The oil viscosity or weight is
provided on the container’s label.
5W-20 oil is f ormulated f or year-
round protection of your vehicle to
improve cold weather starting and
f uel economy.
Unscrew and remove the engine oil
fill cap on top of the valve cover.
Pour in the oil slowly and caref ully so
you do not spill. Clean up any spills
immediately. Spilled oil could
damage components in the engine
compartment. Install the engine oil
f ill cap, and tighten it securely. Wait
a f ew minutes, and recheck the oil
level. Do not f ill above the upper
mark; you could damage the engine. Oil is a major contributor to your
engine’s perf ormance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade 5W-20
detergent oil displaying the API
certif ication seal. This seal indicates
the oil is energy conserving, and that
it meets the American Petroleum
Institute’s latest requirements.
Honda motor oil is the pref erred
5W-20 lubricant f or your vehicle. It is
highly recommended that you use
Honda motor oil in your vehicle f or
optimum engine protection. Make
sure the API certif ication seal says
‘‘For Gasoline Engines.’’
Recommended Engine Oil
A dding Engine Oil
Maint enance
193
ENGINE OIL FILL CAP
API CERTIFICATION SEALAmbient Temperature
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2008 Element
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
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If your seat belts get dirty, use a sof t
brush with a mixture of mild soap
and warm water to clean them. Do
not use bleach, dye, or cleaning
solvents. Let the belts air-dry bef ore
you use the vehicle.
Dirt build-up in the loops of the seat
belt anchors can cause the belts to
retract slowly. Wipe the insides of
the loops with a clean cloth
dampened in mild soap and warm
water or isopropyl alcohol.
Pull the bulb straight out of its
socket. Push the new bulb straight
into the socket until it bottoms.
Press the brake pedal to make
sure the new bulb is working.
Put the socket back into the light
assembly, and turn it clockwise to
lock it in place.
Put the cover back onto the light
assembly. Push it on until it locks
in place. The floor mats that came with your
vehicle hook over the f loor mat
anchors. This keeps the f loor mats
f rom sliding f orward, possibly
interf ering with the pedals, or
backwards, making the f ront
passenger’s weight sensors
inef f ective.
3.
4.
5.
6.
CONT INUED
If equipped
Cleaning the Seat Belts Floor Mats
Lights, Cleaning the Seat Belts, Floor Mats
Maint enance
209
LOOP
BULB
SOCKET
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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.
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ÎÎ
Î
ÎÎ
ÎÎ
Î
Î
ÎÎ
Î
Î
Î
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Specif ications
248
Dimensions Seating Capacities Engine
Weights 169.3 in (4,300 mm)
62.5 in (1,587 mm)
62.3 in (1,582 mm)
62.1 in (1,578 mm)
62.1 in (1,577 mm)
101.4 in (2,575 mm)
70.4 in (1,788 mm)
71.5 in (1,815 mm)
Length
Width
Height
Wheelbase
Track 170.9 in (4,341 mm)
170.3 in (4,326 mm)
69.4 in (1,763 mm)Total
Front
Rear
4
2
2
Type
BorexStroke
Displacement
Compression ratio
Spark plugs Water cooled 4-stroke DOHC
i-VTEC 4-cylinder gasoline engine 3.43 x 3.90 in (87.0 x 99.0 mm) 144 cu-in (2,354 cm
)
9.7 : 1
IZFR6K-11
SKJ20DR-M11
Gross vehicle weight rating See the certification label attached to the driver’s doorjamb (front
edge of rear door). NGK:
DENSO:
Front
Rear
1:
2:
3:LX model
EX model
SC model
1, 2
3
1, 2
31
3
2
1, 2
3
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ÎÎ
CONT INUED
...................
Stereo Sound System .107
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .219
Supplemental Restraint
................................
System .11,24
......................................
Servicing .35
.........................
SRS Indicator .33,61
...................
System Components .24
..................................
Synthetic Oil .194
Tailgate
............................................
Locks .82
..............................
Open Monitor .63
..........
Taillights, Changing Bulbs .207
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected .221
Technical Descriptions
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading .251
.....
Emissions Control Systems .256
....................
Emissions Testing .259
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter .258
.....................
Tensioners, Seat Belt .22
.......................
Temperature Gauge .68
..............
Tether Anchorage Points .50 Tire Pressure Monitoring System
..................................
(TPMS) .169
.......................................
Indicator .65
................
Thef t Protection, Radio .131
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .258
..................
Tilt the Steering Wheel .74
..........................
Time, Setting the .132
....................................
Tire Chains .217
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat .223
...........................
Tire Inf ormation .251
.................................
Tire Labeling .253
...............................................
Tires .212
..............................
Air Pressure .213
........................................
Chains .217
.........................
Checking Wear .214
..........................
Compact Spare .222
....
DOT Tire Quality Grading .251
......................................
Inf lation .212
..................................
Inspection .214
.....
Low Pressure Indicator .64,169
..............................
Maintenance .215
...................................
Replacing .215
......................................
Rotating .215
...........................................
Snow .216
............................
Specif ications .250
...................
VSA and Tire Sizes .172 ...................
Tools, Tire Changing .223
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer .173
................................
Emergency .243
...
Equipment And Accessories .175
.............................
Weight Limit .173
.....
Trailer, Driving Saf ely With a .177
.............................
Trailer Loading .174
...........................
Traction Devices .216
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .198
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual .199
..................
Fluid Selection .198,199
..............
Identif ication Number .247
.............
Shif ting the Automatic .161
..................
Shif ting the Manual .159
......................
Transmitter, Remote .77
...................................
Treadwear .251
.......................................
Trip Meter .66
....................................
Turn Signals .71
Index
T
VIII
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