bolts securely.
T ransmission Fluid
Maint enance258
FILLER BOLT

Î
............................
Capacities Chart .334
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 53
.............................
Carrying Cargo .193
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
..........................
CD Changer .136, 156
........................
CD Pocket, Center .107
........................
Certif ication Label .332
............................................
Chains .278
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .305
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 251
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .246
......................................
When to .234
...
Charging System Indicator . 60,318
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 198
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 87
.......................................
Child Seats .26
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
...................................
Cleaner, Air .261
Cleaning ....................
Aluminum Wheels .297
...................................
Carpeting .298
......................................
Exterior .296
.........................................
Fabric .299 .......................................
Interior .298
.......................................
Leather .299
...................................
Seat Belts .299
...........................................
Vinyl .299
......................................
Window .300
...............
Climate Control System . 114
.................
Clock, Setting the . 135,153
...................................
Clutch Fluid .260
........................
CO in the Exhaust .342
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 200
..............................
Compact Spare .304
.................
Console Compartment . 105
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 348
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 57
Coolant ........................................
Adding .249
....................................
Checking .189
.........................
Proper Solution .249
...................
Temperature Gauge . 66
....................
Corrosion Protection .311
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .342
............
Cruise Control Operation . 174
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 348................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
.......................................
Dashboard .58
................
Daytime Running Lights . 72
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 350
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 75
....................................
Dimensions .334
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 70
Dipstick ..........
Automatic Transmission . 256
..................................
Engine Oil .187
..........................
Directional Signals .73
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 212
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .248
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 81
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 337
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission .201
.....................................
Drive Belts .272
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving .197
....................................
Economy .190
.........................
In Bad Weather .219
................
In Foreign Countries . 341
Index
C D
II