2015 Acura RDX engine

267
Maintenance
This chapter discusses basic maintenance.
Before Performing MaintenanceInspection and Maintenance ............ 268
Safety When Performing Maintenance..... 269Parts and Fluids Used in Maintenance Service ........................................... 270
Maintenance Minder
TM..................... 271
Maintenance Under the Hood
Maintenance Items Under the Hood ..... 275Opening the Hood ........................... 276
Recommended Engine Oil ................ 277
Oil Check ......................................... 278
Adding Engine Oil ............................ 279
Changing the Engine Oil and Oil Filter ..... 280
Engine Coolant ................................ 282
Transmission Fluid ............................ 284
Brake Fluid ....................................... 285
Refilling Window Wa sher Fluid......... 286
Replacing Light Bulbs ....................... 287
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades.... 297Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires ................................. 301
Tire and Loading Information Label ...... 302Tire Labeling .................................... 302DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)....... 304Wear Indicators................................ 306
Tire Service Life ................................ 306 Tire and Wheel Replacement ........... 307
Tire Rotation .................................... 308
Winter Tires ..................................... 309
Battery ............................................... 310
Remote Transmitter Care Replacing the Button Battery ........... 311
Climate Control System Maintenance..... 312Cleaning
Interior Care .................................... 313
Exterior Care.................................... 315

269
uuBefore Performing Maintenance uSafety 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 conceivable 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, towels, or other flammable objects under the hood.
u Heat from the engine and exhaust can ignite them causing a fire.
• To clean parts, use a co mmercially available degreas er or parts cleaner, not
gasoline.
• Wear eye protection and protective clothi ng when working with the battery or
compressed air.
• Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which is poisonous and can kill you.
u Only operate the engine if th ere is sufficient ventilation.
• The vehicle must be in a stationary condition.
u Make 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 Make 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
3WARNING
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.
3WARNING
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.

271Continued
Maintenance
Maintenance MinderTM
If the engine oil life is less than 15%, you will see the Maintenance Minder messages
appear on the multi-information display ev ery time you set the power mode to ON.
The messages notify you when to change the engine oil, or when to bring your
vehicle to a dealer for indicated maintenance services.
To Use Maintenance MinderTM
1. Set the power mode to ON.
2. Press the / button repeatedly until the engine oil life appears on the
multi-information display.
■Displaying the Engine Oil Life1 Displaying the Engine Oil Life
Based on the engine ope rating conditions, the
remaining engine oi l life is calculated and displayed
as a percentage.
There is a list of maintena nce main and sub items you
can view on the multi-information display. 2 Maintenance Service Items P. 273
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
Remaining Engine Oil Life
/ Button

272
uuMaintenance MinderTMuTo Use Maintenance MinderTM
Maintenance
The system message indicator ( ) comes on along with the Maintenance Minder message.
■Maintenance Minder Messages on the Multi-Information
Display
Maintenance MessageOil Life DisplayExplanationInformation
SERVICE DUE SOON15%The remaining engine oil life is 15 to
6 percent. Once you switch the
display by pressing the /
(information) button, this message
will go off.The engine oil is approaching the end
of its service life, and the maintenance
items should be inspected and serviced
soon.
SERVICE DUE NOW5%The remaining engine oil life is 5 to 1
percent. Press the / button
to switch to another display.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.
SERVICE PAST DUENegative DistanceThe remaining engi ne 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). Press the /
button to switch to another
display.The engine oil life has passed.
The maintenance items must be
inspected and serviced immediately.

273
uuMaintenance MinderTMuTo 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 16 0,000 miles (256,000 km).
•Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 if
they are noisy.
Maintenance Minder Message
System Message Indicator
Sub Items
Main
Item
*1: If the message
SERVICE does not appear more than 12 months after the display is reset, change the
engine oil every year.
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty.
*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).
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 110 °F, 43 °C), in very low temperatures (under -
20 °F, -29 °C), or tow a trailer, replace every 60,000 miles/100,000 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 rear differential fluid*
* Not available on all models

uuMaintenance MinderTMuTo Use Maintenance MinderTM
274
Maintenance
Reset the engine oil life display if yo u have performed the maintenance service.
1. Set the power mode to ON.
2. Select CUSTOMIZE SETTINGS using the / button, then press the SEL/
RESET button.
3. Select MAINTENANCE INFO. using the / button, then press the SEL/
RESET button.
4. Select RESET using the / button, then press the SEL/RESET button.
u The service code will disappear and the en gine oil life display will return to
100%.
To cancel the oil life reset mode, select CANCEL, then press the SEL/RESET button.
■Resetting the Display1Resetting the Display
NOTICE
Failure to reset the engine oil life after a maintenance
service results in the sy stem showing incorrect
maintenance intervals, which can lead to serious
mechanical problems.
The dealer will reset the en gine oil life display after
completing the required ma intenance service. If
someone other than a deal er performs maintenance
service, reset the engine oil life display yourself.
Engine Oil Life
SEL/RESET
Button
/ Button
Maintenance Item Codes

275
Maintenance
Maintenance Under the Hood
Maintenance Items Under the Hood
Brake Fluid
(Black Cap)
Engine Coolant
Reserve Tank
Radiator Cap
Washer Fluid
(Blue Cap)
Engine Oil Dipstick
(Orange Loop)
Engine Oil Fill Cap
Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Dipstick (Yellow Loop)Battery

277
uuMaintenance Under the Hood uRecommended Engine Oil
Maintenance
Recommended Engine Oil
Oil is a major contributor to your engine's
performance and longevity. If you drive the
vehicle with insufficient or deteriorated oil,
the engine may fail or be damaged.
This seal indicates the oil is energy conserving
and that it meets the American Petroleum
Institute’s latest requirements.
Use a Genuine Acura Motor Oil or another
commercial engine oil of suitable viscosity for
the ambient temperature as shown.
■Synthetic oil
You may also use synthetic motor oil if it is labeled with the API Certification Seal
and is the specified viscosity grade.
• Genuine Acura Motor Oil
• Premium-grade 0W-20 detergent oil with an API Certification Seal on the
container.1 Recommended Engine Oil
Engine Oil Additives
Your vehicle does not require oil additives. In fact,
they may adversely affect the engine performance
and durability.
Ambient Temperature