fuel Acura Integra 2000 Hatchback User Guide

Fue
l Econom y

The condition of your car and your driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.

Vehicl e Conditio n

Always maintain your car according to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (see page 169). For
example, an underinflated tire causes more "rolling resistance,"
which uses fuel. It also wears out faster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car's underside adds weight and rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your fuel mileage and reduces
the chance of corrosion. Drivin
g Habit s
You can improve fuel economy by driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra fuel. Use the cruise control, when appropriate, to
increase fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to "warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get
better fuel economy. To cut down on the number of "cold starts," try tocombine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra load on the engine which makes it
use more fuel. Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioning use.
Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is
moderate.

Before Drivin g

5-spee
d Manua l Transmissio n

Recommende d Shif t Point s
Drive in the highest gear that lets
the engine run and accelerate smoothly. This will give you the best
fuel economy and effective emis- sions control. The following shift
points are recommended: Engin
e Spee d Limite r
If you exceed the maximum speed
for the gear you are in, the engine speed will enter into the tachometer's
red zone. If this occurs, you may feel
the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter in the engine's
computer controls. The engine willrun normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
Before downshifting, make sure the
engine will not go into the
tachometer's red zone in the lower

gear.

Driving

Automati
c Transmissio n

Your Acura's transmission has four forward speeds, and is electronicallycontrolled for smoother shifting. It
also has a "lock-up" torque converter
for better fuel economy. You may
feel what seems like another shift
when the converter locks.
Shif
t Leve r Positio n Indicato r

This indicator on the instrument panel shows which position the shift
lever is in.
The "D4" indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II). If it flashes
while driving (in any shift position), it indicates a possible problem in the
transmission. Avoid rapid acceler- ation and have the transmission
checked by an authorized Acuradealer as soon as possible. Shif
t Leve r Position s
The shift lever has seven positions. It must be in Park or Neutral to start
the engine. When you are stopped in D4, D3, 2,1, N or R, press firmly on
the brake pedal, and keep your foot off the accelerator pedal.

Drivin g
SHIF
T

LEVE R

Maintenanc
e Safet y
Importan t Safet y Precaution s
Before you begin any maintenance,
make sure your car is parked on
level ground and that the parking
brake is set. Also, be sure the engine is off. This will help to eliminateseveral potential hazards: Carbo
n monoxid e poisonin g
fro m engin e exhaust . Be sure
there is adequate ventilation
whenever you operate the engine.
Burns from ho t parts . Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
before touching any parts.
Injur y fro m movin g parts . Do
not run the engine unless in-
structed to do so. Read the instructions before you
begin, and make sure you have the
tools and skills required.
To reduce the possibility of fire or explosion, be careful when working
around gasoline or batteries. Use a
commercially available degreaser or
parts cleaner, not gasoline, to clean
parts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, and
flames away from the battery and all fuel-related parts.
You should wear eye protection and protective clothing when working
near the battery or when usingcompressed air.

Maintenance

*
: See Timing Belt on page 195 to determine need for replacement.

NOTE:
Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop.

Maintenanc e

Owne
r Maintenanc e Check s
You should check the following items at the specified intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perform any check, turn to the page given. Engine oil level — Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page 127.
Engine coolant level — Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 128.
Windshield washer fluid — Check the level in the reservoir monthly.If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 181. Automatic transmission — Check
the fluid level monthly. See page
182.

Brakes — Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 183. Tires — Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page
196.

Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See
page 203.

Maintenance

Engin
e Oi l

Addin g Oi l

To add oil, unscrew and remove the engine oil fill cap on top of the valve
cover. Pour in the oil, and replace the
engine oil fill cap. Tighten it securely.
Wait a few minutes and recheck the oil level. Do not fill above the upper
mark; you could damage the engine.
Recommende
d Oi l

Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade deter- gent oil. It is highly recommended
that you use Genuine Honda Motor oil in your vehicle for as long as you
own it.
You can determine an oil's SAE
viscosity and Service Classification from the API Service label on the oilcontainer.
A fuel-efficient oil is recommended for your Acura. This is shown on the
API Service label by the words "Energy Conserving." This oil is
formulated to help your engine use
less fuel. The API Service label also tells you
the service classification of the oil.
Always use an oil that is labeled "API Service SJ." This service rating may
include other classifications, such as CD. These additional classifications
are not a problem, as long as the
label also carries the SJ classification.

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e
ENGIN
E OI L FIL L CA P
API SERVIC E LABE L

Engin
e Oi l
The oil container may also display the API Certification seal. Make sure
it says "For Gasoline Engines." The SAE numbers tell you the oil's
viscosity or weight. Select the oil for
your car according to this chart. An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 is
preferred for improved fuel economyand year-round protection in your
Acura. You may use a 10W-30 oil if the temperature in your area never

goes below 20°F ( — 7°C).

Maintenanc e
AP
I CERTIFICATIO N SEA L Ambien
t Temperatur e

Windshiel
d Washer s

Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers often, check the level every time you stop
for fuel. This reservoir supplies the
windshield and rear window washers.
The windshield washer reservoir islocated behind the driver's side
headlight. Check the reservoir's fluid
level by removing the cap and
looking at the level gauge attached
to the cap.
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. This increases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather. When you refill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluidon a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.

Do not use engine antifreeze or a vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your car's paint, while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.

Maintenance

NOTIC
E

WINDSHIEL
D WASHE R RESERVOI R
LEVE L GAUG E

Tire
s

To safely operate your car, your tires must be the proper type and size, in

good condition with adequate tread,
and correctly inflated. The following
pages give more detailed information on how and when to check air
pressure, how to inspect your tires
for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be replaced.
Inflatio
n

Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life and riding comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated. Overinflated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to damage from road hazards, and wear

unevenly.

We recommend that you visually check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it immediately with a tire gauge.
Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1
to 0.2 kgf/cm2) per month. Remember to check the spare tire at
the same time you check all theother tires.
Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the car

has been parked for at least three

hours. If you have to drive the car
before checking the tire pressure,

the tires can still be considered
"cold" if you drive less than 1 mile
(1.6
km).
If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot (the car has been driven

several miles), you will see readings

4 to
6 psi (30
to
40
kPa,
0.3
to
0.4
kgf/cm2) higher than the cold reading. This is normal. Do not letair out to match the specified cold
pressure. The tire will be

underinflated.

You should get your own tire pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier for you to tell if a pressure loss is due to a tire problemand not due to a variation between

gauges.

Maintenanc e

Using tires that are excessively

worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.

Follow all instructions in this

owner's manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.