Bef ore you begin driving your
vehicle, you should know what
gasoline to use and how to check the
levels of important f luids. You also
need to know how to properly store
luggage or packages. The
inf ormation in this section will help
you. If you plan to add any
accessories to your vehicle, please
read the information in this section
first..............................
Break-in Period .174
.................
Fuel Recommendation .174
.........
Service Station Procedures .175
....................................
Ref ueling .175
OpeningandClosingthe
.......................................
Hood .176
...................................
Oil Check .177
.............
Engine Coolant Check .178
...............................
Fuel Economy .179
...
Accessories and Modif ications .182
.............................
Carrying Cargo .184
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving
173
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2008 Civic Hybrid
Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, seeon page f or
inf ormation on adding the proper
coolant. Refer to
on page f or inf ormation
about checking other items on your
vehicle.
218 212
Engine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
Service Station Procedures
178
MAX
MIN RESERVE TANK
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µµµ
µ
µ µ
Ì Youshouldcheckthefollowing
items at the specif ied intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perf orm
any check, turn to the appropriate
page listed.
Engine oil level Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page .
Engine coolant level Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
youfillthefueltank.Seepage.
Automatic transmission Check
the f luid level monthly. See page .
Brakes Check the f luid level
monthly. See page .
Tires Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread f or
wear and foreign objects. See page . Lights Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate light monthly. See
page .
According to state and federal
regulations, f ailure to perf orm
maintenance on the items marked
with will not void your emissions
warranties. However, all
maintenance services should be
perf ormed in accordance with the
intervals indicated by the
inf ormation display.
U.S. Vehicles:
177178
221 222
233 223
Maintenance Minder
Owner’s Maintenance Checks
Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of emissions control
devices and systems may be done
by any automotive repair
establishment or individual using
parts that are ‘‘certif ied’’ to EPA
standards.
212
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2008 Civic Hybrid
ÌÌ
Ì
Maintenance Minder
213
: Maintenance Sub Items
Rotate tires
Replace air cleaner element If you drive in dusty conditions, replace
every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
Replace dust and pollen filter If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high
concentrations of soot in the air from industry and
from diesel-powered vehicles, replace every 15,000
miles (24,000 km).
Inspect drive belt
Replace transmission fluid
Replace spark plugs
Inspect valve clearance
Replace engine coolant
Maintenance Main Items
Replace engine oil
Replace engine oil and oil filter
Inspect front and rear brakes
Check parking brake adjustment
Inspect these items: Tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots
Suspension components
Driveshaft boots
Brake hoses and lines (including ABS)
All fluid levels and condition of fluids
Exhaust system
Fuel lines and connections
A
B
Symbol
Symbol
1
2
3
4
5
If the message ‘‘SERVICE OIL’’ does not appear more than 12 months after
the display is reset, change the engine oil every year.
Independent of the maintenance minder display, replace the brake fluid
every 3 years.
Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 only if they are noisy.
See information on maintenance and emissions warranty on page .
Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000 km).
NOTE: 1:
212
1
1
Maintenance Minder
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Turn of f the engine, let it sit f or
several minutes, then check the oil
level on the dipstick. If necessary,
add more oil.
Put the under-cover back in place
and reinstall the nine holding clips.
Locktheclipssecurelybypushing
on the center of each clip.If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add
coolant to bring it up to between the
MIN and MAX lines. Inspect the
cooling system f or leaks.
Always use Honda Long-Lif e
Antif reeze/Coolant Type 2. This
coolant is pre-mixed with 50 %
antif reeze and 50 % water. Never add
straight antif reeze or plain water. If Honda antif reeze/coolant is not
available, you may use another
major-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporaryreplacement.Makesureit
is a high-quality coolant
recommended f or aluminum engines.
Continued use of any non-Honda
coolant can result in corrosion,
causingthecoolingsystemto
malf unction or f ail. Have the cooling
system f lushed and ref illed with
Honda antif reeze/coolant as soon as
possible.
11.
12.
Only on U.S. models
A dding Engine Coolant
Changing the Oil and Filter, Engine Coolant
218
RESERVE TANK
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.
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If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.The coolant level should be up to
the base of the f iller neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
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. 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.
Pourthecoolantslowlyand
caref ully so you do not spill any.
Clean up any spill immediately; it
could damage components in the
engine compartment.
Make sure the engine and radiator
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. Put the radiator cap back on, and
tighten it fully.
1.
2.
3. 4.
5.
6.
Engine Coolant
Maint enance
219
RADIATOR CAP
Removing 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.
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Start the engine, and set the
interior temperature to maximum.
Add coolant to the radiator up to
the base of the f iller neck. If you
do not have the proper coolant
mixture available, you can add
plain water. Remember to have
the cooling system drained and
ref illed with the proper mixture as
soon as you can.
Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine, and check
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (see
on page ).
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. Af ter the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off.
Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (see
on page ).
If you don’t f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page
). Add coolant if the level is
below the MIN mark.
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the reading
reaches the middle of the
temperature gauge or lower
bef ore checking the radiator.
8.
9.
7.
6.
10.
11.
5.
263
178
263
If theEngineOverheats
Emergency
Towing
Emergency
Towing
252
Removing 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.
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CONT INUED
Locks.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column .79
............................
Fuel Fill Door .175
.................................
Power Door .80
...........................................
Trunk .87
........................
Low Coolant Level .178
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .61
................................
Lower Anchors .43
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .62,253
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart .268
..................................
Maintenance .205
........................................
Minder .207
.........................
Minder Indicator .61
Owner’s Maintenance
...................................
Checks .212
..........................................
Saf ety .206
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .62,255
.........................
Meters, Gauges .57,64
...................
Methanol in Gasoline .174
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .95
....................................
MP3/WMA .120 ...................
Neutral Gear Position .194
..................
New Vehicle Break-in .174
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of .i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication .266
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline .174
.........................................
Odometer .64
................................
Odometer,Trip .64
Oil
........................
Change, How to .216
......................
Change, When to .207
......................
Checking Engine .176
..............
Pressure Indicator .62,253
.......
Selecting Proper Viscosity .215
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) .79
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery .275
..............................
Outside Mirrors .95
....
Outside Temperature Indicator .67
....................
Overheating, Engine .251
....
Owner’s Maintenance Checks .212
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .174 ..............
Panel Brightness Control .74
........................
Park Gear Position .193
...........................................
Parking .198
.................................
Parking Brake .96
Parking Brake and Brake
.................
System Indicator .58,256
.................................
Parking Lights .73
..
Parking Over Things that Burn .198
.............................
PGM-FI System .276
..........................
Playing the Radio .110
................................
Playing a Disc .120
.........................
Playing a PC Card .149
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts .16
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens .11
...
Additional Safety Precautions .17
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women .16
........................
Protecting Children .34
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .39
.......
Protecting Larger Children .48
.........
Protecting Small Children .40
Index
M N
O
P
INDEX
V
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