2008 HONDA ELEMENT maintenance

Your vehicle does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
af f ect the engine or transmission
perf ormance and durability.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.
Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.
Always change the oil and f ilter
according to the maintenance
messages shown on the inf ormation
display. The oil and f ilter collect
contaminants that can damage your
engine if they are not removed
regularly.
Changing the oil and f ilter requires
special tools and access f rom
underneath the vehicle. The vehicle
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.
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. You must
f ollow the oil and f ilter change
intervals shown on the maintenance
minder display.
1.
2.
Synthetic Oil
Engine Oil A dditives
Changing the Engine Oil and
Filter
A dding Engine Oil, Changing the Engine Oil and Filter
194
WASHER
OIL DRAIN BOLT
\f—\f—y
\f
y
(+\fy\f
y
2008 Element

Put a new washer on the f iller bolt,
then 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 stif f er shif ting. 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.
Check the f luid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle 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
Honda Manual Transmission Fluid
(MTF) until it starts to run out of the
hole. If you are not sure how to check and
add f luid, contact your dealer.
Insert the dipstick all the way back
into the transmission securely as
If you are not sure how to add f luid,
contact your dealer.
6.
T ransmission Fluid
Manual Transmission Fluid
Maint enance
199
Correct Level
WASHER FILLER BOLT
(Automatic Transmission Fluid). Do
\f—\f—y
\f
y
(+\fy\f\fy
Useonly Honda Genuine ATF-Z1
notmixwithothertransmission fluids.
Using transmission fluid other than
Honda Genuine ATF-Z1 may cause
deterioration in transmission operation
and durability, and could result in
damage to the transmission. Damage
resulting f rom the use of transmission
f luid other than Honda Genuine
ATF-Z1 is not covered by the Honda
shownintheillustration.
new vehicle warranty.
2008 Element

Use Honda Dual Pump Fluid II only.
Do not use automatic transmission
fluid (ATF).
The rear dif f erential should be
drained and ref illed with new f luid
accordingtothetimeanddistance
recommendations shown on the
maintenance minder display. Have
your dealer replace the rear
dif f erential f luid.Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your vehicle’s
braking system and can cause
extensive damage.
Using any non-Honda brake f luid can
cause corrosion and decrease the lif e
of the system. Have the brake
system f lushed and ref illed with
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 as soon as possible.
Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement.
Replace the brake f luid according to
the time recommendation shown on
the maintenance minder display.
Check the brake f luid level in the
reservoirs monthly.The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
4WD model only
Rear Dif f erential Fluid Brake Fluid
Rear Dif f erential Fluid, Brake and Clutch Fluid
200
MAX
MIN
\f—\f—y
\f\fy
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every 6 months.
Replace them if you f ind signs of
cracking in the rubber, areas that are
getting hard, or if they leave streaks
and unwiped areas when used.Front:
Raise the wiper arm of f the
windshield.
Raise the wiper arm of f the hatch
glass and hold it.
Rear:
This f ilter removes the dust and
pollenthatisbroughtinfromthe
outside through the heating and
cooling system.
Have your dealer replace the filter
when this service is indicated by a
maintenance message on the
inf ormation display. It should be
replaced every 15,000 miles (24,000
km) if you drive primarily in urban
areas that have high concentrations
of soot in the air, or if the f low f rom
the heating and cooling system
becomeslessthanusual.
If you remove the driver’s f loor mat,
make sure to re-anchor it when you
putitbackinyourvehicle.
If you use non-Honda f loor mats,
make sure they f it properly and that
theycanbeusedwiththefloormat
anchors. Do not put additional f loor
mats on top of the anchored mats. 1.
Floor Mats, Dust and Pollen Filter, Wiper Blades
Wiper Blades
Dust and Pollen Filter
210
Do not open the hood when the wiper
arms are raised, or you will damage
the hood and the arms.
\f—\f—y
\f
y
(+\fy\f
y
2008 Element

Keeping the tires properly inf lated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread lif e, and riding
comf ort.Underinf lated tires wear unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to
fail from being overheated.
Overinf lated tires can make your
vehicleridemoreharshly,are
more prone to damage f rom road
hazards, and wear unevenly.
To saf ely operate your vehicle, your
tires must be the proper type and
size, in good condition with adequate
tread, and correctly inf lated.
The f ollowing pages give more
detailed inf ormation on how to take
care of your tires and what to do
when they need to be replaced.
Clean the wheels as you would the
rest of the exterior. Wash them with
thesamesolution,andrinsethem
thoroughly.
Aluminum alloy wheels have a
protective clear-coat that keeps the
aluminum f rom corroding and
tarnishing. Cleaning the wheels with
harsh chemicals (including some
commercial wheel cleaners) or a stif f
brush can damage the clear-coat. To
clean the wheels, use a mild
detergent and a sof t brush or sponge.
The tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) warns you when a tire
pressure is low. See page f or
more information.169
If equipped
T ires Inf lation Guidelines
Wheels
Wheels, Tires
212
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.
\f—\f—y
\fy
(+\fy\f
y
2008 Element

Thecompactsparetirepressureis:
For convenience, the recommended
tire sizes and cold tire pressures are
on a label on the driver’s doorjamb.
For additional technical inf ormation
about your tires, see page .
Every time you check inf lation, you
should also examine the tires f or
damage, f oreign objects, and wear.
Youshouldlookfor:Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
youfindeitherof theseconditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see f abric or cord.
Excessive tread wear. Your tires have wear indicators
molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down, you will see a 1/2
inch (12.7 mm) wide band across the
tread. This shows there is less than
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread lef t on
the tire.
A tire this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should
replace the tire if you can see three
or more tread wear indicators. The service lif e of your tires is
dependent on many f actors,
including, but not limited to, driving
habits, road conditions, vehicle
loading, inf lation pressure,
maintenance history, speed, and
environmental conditions (even
when the tires are not in use).
In addition to your regular
inspections and inf lation pressure
maintenance, it is recommended that
you have annual inspections
perf ormed once the tires reach f ive
years old. It is also recommended
that all tires, including the spare, be
removed from service after 10 years
from the date of manufacture,
regardless of their condition or state
of wear.
The last f our digits of the TIN (tire
identif ication number) are f ound on
the sidewall of the tire and indicate
the date of manufacture (See
on page ).
251
253
Tires
Tire Inspection Tire Service Lif e
Tire
Labeling
214
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)
\f—\f—y
\fy
(+\fy\f
y
2008 Element

Replace your tires with radial tires of
the same size, load range, speed
rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire’s sidewall).
In addition to proper inf lation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you f ind a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
Have your dealer check the tires if
you f eel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed f rom the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. For best results,
have the installer perform a dynamic
balance.
To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, rotate
the tires according to the
maintenance messages displayed on
the information display.
Move the tires to the positions
shown in the illustration each time
they are rotated. If you purchase
directional tires, rotate only f ront-to-
back.Mixing radial and bias-ply tires on
your vehicle can reduce braking
ability, traction, and steering
accuracy. Using tires of a dif f erent
size or construction can cause the
ABS and vehicle stability assist
system (VSA) to work inconsistently.
Both the ABS and VSA work by
comparing the speed of the wheels.
When replacing tires, use the same
size originally supplied with the
vehicle. Tire size and construction
can af f ect wheel speed and may
cause the ABS or VSA system to
activate.
CONT INUED
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Tire Rotation
T ire Maintenance
Tires
Maint enance
215
Front
Front
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
On vehicles with aluminum wheels,
improper wheel weights can damage
your vehicle’s aluminum wheels. Use
only Honda wheel weights f or
balancing.
\f—\f—y
\f\fy
(+\fy\f\fy
2008 Element

µ
Check the condition of the battery
monthlybylookingatthetest
indicator window. The label on the
battery explains the test indicator’s
colors.
Check the terminals f or corrosion (a
white or yellowish powder). To
remove it, cover the terminals with a
solution of baking soda and water. It
will bubble up and turn brown. When
this stops, wash it of f with plain
water. Dry off the battery with a cloth or paper towel. Coat the
terminals with grease to help prevent
f uture corrosion.
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your dealer or a
qualif ied technician.
Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.
If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle’s
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( ) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected, or goes dead, the time
setting may be lost. To reset the time,
see page . If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, the audio
system may disable itself . The next
timeyouturnontheradio,youwill
see ‘‘ENTER CODE’’ in the
f requency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the code (see page
).
132
131
On EX and SC models
Checking the Battery
WARNING:
Wash your hands af ter handling.
218
TEST INDICATOR
WINDOW
POSITIVE TERMINAL NEGATIVE TERMINAL
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
technician do the battery
maintenance.
\f—\f—y
\fy
(+\fy\fy
2008 Element