Acura CL 2003 Owner's Manual

Fluid Locations
Maint enance238
E
EN
NG GIINNE E O
OIILL D
DI
IPP S
ST TI
ICCK K
(
( O
Or raan n g
ge
e l
loo o
op
p)
)
W
WA AS
SHH E
ER
R F
FLLUUI IDD
(
( B
Bl luu e
e c
caap p )
)
P
P O
OW WE ER
R S
STTE
EE
ER
RI INNG G
F
FL LUUI IDD (
(R
Re edd c
caap p )
)
E
E
N
NG GIINNE E O
OIILL F
FIILLL L C
CAA P
P
C
CLLUUT TC
CH H F
FLLUUI IDD
(
( 6
6- -s
sp p e
eeedd M
M a
ann u
ua
all
T
T r
raan n s
smm i
isss siioo n
n o
on
nl
lyy) )
B
BR RAA K
KEE F
FLLUUI IDD
(
( G
Gr raay y c
caap p )
)
A
A U
UT TO
OM M A
AT
TI
ICC
T
T R
RA A N
NS SMM I
ISSS SIIOON N
F
FL LUUI IDD D
DI
IPP S
ST TI
ICCK K
(
( Y
Ye elllloo w
w l
loo o
op
p)
)
E
E N
NG GIINNE E C
COOO OLLAA N
NT T
R
RE ES
SE ER
RV V O
OI IRR
R
RA A D
DI
IAA T
TO
OR R C
CAA P
P

CONT INUED
To add oil, unscrew and remove the
engine oil f ill cap on top of the valve
cover. Pour in the oil, and install the
engine oil f ill cap. 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.Make sure the API Certif ication Seal
says ‘‘For Gasoline Engines.’’
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.
A dding Oil
Recommended Oil
Engine Oil
Maint enance239
E EN
NG GIINNE E O
OIILL F
FIILL L
L C
CAA P
P
A
AP
PI
IC
CE ER
RT TI
IFFI ICCA A T
TI
IOON N S
SEEA
A L
L

The oil’s viscosity or weight is
provided on the container’s label.
Select the oil f or your vehicle
according to this chart.
5W-20 oil is f ormulated f or year-
round protection of your Acura, to
improve cold weather starting, and
to help your engine use less f uel.
If 5W-20 oil is not available, a 5W-30
oil may be used. However, it should
be replaced with 5W-20 at the next
oil change.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 as shown
on the chart. When using synthetic
oil, you must f ollow the oil and f ilter
change intervals given in the
maintenance schedule.
Your Acura does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
af f ect your engine’s or transmission’s
perf ormance and durability.
Engine Oil
Maint enance
Synthetic Oil
Additives
240
A Am
m b
bi
iee n
n t
t T
Te
emm p
pe
er
raat tuu r
ree

Always change the oil and f ilter
accordingtothetimeanddistance
(miles/kilometers) recommenda-
tions in the maintenance schedule.
The oil and f ilter collect contami-
nants that can damage your engine if
they are not removed regularly.Run the engine until it reaches
normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.
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.Remove the oil f ilter and let the
remaining oil drain. A special
wrench (available f rom your Acura
dealer) is required to remove the
f ilter.
Changing the oil and f ilter requires
special tools and access f rom
underneath the car. The car 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.
1.
2.3.
CONT INUED
Changing the Oil and Filter
Engine Oil
Maint enance241
W WA
AS
SHH E
ER
R O
OI
ILL D
DR
RAA I
INN
B
BO OL LTT O
OI
ILL F
FIILL T
T E
ER
R

Let the engine run f or several
minutes and check the drain bolt
and oil f ilter f or leaks.
Turn of f the engine, let it sit f or
several minutes, then check the oil
level. If necessary, add oil to bring
the level to the upper mark on the
dipstick.
Install a new oil f ilter according to
instructions that come with it.
Put a new washer on the drain bolt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
Refill the engine with the recom-
mended oil.
Engine oil change capacity
(including f ilter):
Replace the engine oil f ill cap.
Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator light should go out within
f ive seconds. If it does not, turn of f
the engine and reinspect your
work.
6. 7.
8.
9.
4.
5.
Engine Oil
Maint enance242
29 lbf·ft (39 N·m , 4.0 kgf·m)
4.6 US qt (4.4
, 3.9 Imp qt)
Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmf ul to the environment. If you
change your own oil, please dispose of
the used oil properly. Put it in a sealed
container and take it to a recycling
center. Do not discard it in a trash bin
or dump it on the ground.

If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add
coolant to bring it up to the MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system f or leaks.
The coolant you add should always
be a mixture of 50 percent antif reeze
and 50 percent water. Never add
straight antif reeze or plain water.If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
Make sure the engine and radiator
are cool.
Always use Honda All Season
Antif reeze/Coolant Type 2. This
coolant is pre-mixed with 50 percent
antif reeze and 50 percent water. It
does not require any additional
mixing. If it is not available, you may
use another major-brand non-silicate
coolant as a temporary replacement.
Make sure it is a high-quality coolant
recommended f or aluminum engines.
However, continued use of any non-
Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the cooling
system to malf unction or f ail. Have
the cooling system f lushed and
ref illed with Honda antif reeze/
coolant as soon as possible.
1.
CONT INUED
A dding Engine Coolant
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance243
R REES
SE ER
RV V E
E T
TA
A N
NK K
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.

Put the radiator cap back on.
Tighten it f ully. The coolant level should be up to
the base of the f iller neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
Remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning
counterclockwise. Turn the radiator cap counter-
clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops. This relieves
any pressure remaining in the
cooling system. Pour coolant into the reserve tank.
Fill it to half way between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.
Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your car’s cooling
system. They may not be compatible
with the coolant or engine compo-
nents.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance244
R RE
ES
SE ER
RV V E
E T
TA
A N
NK K
R
RA A D
DI
IAA T
TO
OR R C
CAA P
P

CONT INUED
Turn the ignition ON (II). Turn
the heater temperature control
dial to maximum heat (climate
control to 90°F/32°C). Turn of f
the ignition. Open the hood. Make
sure the engine and radiator are
cool to the touch.
Remove the radiator cap.Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will drain through the
splash guard.
Thecoolingsystemshouldbe
completely drained and ref illed with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use
Honda All Season Antif reeze/
Coolant Type 2.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance
done by a skilled mechanic.
Drain the coolant into an
appropriate container.
1.
2. 3.
Replacing Engine Coolant
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance245
D D
R
RAA I
INN P
PL
LUUG G

Install a rubber hose on the drain
bolt at the rear of the engine
cylinder block. Loosen the drain
bolt.Bef ore removing the reserve tank,
remove the cruise control cable
f rom its clip, then remove the
ground cable f rom the clip on the
reserve tank. To remove the
cruise control cable, pivot the
upper part of the clip and push
down the lower part slightly.
Drain the coolant into an
appropriate container. Remove the reserve tank f rom its
holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant into an
appropriate container, then put the
tank back in its holder.
Af ter installing the tank back in
place, put the cables back in their
clips.
5.
4. 6.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance246
H HO
OL LD
D E
ER
R
D
D R
RAA I
INN B
BOOL LT
T R
RU
UB BBBEER
R
H
H O
OS SEE
R
REES
SE ER
RV V E
E T
TA
A N
NK K C
CAA P
P
C
CR RUUI ISSE E C
COON NTTR
RO OL L C
CAA B
BLLE
E R
RE
ES
SE ER
RV V E
E T
TA
A N
NK K

CONT INUED
Fill the reserve tank to the MAX
mark. Install the reserve tank cap.
When the coolant stops draining,
tightenthedrainplugatthe
bottom of the radiator.
Tighten the drain bolt at the rear
of the engine cylinder block
securely.
Tightening torque:
Pour Honda All Season
Antif reeze/Coolant Type 2 into
the radiator up to the base of the
f iller neck. This coolant is a
mixture of 50 percent antif reeze
and 50 percent water. Pre-mixing
is not required.
The cooling system capacity is:
Start the engine and let it run f or
about 30 seconds. Then turn of f
the engine. Pour coolant into the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck.
7.
8.
9.10.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance247
F FIILLL LEE R
R N
NEEC
CK K
F
F i
illll u
u p
p t
too h
he
erree R
RE
ES
SE ER
RV V E
E T
TA
A N
NK K
7 lbf·ft (10 N·m , 1.0 kgf·m)
1.48 US gal (5.6
, 1.23 Imp gal)