2008 HONDA ELEMENT checking oil

The inf ormation display in the
instrument panel shows you the
engine oil lif e and maintenance
service items when the ignition
switch is in the ON (II) position. This
inf ormation helps to keep you aware
of the periodic maintenance your
vehicle needs f or continued trouble-
f ree driving. Ref er to page f or
more inf ormation.
This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise to
about the middle of the gauge. In
severe driving conditions, the pointer
may rise to the upper zone. If it
reaches the red (hot) mark, pull
safely to the side of the road. Turn to
page f or instructions and
precautions on checking the engine’s
cooling system.
233185
Gauges
Maintenance Minder
Temperature Gauge
68
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Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil.Remove the dipstick (orange tab).
Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Insert it all the way back in its tube. Remove the dipstick again, and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
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, see
on 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.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page .
1.
2.
3. 4.
196
190
193
Oil Check Engine Coolant Check
A dding
Engine Coolant
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
A dding Engine Oil
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
143
DIPSTICK
UPPER MARKLOWER MARK RESERVE TANK
MAX
MIN
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2008 Element

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 minder messages on
the information display, and
instructions f or simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care of
yourself .......................
Maintenance Saf ety .184
....................
Maintenance Minder .185
..............................
Fluid Locations .192
........................
Adding Engine Oil .193
Changing the Engine Oil and
...........................................
Filter .194
..............................
Engine Coolant .196
....................
Windshield Washers .197
.......................
Transmission Fluid .198
Automatic Transmission .......................................
Fluid .198
...
Manual Transsmission Fluid .199
.................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid .200
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid .200
....................
Power Steering Fluid .201
............
Cleaning the Body Panels .201
.............................................
Lights .202
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts .209
.....................................
Floor Mats .209
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .210
.................................
Wiper Blades .210
...........................................
Wheels .212
...............................................
Tires .212
...................
Checking the Battery .218
.............................
Vehicle Storage .219
265
Maintenance
Maint enance
183
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CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories .147
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) .79
..............
Accessory Power Sockets .98
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .194
.........
Advice f or Pregnant Women .18
.............................
Airbag (SRS) .11,24
...
Airbags, Additional Information .24
...
Additional Safety Precautions .36
.............................
Airbag Service .35
How the Passenger Airbag Of f
......................
Indicator Works .34
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works .34
..
How the SRS Indicator Works .33
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work .27
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .30
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
.........................................
Work .32
........................
SRS Components .24
..............
Air Conditioning System .102
.........................................
Usage .103
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .213 ......................................
Alignment .250
......................................
Antif reeze .196
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator .61,168
...................................
Operation .167
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System .131
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock .79
......................
Armrests, Front Seat .84
................................
Audio System .107
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners .22
.............
Automatic Speed Control .135
..............
Automatic Transmission .161
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .249
...............
Checking Fluid Level .198
.......................................
Shif ting .161
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator .161
................
Shif t Lever Positions .161
....................
Shif t Lock Release .163
......................
Auxiliary Input Jack .125
Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator .60,235
............................
Jump Starting .231 ..............................
Maintenance .218
............................
Specif ications .250
..............................
Bef ore Driving .139
..................................
Belts, Seat .10,20
...........................
Beverage Holders .98
...................................
Body Panels .201
..................................
Booster Seats .52
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) .167
.............
Break-in, New Linings .140
....................
Bulb Replacement .207
...........................................
Fluid .200
.........................................
Parking .93
.................
System Indicator .60,237
........................
Wear Indicators .167
.............................
Braking System .166
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle .140
..
Brightness Control, Instruments .72
........................
Brights, Headlights .71
Index
A
B
INDEX
I
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ÎÎÎ
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .207
..............................
Brake Lights .207
................
Front Parking Lights .204
........
Front Side Marker Lights .205
.................................
Headlights .202
....................
High-mount Brake .208
....................
Rear License Plate .208
............................
Specif ications .250
....................
Turn Signal Lights .204
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .202
................................
Bungee Cords .153
............................
Capacities Chart .249
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard .54
.............................
Carrying Cargo .149
.............
CAUTION, Explanation of .iii
.........................................
CD Care .128
...................................
CD Changer .125
.......................
CD Error Message .126
.......
CD Changer Error Message .127
.......................................
CD Player .119
.................................
Ceiling Pocket .97
........................
Certif ication Label .246 ............................................
Chains .217
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .223
.................................
Changing Oil .194
........................................
How to .194
......................................
When to .185
...
Charging System Indicator .60,235
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving .157
.....................................
Child Saf ety .37
Child Seats
......
LATCH Anchorage System .46
...........................
Lower Anchors .46
..........
Tether Anchorage Points .50
..........
Children, Protecting Larger .51
............
Cleaning the Body Panels .201
..............................................
Clock .132
.........................
Clock, Setting the .132
...................................
Clutch Fluid .201
........................
CO in the Exhaust .256
............
Cold Weather, Starting in .158
..............................
Compact Spare .222
.................
Consumer Inf ormation .262
.............
Controls, Instruments and .57
Coolant
........................................
Adding .196
....................................
Checking .143
.........................
Proper Solution .196 ...................
Temperature Gauge .68
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .256
................
Cruise Control Indicator .62
............
Cruise Control Operation .135
................
Cup (Beverage) Holders .98
.............
Customer Service Of f ice .262
...............
DANGER, Explanation of .iii
...................................
Dashboard .4,58
............
Daytime Running Lights .72
.......................................
Indicator .62
.................................
Dead Battery .231
.........
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety .264
........................
Def og and Def rost .105
................
Def ogger, Rear Window .73
..............
Def rosting the Windows .105
..........................
Dif f erential Fluid .200
....................................
Dimensions .248
...............
Dimming the Headlights .71
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission .198
..................................
Engine Oil .143
..........................
Directional Signals .71
Index
D
C
II
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CONT INUED
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators .167
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .195
.
Door and Tailgate Open Monitor .63
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking .80
......................
Power Door Locks .80
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .251
Downshif ting, Manual
.............................
Transmission .159
..
Drive Gear Positions, D and D .162
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .7
...........................................
Driving .155
....................................
Economy .144
........................
Driving Guidelines .156
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .210
..............................
Economy, Fuel .144
............
Emergencies on the Road .221
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .231
...........
Brake System Indicator .237
................
Changing a Flat Tire .223
.....
Charging System Indicator .235
..................
Checking the Fuses .238
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers .73 .....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .235
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .236
..................
Overheated Engine .233
...........................
Emergency Brake .93
......................
Emergency Flashers .73
......................
Emergency Towing .243
.......................
Emissions Controls .256
........................
Emissions Testing .259
Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .68
......
Engine Speed Limiter .160,163
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp .60,236
.........................
Oil Lif e Display .185
........
Oil Pressure Indicator .60,235
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .193
...............................
Overheating .233
............................
Specif ications .248
.......................................
Starting .158
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls .256
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .54
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .18 ...................................
Fan, Interior .103
.........................................
Features .101
.................
First (1) Gear Position .163
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .141
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen .210
...............................................
Oil .194
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning .73
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .223
.....................................
Floor Mats .209
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission .198
..........................................
Brake .200
.........................................
Clutch .201
................................
Differential .200
..............
Manual Transmission .199
..........................
Power Steering .201
..................
Windshield Washer .197
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .111
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .87
..........................
Four-way Flashers .73
3
Index
E F
INDEX
III
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CONT INUED
...............................
Keys and Locks .75 .................
Jacking up the Vehicle .225
.......................................
Jack, Tire .223
................................
Jump Starting .231
.......................
Label, Certif ication .246
.................
Lane Change, Signaling .71
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts .16,21
...........
LATCH Anchorage System .46
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement .202
.......................................
Indicator .59
.........................................
Parking .71
..................................
Turn Signal .71
....................................
Load Limits .150
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) .79
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column .79
....................................
Glove Box .98 ............................................
Hatch .81
........................................
Tailgate .82
........................
Low Coolant Level .143
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .63
................................
Lower Anchors .46
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a .159
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart .249
.........................................
Luggage .149
..................................
Maintenance .183
.........................
Minder Indicator .61
...
Owner Maintenance Checks .190
..........................................
Saf ety .184
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .60,236
...................
Manual Transmission .159
...............
Checking Fluid Level .199
.....
Recommended Shif t Points .160
................................
Shif ting the .159
........
Manual Transmission Fluid .199 .................................
Mirror, Vanity .99
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .92
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle .148
Monitor, Door and Tailgate
.............................................
Open .63
...................
Neutral Gear Position .162
..................
New Vehicle Break-in .140
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .160
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication .246
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline .140
.........................................
Odometer .66
...............................
Odometer, Trip .66
....................
Of f -Highway Driving .179
Index
N
O
M
J
K
L
INDEX
V
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LowOilPressureIndicator....60,235
Minder ........................................ .185
PowerDoor..................................80
LowTirePressure Indicator....64, 169
.........................
Meters, Gauges .59,66
2008 Element

Î
Oil........................
Change, How to .194
......................
Change, When to .185
......................
Checking Engine .143
..............
Pressure Indicator .60,235
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart .193
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) .79
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery .256
..............................
Outside Mirrors .92
....................
Overheating, Engine .233
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks .190
..............
Panel Brightness Control .72
........................
Park Gear Position .161
...........................................
Parking .165
.................................
Parking Brake .93
Parking Brake and Brake
.................
System Indicator .60,237
.................................
Parking Lights .71
..
Parking Over Things that Burn .165
................................
Playing a Disc .119
..........
Playing the AM/FM Radio .107 Playing the XM Satellite
..........................................
Radio .113
.............................
PGM-FI System .257
..........................
Power Door Locks .80
.................................
Power Mirrors .92
.................
Power Socket Locations .98
....................
Power Steering Fluid .201
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts .18
........................
Preparing to Drive .157
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens .13
...
Additional Safety Precautions .18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women .18
........................
Protecting Children .37
Protecting Inf ants and Small
.......................................
Children .42
...........
Protecting Larger Children .51
.....................
Using Booster Seat .52
...................
Radiator Overheating .233
.............
Radio/CD Sound System .107
..................
RadioThef t Protection .131
................
Readiness Codes, State .259
.................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid .200
.......................................
Rear Doors .81 ..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement .207
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding .87
............................
Rear View Mirror .92
.................................
Rear Windows .93
......................................
Def ogger .73
......................
Wiper and Washer .70
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs .83
..............
Reclining the Front Seats .86
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds .160
...
Recommended Tire Pressures .213
.............................
Reminder Lights .59
...............
Removing the Rear Seats .89
.......................
Remote Transmitter .77
................
Remote Audio Controls .134
Replacement Inf ormation
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter .210
................
Engine Oil and Filter .194
..........................................
Fuses .238
................................
Light Bulbs .202
...........................................
Tires .212
.............................
Wiper Blades .210
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash .23
..........
Reporting Saf ety Def ects .264
Reserve Tank, Engine
...............................
Coolant .143,196
Index
R
P
VI
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