2014 HONDA PILOT Owners Manual

376

377
Maintenance
This chapter discusses basic maintenance.
Before Performing MaintenanceInspection and Maintenance ............ 378
Safety When Performing Maintenance..... 379Parts and Fluids Used in Maintenance Service ........................................... 380
Maintenance Minder™ ...............
..... 381
Maintenance Under the Hood
Maintenance Items Under the Hood ..... 389Opening the Hood ........................... 390
Recommended Engine Oil ................ 392
Oil Check ......................................... 393
Adding Engine Oil ............................ 394
Changing the Engine Oil and Oil Filter ..... 395
Engine Coolant ................................ 397
Transmission Fluid ............................ 399
Brake Fluid ....................................... 400
Power Steering Fluid ........................ 400
Refilling Window Wa s
her Fluid......... 401
Replacing Light Bulbs .... ................... 402Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades.... 410Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires ................................. 414
Tire and Loading Information Label ...... 415Tire Labeling .................................... 415DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)....... 417Wear Indicators................................ 419 Tire Service Life ................................ 419
Tire and Wheel Replacement ........... 420
Tire Rotation .................................... 421
Winter Tires ..................................... 422
Battery .............
.................................. 423
Remote Transmitter Care
Replacing the Button Battery ........... 424
Remote Control and Wireless Headphone Care
*...........................425Climate Control System Maintenance..... 427Cleaning
Interior Care .................................... 428
Exterior Care.................................... 430
* Not available on all models

378
Maintenance
Before Performing Maintenance
Inspection and Maintenance
For your safety, perform all listed inspections and maintenance to keep your vehicle
in good condition. If you become aware of any abnormality (noise, smell, insufficient
brake fluid, oil residue on the ground, etc.), have your vehicle inspected by a dealer.
(Note, however, that service at a dealer is not mandatory to keep your warranties in
effect.) Refer to the separate maintena nce booklet for detailed maintenance and
inspection information.
■Daily inspections
Perform inspections before long distance tri ps
, when washing the vehicle, or when
refueling.
■Periodic inspections
• Che
ck the automatic transmi ssion fluid level monthly.
2Automatic Transmission Fluid P. 399
• Check the brake fluid level monthly.
2 Checking the Brake Fluid P. 400
• Check the tire pressure monthly. Examin e the tread for wear and foreign objects.
2Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 414
• Check the operation of the exterior lights monthly.
2 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 402
• Check the condition of the wiper bl ades at least every six months.
2Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 410
■Types of Inspection and Maintenance
1Inspection and Maintenance
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of
emissions control devices and systems may be
done by any automotive repair establishment or
individuals using parts that are “certified” to
EPA standards.
According to state and fede ral regulations, failure to
perform maintenance on the maintenance main
items marked with # will not void your emissions
warranties. However, all ma intenance services should
be performed in accordan ce with the intervals
indicated by the information display
*/multi-
information display *.
2 Maintenance Service Items P. 383
If you want to perform complex maintenance tasks
that require more skills and tools, purchase the
service manual.
2 Authorized Manuals P. 474
If you want to perform ma intenance yourself, make
sure that you have the necessary tools and skills first.
After performing ma intenance, update the records in
the separate maintenance booklet.
U.S. models
* Not available on all models

379
uu Before Performing Maintenance u Safety When Performing Maintenance
Maintenance
Safety When Performing Maintenance
Some of the most important safe ty precautions are given here.
However, we cannot warn you of every co
nceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you can decide whether or not you should perform
a given task.
• To reduce
the possibility of fire or explos ion, keep cigarettes, sparks, and flames
away from the battery and all fuel related parts.
• Never leave rags, to
wels, or other flammable objects under the hood.
u Heat fro
m the engine and exhaust can ignite them causing a fire.
• To clea
n parts, use a co mmercially available degreas er or parts cleaner, not
gasoline.
• Wear eye protecti
on and protective clothi ng when working with the battery or
compressed air.
• Eng
ine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which is poisonous and can kill you.
u Only
operate the engine if th ere is sufficient ventilation.
• The vehi
cle must be in a stationary condition.
u Ma
ke sure your vehicle is parked on le vel ground, the parking brake is set, and
the engine is off.
• Be aware that
hot parts can burn you.
u M
ake sure to let the engine and exhaust system cool thoroughly before
touching vehicle parts.
• Be
aware that moving parts can injure you.
u Do
not start the engine unless instruct ed, and keep your hands and limbs away
from moving parts.
■Maintenance Safety
■Vehicle Safety
1 Safety When Performing Maintenance
3 WARNING
Improperly maintaining this vehicle or
failing to correct a pr oblem before driving
can cause a crash in which you can be
seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection and
maintenance recommendations according
to the schedules in this owner's manual.
3 WARNING
Failure to properly follow maintenance
instructions and precautions can cause you
to be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures and
precautions in this owner's manual.

380
uu Before Performing Maintenance u Parts and Fluids Used in Maintenance Service
Maintenance
Parts and Fluids Used in Maintenance Service
The use of Honda genuine parts and fluids is recommended when maintaining and
servicing your vehicle. Honda genuine parts are manufactured according to the
same high quality standards used in Honda vehicles.

381Continued
Maintenance
Maintenance Minder™
If the engine oil life is less than 15%, you will see the Maintenance Minder messages
appear on the information display * or the multi-information display * every time you
turn the ignition switch to ON
(w
. The messages notify you when to change the
engine oil, or when to bring your vehi cle to a dealer for indicated maintenance
services.
To Use Maintenance MinderTM
1. Turn the ignition switch to ON (w
.
2. Press the (Select/Reset) knob repeatedly
until the engine oil life appears on the
in

formation display.
The Maintenance Minder indicator ( ) stays
on in the instrument panel after the engine oil
life beco
mes 0%. Have the indicated
maintenance done by a dealer immediately.
■Displaying the Engine Oil Life
Models with info rmation display
1Displaying the Engine Oil Life
Based on the engine ope rating conditions, the
remaining engine oi l life is calculated and displayed
as a percentage.
Displayed Engine Oil Life (%)Calculated Engine Oil Life (%)
100 100 to 91
9090 to 81
80 80 to 71
7070 to 61
60 60 to 51
5050 to 41
40 40 to 31
3030 to 21
20 20 to 16
1515 to 11
10 10 to 6
55 to 1
00
* Not available on all models

382
uu Maintenance Minder™ u To Use Maintenance MinderTM
Maintenance
To switch the display, press the (Select/Reset) knob.
■Maintenance Minder Messages on the Information Display
Oil Life DisplayExplanationInformationMaintenance Minder Indicator
The engine oil life indicator starts
to appear along with other due
soon maintenance item codes
when the remaining oil life
becomes 15 percent.The engine oil is approaching the
end of its service life.
Starts to come on when the
remaining engine oil life becomes
15 percent.
It goes off when the display is
switched.The SERVICE message also starts
to appear along with the engine oil
life indicator and the maintenance
item codes.The engine oil has almost reached
the end of its service life, and the
maintenance items should be
inspected and serviced as soon as
possible.
The remaining engine oil life has
passed its service life, and a
negative distance appears after
driving over 10 miles (U.S. models)
or 10 km (Canadian models). The
negative distance on the display
blinks.The engine oil life has passed.
The maintenance items must be
inspected and serviced
immediately.
Stays on as a reminder even when
the display is switched.

383
uu Maintenance Minder™ u To Use Maintenance MinderTM
Continued
Maintenance
■Maintenance Service Items1Maintenance Service Items
•Independent of the Maintenance Minder
information, replace the brake fluid every 3 years.
•Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000
km).
•Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 if
they are noisy.
Maintenance Minder Message
Maintenance
Minder Indicator
Sub Items
Main Item
*1: If a message
SERVICE does not appear more than 12 months after the display is reset, change the
engine oil every year.
*2: If you drive in dusty conditions, replace the air cleaner element every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
*3: If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high concentrations of soot in the air from industry and from diesel-powered vehicles, replace the dust and pollen filter every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty.
CODEMaintenance Main Items
A
●Replace engine oil*1
B●Replace engine oil*1 and oil filter●Inspect front and rear bra kes/service as necessary●Check parking brake adjustment●Inspect tie rod ends, steering gearbox, and boots●Inspect suspension components●Inspect driveshaft boots●Inspect brake hoses and li nes (Including ABS/VSA)●Inspect all fluid levels and condition of fluids●Inspect exhaust system#
●Inspect fuel lines and connections#
*4: If you drive regularly in very high temperatures (over 110ºF, 43ºC), in very low temperatures (under
-20ºF, -29ºC), or tow a trailer, replace every 60,000 miles/100,000 km.
*5: Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds or trailer towing results in higher level of mechanical (shear) stress to fluid. This requires differential fluid changes more frequently than
recommended by the Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions,
have the differential fluid changed at 7,500 miles (12,000 km), then every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
CODEMaintenance Sub Items
1
●Rotate tires
2●Replace air cleaner element*2
●Replace dust and pollen filter*3
●Inspect drive belt
3
●Replace transmission and transfer * fluid
4●Replace spark plugs●Replace timing belt and inspect water pump*4
●Inspect valve clearance
5
●Replace engine coolant
6●Replace VTM-4 r * rear differential fluid*5
* Not available on all models