octane Acura RL 2000 3.5 Owner's Manual

Break-i
n Period , Gasolin e

Break-i n Perio d
Help assure your car's future
reliability and performance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the first 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:
Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid

acceleration.

Avoid hard braking. New brakesneed to be broken-in by moderate
use for the first 200 miles (300

km).

You should follow these same re- commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are relined.

Gasolin e

Your Acura is designed to operate on premium unleaded gasoline with apump octane number of 91 or higher.
If you are unable to find premium
unleaded gasoline, you may substi-
tute an unleaded regular gasoline.
The engine will compensate for the lower octane, but you may notice aslight decrease in power as a result.
We recommend gasolines containing detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your car's emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution. In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emissions control system performance may deteriorate andthe Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on. If this happens, contact your
authorized Acura dealer for service.

Befor e Drivin g

Maintenanc
e Schedul e

The Maintenance Schedule specifies how often you should have your carserviced and what things need
attention. It is essential that you have
your car serviced as scheduled to retain its high level of safety,dependability, and emissions control
performance.
The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the maintenanceschedule assume you will use your
car as normal transportation for
passengers and their possessions.
You should also follow these
recommendations:

Avoid exceeding your car's loadlimit. This puts excess stress on
the engine, brakes, and manyother parts of your car. The load
limit is shown on the label on the driver's doorjamb.
Operate your car on reasonable
roads within the legal speed limit.
Drive your car regularly over a
distance of several miles
(kilometers).
Always use unleaded gasoline with
the proper octane rating (see page
166). Whic
h Schedul e t o Follow :
Service your car according to the
time and mileage periods on one of the Maintenance Schedules on the
following pages. Select the schedule
for "Severe Conditions" if most of
your driving is done under one or more of the conditions listed on that
page. Otherwise, follow the schedule
for "Normal Conditions."

Maintenanc e

Oxygenate
d Fuel s

Some conventional gasolines are
being blended with alcohol or an
ether compound. These gasolines

are collectively referred to as

oxygenated fuels. To meet clean air

standards, some areas of the United

States and Canada use oxygenated

fuels to help reduce emissions.

If you use an oxygenated fuel, be

sure it is unleaded and meets the

minimum octane rating requirement.

Before using an oxygenated fuel, try

to confirm the fuel's contents. Some
states/provinces require this
information to be posted on the

pump.
The following are the U.S. EPA and
Canadian CGSB approved
percentages of oxygenates:
ETHANO L (ethyl or grain alcohol)
You may use gasoline containing up to 10 percent ethanol by volume. Gasoline containing ethanol may be
marketed under the name "Gasohol."
MTB E (Methyl Tertiary Butyl
Ether)
You may use gasoline containing up to 15 percent MTBE by volume.
METHANO L (methyl or wood

alcohol)

Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel that contains methanol.Methanol can corrode metal parts in
the fuel system, and also damage
plastic and rubber components. Thisdamage would not be covered by
your warranties. If you notice any undesirable
operating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
Fuel system damage or performance
problems resulting from the use of an oxygenated fuel containing more
than the percentages of oxygenates
given above are not covered under
warranty.
Technical Informatio n

Drivin
g in Foreig n Countrie s

If you are planning to take your
Acura outside the U.S. or Canada, contact the tourist bureaus in the
areas you will be traveling in to findout about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane

rating.

If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline
in your Acura will affect perfor-
mance and fuel mileage, and damage
its emissions controls. It will no
longer comply with U.S. and Canadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North
America. To bring your car back into compliance will require the replace-
ment of several components, such as
the oxygen sensors and the three
way catalytic converter. These re-
placements are not covered under
warranty.
Technica l Informatio n

Inde
x

Driving............................................ 177
Economy..................................... 171

In Bad Weather.......................... 192

In Foreign Countries................. 304

Driving Position Memory
System......................................... 100

Economy, Fuel............................... 171

Emergencies on the Road............. 269
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 278

Brake System Indicator............ 285
Changing a Flat Tire................. 271

Charging System Indicator...... 283

Checking the Fuses................... 288

Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 282

Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 284

Manually Closing Moonroof.... 286

Overheated Engine................... 280

Emergency Brake.......................... 108

Emergency Flashers....................... 70

Emergency Towing....................... 292

Emissions Controls........................ 305

Engine
Belts............................................. 240
Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 60
Malfunction IndicatorLamp................................. 55, 284
Oil Pressure Indicator......... 54, 282
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 215
Overheating................................ 280
Specifications............................. 299
Speed Limiter............................. 182
Engine Speed Limiter.................... 182
Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 303
Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 305
Exhaust Fumes................................ 49
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
System......................................... 306

Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by......................................... 18
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 262

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 264

Fan, Interior........................... 124, 129

Features, Comfort and
Convenience............................... 119

Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 167
Filters
Air Cleaner................................. 229
Air Conditioning........................ 240

Oil................................................ 217

First Gear, Shifting........................ 182
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 70
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 271

Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 226
Brake........................................... 227
Differential................................. 227
Power Steering........................... 228
Windshield Washer................... 225
FM Stereo Radio
Reception............................ 135, 145
Fog Lights......................................... 67
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 304
Four-way Flashers........................... 70
Front Airbags............................... 9, 43
Front End, Towing by Emergency Wrecker................. 292
Fuel.................................................. 166
Fill Door and Cap....................... 167

Gauge............................................ 60
Octane Requirement................. 166

Oxygenated................................ 303

Inde
x

Reserve Indicator......................... 57

Tank, Filling the......................... 167

Fuel Mileage, Improving............... 171

Fuses, Checking the...................... 288

Gasohol........................................... 303

Gasoline.......................................... 166

Fuel Reserv

e Indicator................ 57

Gauge............................................
60

Octane Requirement................

. 166

Tank, Fillin

g the......................... 167

Gas Statio

n Procedures................. 167

Gauges..............................................
58

Engine Coolan

t Temperature .... 60

Fuel................................................
60

Maintenance Require

d

Indicator.................................... 61

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight

Rating) ........................................ 195

Gearshift Lever Positions .............180

Glass Cleaning............................... 265

Glove Box......................................... 87

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight

Rating) ........................................ 195

Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 250
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 70

Headlights
Automatic Lighting..................... 64
Daytime Running Lights............. 65
High Beam Indicator................... 57

High Beams, Turning on............ 63

Lights On Indicator..................... 55

Low Beams, Turning on............. 63

Reminder Chime.......................... 63
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 250

Turning on.................................... 63

Head Restraints............................... 95

Heating and Cooling...................... 120
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 179
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 63

High-mount Brake Light............... 255
HomeLink Universal
Transmitter.................................. 88

Hood Latch..................................... 229

Hood, Opening the ........................ 168

Horn................................................... 62

Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 219
Hydroplaning.................................. 193 Identification Number, Vehicle.... 296
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 292
Ignition

Keys............................................... 77

Switch............................................ 80
Timing Control System............. 306
Immobilizer System......................... 78
Important Safety Precautions .......... 6
Indicator Lights, Instrument Panel.............................................. 53
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 241
Inside Mirror.................................... 98

Inspection, Tire.............................. 243

Instrument Panel............................. 53
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 66
Interior Cleaning............................ 264
Introduction......................................... i
CONTINUED

Inde
x

Jacking up the Car......................... 272

Jack, Tire........................................ 272

Jump Starting................................. 278
Keys................................................... 77
Label, Certification........................ 296
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 66
Lap/Shoulder Belt........................... 40
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 49
Learning Key.................................... 78
Leather, Cleaning.......................... 264
Lights On Indicator......................... 55Lighter, Cigarette.......................... 115
Lights Bulb Replacement..................... 250
Ceiling......................................... 117
Courtesy...................................... 118

Indicator........................................ 53

Parking.......................................... 63 Turn Signal................................... 66Load Limit...................................... 175
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 80
Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 80
Childproof Door........................... 85
Fuel Fill Door............................. 167
Glove Box.....................................
87

Power Door.................................. 81

Trunk............................................ 86

Trunk Pass-through Cover......... 97
Low Coolant Level......................... 170
Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 57
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 54, 282
Lubricant Specifications
Chart........................................... 298

Luggage.......................................... 174

Maintenance................................... 201

Owner Maintenance Checks.... 213

Record.................................. 211- 212

Required Indicator....................... 61

Safety........................................... 202

Schedule.............................. 206- 210

Malfunction Indicator Lamp .. 55, 284

Memory, Driving Position............ 100

Meters, Gauges................................ 58

Methanol in Gasoline.................... 303

Mirrors, Adjusting........................... 98

Moonroof........................................ 106
Closing Manually....................... 286

Operation.................................... 106
Neutral Gear Position.................... 181 New Vehicle Break-in ................... 166
NOTICE, Explanation of.................... i
Numbers, Identification................ 296
Octane Requirement, Gasoline.... 166Odometer.......................................... 59
Odometer, Trip................................ 59
Oil
Change, How to......................... 217
Change, When to....................... 206

Checking Engine....................... 169
Pressure Indicator............... 54, 282

Servic
e Informatio n Summar y

Gasoline :

Premium unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or

higher.

Fue l Tan k Capacity :
18.0 US gal (68 l ,15.0 Imp gal)
Recommende d Engin e Oil :
API Service SJ "Energy Conserving" oil, SAE 5W-30
viscosity (see page 215).
Oil change capacity (including

filter):

4.9 US qt (4.6 l , 4.0 Imp qt)
Automati c Transmissio n Fluid :
Honda Premium Formula
Automatic Transmission Fluid
preferred, or a DEXRON ®
III ATF

as a temporary replacement (see page 226). Powe
r Steerin g Fluid :
Genuine Honda Power Steering
Fluid preferred, or another brand
of power steering fluid as a

temporary replacement. Do not
use ATF (see page 228).

Brak e Fluid :
Genuine Honda DOT 3 Brake Fluid
preferred, or a DOT 3 or DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page 227). Tir
e Pressur e (measure d cold) :
Front/Rear:

29 psi (200 kPa , 2.0 kgf/cm2)

Spar e Tir e Pressure :

60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)