octane Acura MDX 2004 Owner's Manual

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time. Your Acura is designed to operate on
premium unleaded gasoline with a
pump octane number of 91 or higher.
Useof aloweroctanegasolinecan
cause occasional metallic knocking
noises in the engine and will result in
decreased engine perf ormance.
You should also f ollow these same
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
We recommended using a gasoline
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits. Some gasoline today is blended with
oxygenates such as ethanol or
MTBE. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on oxygenated gasoline
containing up to 10 percent ethanol
by volume and up to 15 percent
MTBE by volume. Do not use
gasoline containing methanol.
If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT. Use of
gasoline with these additives may
adversely affect performance, and
cause the Malf unction Indicator
Lamp on your instrument panel to
come on. If this happens, contact your
authorized Acura dealer f or service.
For f urther important f uel-related
inf ormation, please ref er to your
Quick Start Guide.
Break-in Period, Gasoline T ype
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period
Gasoline Type
158

µµ
The maintenance schedule assumes
you will use your vehicle as normal
transportation for passengers and
their possessions. You should also
f ollow these recommendations:
Avoid exceeding your vehicle’s
load limit. This puts excess stress
on the engine, brakes, and many
other vehicle parts. The load limit
is shown on the tire inf ormation
label on the driver’s doorjamb.
Operate your vehicle on
reasonable roads within the legal
speed limit.
Drive your vehicle regularly over a
distance of several miles
(kilometers).
Always use unleaded gasoline with
theproperoctanerating(seepage ). Used primarily as a delivery
vehicle or taxi that is driven
mostly in stop-and-go traf f ic and/
or parked with the engine idling.
Follow the
Maintenance Schedule f or Severe
Conditions if you drive your vehicle
MAINLY under one or more of the
f ollowing conditions.
Driving less than 5 miles (8 km)
per trip or, in f reezing
temperatures, driving less than 10
miles (16 km) per trip.
Driving in extremely hot [over
90°F (32°C)] conditions.
Trailer towing, driving with a roof
rack, or driving in mountainous
conditions.
Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-
iced roads. If you only OCCASIONALLY
drive under a ‘‘severe’’ condition, you
should f ollow the Maintenance
Schedule f or Normal Conditions.
Follow the
Maintenance Schedule f or Severe
Conditions.
158
Maintenance Schedule
Maint enance
Which Schedule to Follow:
U.S. Owners Canadian Owners
197
NOTE:

.................................................
Fuel .158
......................
Fill Door and Cap .159
...........................................
Gauge .66
................
Octane Requirement . 158
...............................
Oxygenated .158
........................
Reserve Indicator .61
........................
Tank, Filling the .159
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .246
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 214
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 74
........................................
Headlights .72
........................................
Aiming .214
....................
Automatic Lighting .73
............
Daytime Running Lights . 74
..................
High Beam Indicator . 61
...........
High Beams, Turning on . 72
............
Low Beams, Turning on . 72
.........................
Reminder Chime .72
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 214
...................................
Turning on .72
...................................
Headphones .141
..............................
Head Restraints .86
.................................
Heated Mirror .93
.................................
Heaters, Seats .89
.....................
Heating and Cooling .104 .................
High-Low Beam Switch . 72
HomeLink Universal ................................
Transceiver .153
....................................
Hood Latch .214
.......................
Hood, Opening the .160
..................................................
Horn .68
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 162
.........................................
Gasoline .158
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 61
...........................................
Gauge .66
................
Octane Requirement . 158
........................
Tank, Filling the .159
................
Gas Station Procedures . 159
Gauges ...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 67
...............................................
Fuel .66
...............................
Speedometer .66
.................................
Tachometer .66
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight .......................................
Rating) .185 GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
.......................................
Rating) .185
............
Gearshif t Lever Positions . 172
........................................
Glove Box .99
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight .......................................
Rating) .185
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 252
Ignition ..............................................
Keys .77
...........................................
Switch .79
............
Timing Control System . 260
........................
Immobilizer System .78
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 58
...............
ABS (Anti-lock Brake) . 59
....................................
A/T Temp .62
Brake (Parking and Brake ....................................
System) .59
.................................
Brake Lamp .60
........................
Charging System .58
.............................
Cruise Control .61
DRL (Daytime Running ......................................
Lights) .61
Index
G HI
IV

.............
Memory, Driving Position . 94
...............................
Meters, Gauges .66
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .92
...............
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 164
.........................................
Moonroof .91
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 173
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 158
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 252
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 158
.........................................
Odometer .66
...............................
Odometer, Trip .67
....................
Of f -Highway Driving . 192
...................
Of f -Road Precautions . 192
Oil ........................
Change, How to .206
......................
Change, When to .199
......................
Checking Engine .161
..............
Pressure Indicator . 58,242 Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart .205
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 79
..............................
Outside Mirrors .92
....................
Overheating, Engine .240
....
Owner’s Maintenance Checks . 198
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .158
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 74
........................
Park Gear Position .173
...........................................
Parking .179
.................................
Parking Brake .92
.................................
Parking Lights .72
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 261
.............................
PGM-FI System .260
................
Power Seat Adjustments . 84
...............
Power Socket Locations . 101
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 17
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens . 11
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 17
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
........................
Protecting Children .33
.....................
General Guidelines .33
.......................
Protecting Inf ants .38 .......
Protecting Larger Children . 47
.........
Protecting Small Children . 39
Using Child Seats with .....................................
Tethers .45
.............................
Using LATCH .42
...................
Radiator Overheating . 240
Radio/CD/Cassette Sound .......................
System .110, 115,125
...............................
Rear A/C Unit .109
............
Rear Audio Control Panel . 135
........
Rear Entertainment System . 131
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 216
............................
Rear View Mirror .92
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 75
.
Rear Window Wiper and Washer . 71
.........
Reclining the Seat Backs . 84,85
...........
Reclining the Second Seats . 87
................
Reclining the Third Seat . 88
.............................
Reminder Lights .58
................
Remote Audio Controls . 128
.................
Remote Control (RES) . 137
.......................
Remote Transmitter .81
Index
N
O P
R
VI

Service Inf ormat ion Summary
Gasoline:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Recommended Engine Oil:
Automatic Transmission Fluid:Power Steering Fluid:
Brake Fluid:
Tire Pressure (measured cold):
Rear Differential Fluid:
Transfer Assembly Fluid: 32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)
4.5 US qt (4.3
) Front/Rear:
Compact Spare Tire:
Premium unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or
higher.
API Premium grade 5W-20
detergent oil (see page ).
Oil change capacity (including
filter):
Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) preferred, or
aDEXRON
III ATF as a
temporary replacement (see page ). Honda Power Steering Fluid
preferred, or another brand of
power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page ).
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page ).
Honda VTM-4 Differential Fluid
(see page ).
SAE 90 or SAE 80W-90 viscosity
hypoid gear oil, API service
classified GL4 or GL5 only (see
page ).
205
210 213
212
211
211
19.21 US gal (72.7)