This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
If you have the skills and tools to
perf orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
maintenance messages on the multi-
inf ormation display, a maintenance
record, and instructions f or simple
maintenance tasks you may want to
take care of yourself .......................
Maintenance Saf ety .278
....................
Maintenance Minder .279
..............................
Fluid Locations .285
......
Engine Compartment Covers .286
........................
Adding Engine Oil .287
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter .288
..............................
Engine Coolant .290
....................
Windshield Washers .291
....
Automatic Transmission Fluid .292
........
Manual Transmission Fluid .294
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid .295
....................
Power Steering Fluid .296
.............................................
Lights .297
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts .303
.....................................
Floor Mats .304
.................................
Wiper Blades .304
...............................................
Tires .306
...................
Checking the Battery .314
.............................
Vehicle Storage .315
361
Maintenance
Maint enance
277
\f—\f—
y
y
(%\fy\fy
2008 TL
Fluid Locations
Maint enance
285
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAPENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIRBRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
CLUTCH FLUID
(Manual Transmission
only)
RADIATOR CAP
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK
(Yellow loop)
WASHER FLUID
(Blue cap)
POWER STEERING
FLUID (Red cap)
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
(Orange loop)
\f—\f—
y
y
(%\fy\f\fy
2008 TL
When the radiator and engine are
cool, relieve any pressure in the
cooling system by turning the
radiator cap counterclockwise,
without pressing down.
Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.Check the f luid level in the
windshield washer reservoir at least
monthly during normal use.
If the f luid level
is low, a ‘‘WASHER FLUID LOW’’
message will be shown on the multi-
inf ormation display.
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer f luid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
The coolant level should be up to
the base of the f iller neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
Pourthecoolantslowlyand
caref ully so you do not spill any.
Clean up any spill immediately; it
could damage components in the
engine compartment.
Put the radiator cap back on and
tighten it.
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.
Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your vehicle’s
cooling system. They may not be
compatible with the coolant or
engine components.
3.
1.
2. 4.
5.
On Canadian models:
CONT INUED
Engine Coolant, Windshield Washers
Windshield Washers
Maint enance
291
RADIATOR CAP
\f—\f—
y
\fy
(%\fy\fy
2008 TL
Check the f luid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.Remove the dipstick (yellow loop)
f rom the transmission, and wipe it
with a clean cloth.
Insert the dipstick all the way into
the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
Remove the dipstick and check
the f luid level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
Park the vehicle on level ground.
Start the engine, let it run until the
radiator f an comes on, then shut
of f the engine. For accurate
results, wait about 60 seconds (but
no longer than 90 seconds) bef ore
doing step 2.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Windshield Washers, A utomatic T ransmission Fluid
292
Do not use engine antif reeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir. Antif reeze
can damage your vehicle’s paint, while
a vinegar/water solution can damage
the windshield washer pump. Use only
commercially-available windshield
washer f luid.
\f—\f—
y
\fy
(%\fy\fy
2008 TL
µµ
Î
Î
Î
Î
Î Î
Î
Î
Specif ications
344
Weights
Dimensions
Capacities
Air Conditioning
Seating Capacities Capacities
189.3 in (4,809 mm)
4.5 US qt (4.3
)
2.17 US gal (8.2
)
2.11 US gal (8.0)
1.69 US gal (6.4
)
1.72 US gal (6.5)
62.0 in (1,576 mm)
62.1 in (1,577 mm)
107.9 in (2,740 mm)
56.7 in (1,441 mm)
75.4 in (1,916 mm)
See the certification label attached
to the driver’s doorjamb.
Gross vehicle weight rating
Length
Width
Height
Wheelbase
Track 189.8 in (4,822 mm)
Fuel tank
Refrigerant type
Charge quantity
Lubricant type HFC-134a (R-134a)
17.6 19.4 oz (500 550 g) ND-OIL8
Total
Front
Rear 3
2
5 4.2 US qt (4.0
)
Engine
coolant
Engine oil
Automatic
transmission
fluid
Manual
transmission
fluid
Windshield
washer
reservoir 5.3 US qt (5.0)
3.1 US qt (2.9)
7.9 US qt (7.5)
8.1 US qt (7.7)
2.2 US qt (2.1)
2.6 US qt (2.5)
2.6 US qt (2.5
)
4.8 US qt (4.5)
Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine
Reserve tank capacity: 0.16 US gal (0.6
)
Excluding the oil remaining in the engine
Approx.
Front
Rear
Type S
Type S
:
1:
2:
3:Change
Manual
Automatic
Total Manual
Automatic
Change Including filter
Without filter
Total
Change
Total
Change
Total
U.S. Vehicle
Canada Vehicle
17.1 US gal (64.7)
1
2
3
\f—\f—
y
y
(%\fy\fy
2008 TL
CONT INUED
...................................
Fan, Interior .128
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience .125
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .237
........................................
Filter, Oil .288
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning .90
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .319
.....................................
Floor Mats .304
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission .292
..........................................
Brake .295
.........................................
Clutch .296
..............
Manual Transmission .294 ..........................
Power Steering .296
................
Windshield Washers .291
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .180
........................................
Fog Lights .89
..........................
Four-way Flashers .90
..............................
Front Airbags .9,24
....................................
Front Seats .103
....................................
Adjusting .103
.......................................
Heaters .111
.....................................
Airbags .9,24
.................................................
Fuel .236
......................
Fill Door and Cap .237
...........................................
Gauge .65
................
Octane Requirement .236
........................
Reserve Indicator .63
........................
Tank, Filling the .237
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .333
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving .243
............
Emergencies on the Road .317
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .326
...........
Brake System Indicator .332
................
Changing a Flat Tire .319
.....
Charging System Indicator .330
..................
Checking the Fuses .333
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers .90
......
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck .338
............................
Jump Starting .326
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .330
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .331
..................
Overheated Engine .328
.......................................
Towing .337
.........................
Emergency Brake .117
......................
Emergency Flashers .90
......................
Emergency Towing .337
............
Emergency Trunk Opener .98
.......................
Emissions Controls .352
.............
Emissions Testing, State .355
Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .65
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp .59,331
.................................
Oil Lif e .72,279
........
Oil Pressure Indicator .59,330
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .287 ...............................
Overheating .328
............................
Specif ications .345
....................
Speed Limiter .257,264
..............................
Starting .253,254
.................
Engine, if it won’t start .324
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .237
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls .352
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .52
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .16
Index
F
G
INDEX
III
\f—\f—
y
\f\fy
(%\fy\f\fy
2008 TL
ÎÎ
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .287
................
XM Satellite Radio .139,159
............
WARNING, Explanation of .iii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of .53
..................
Warranty Coverages .359
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level .291
.....................................
Operation .85
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering .91
............
Alignment and Balance .310
..........................
Compact Spare .318
Windows ................
Operating the Power .112
...........................
Rear, Def ogger .90
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning .85
...................................
Def roster .130
.....................................
Washers .291
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades .304
.....................................
Operation .85
....................................
Worn Tires .309
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing .337 U.S.
:
Index
INDEX
W X
IX
——
y
y
(%yy
2008 TL