octane HONDA PASSPORT 2002 2.G Owners Manual

170Driving Tips
Driving for Best Fuel
Economy
How, where, and when you drive
all affect how many miles/
kilometers you can get from a
gallon/liter of fuel. The careful
attention you give your vehicle as
far as maintenance and repairs
will also help fuel economy.
Fuel Selection
Use only unleaded gasoline
meeting federal government
regulations. The federal
government specifies the
minimum octane rating number of
unleaded gasoline. Unleaded
gasoline must be used for proper
emissions control system
operation. It will also minimize
spark plug fouling. The use of
leaded gasoline can damage the
emissions control system andcould result in loss of warranty
coverage.
“Jackrabbit” Starts
You can save fuel (and prolong
engine and tire life) by avoiding
fast starts away from lights and
stop signs.
Stop-and-Go Driving
Frequent stop-and-go driving
during a trip will cut down on
your miles per gallon (kilometers
per liter). Plan even your short
shopping trips to take advantage
of through streets to avoid traffic
lights. Pace your driving to avoid
unplanned stops.
Excessive Idling
An idling engine uses fuel, too. If
you’re faced with more than a few
minutes wait and you
’re not intraffic, it is better to turn off the
key and start the engine again
later.
Repetitive Harsh Stopping
Harsh stops can also waste fuel;
instead of moving the vehicle, the
energy is wasted as heat in
braking. Energy in the form of
fuel is also needed to accelerate
back to driving speed.
Lubricants
A well-lubricated vehicle means
less friction between moving
parts. This manual lists the proper
lubrication intervals in the
“Care
and Maintenance ” section.
Air Cleaner
Your vehicle gets its power from a
mixture of fuel and air. The air is
taken into the engine through the
Fuel Economy

converter. These replacements
are not covered under warranty.
173Driving Tips
If you are planning to take your
Honda outside the U.S. or
Canada, contact the tourist
bureaus in the areas you will be
traveling in to find out 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 Honda
will affect performance 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
vehicle back into compliance will
require the replacement of several
components, such as the oxygen
sensor and the three-way catalytic
Modifying your vehicle, or
installing some non-Honda
accessories, can make your vehicle
unsafe. Before you make any
modifications or add any
accessories, be sure to read the
following information.
Accessories
Your dealer has Genuine Honda
accessories that allow you to
personalize your vehicle. These
accessories have been designed and
approved for your vehicle, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Honda accessories are
usually designed for universal
applications. Although
aftermarket accessories may fit on
your vehicle, they may not meet
factory specifications, and could
adversely affect your vehicle
’s
handling and stability. (See “Modifications” on the next page
for additional information.)
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect
your vehicle’
s handling,
stability and performance,
and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or
killed.
Follow all instructions in
this owner ’s manual
regarding accessories and
modifications.
When properly installed, car
phones, alarms, two-way radios,
and low-powered audio systems
should not interfere with your
vehicle’ s computer-controlled
Operation in
Foreign CountriesAccessories & Modifications

200 Care and Maintenance
To Close
1.
Lift the hood slightly to remove
tension from the support rod.
2. Place the support rod in its
retaining clip and lower the
hood.
Always make sure the hood is
securely latched before you begin
driving.
Engine Oil Dipstick
Check the oil level when the
engine is off and the oil is warm,
such as during a fuel stop. See
page 213. Your Honda operates most
effectively on unleaded gasoline
with a pump octane number of 86
or higher. Use of a lower octane
gasoline can cause a persistent,
heavy metallic rapping noise in
the engine that can lead to
mechanical damage.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your vehicle
’s emission
controls. This contributes to air
pollution and can void certain parts
of your warranty.
Oxygenated Fuels
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
Fuel Requirements

201Care and Maintenance
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 EPA-approved
percentages of oxygenates:
ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol).
You may use gasoline containing up
to 10% ethanol by volume. Gasoline
containing ethanol may be marketed
under the name “Gasohol.”
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl
Ether). You may use gasoline
containing up to 15%
MTBE by
volume.
METHANOL (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. This damage 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. Regularly maintaining your
vehicle is the best way to protect
your investment. Proper
maintenance is essential to your
safety and the safety of your
passengers. It will also reward
you with more economical,
trouble-free driving and help
reduce air pollution.
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you
can be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner’s
manual.
Maintenance Safety

203Care and Maintenance
The Maintenance Schedule
specifies how often you should
have your vehicle serviced and
what things need attention. It is
essential that you have your
vehicle serviced as scheduled to
retain its high level of safety,
dependability, and emission
control performance.
The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the
maintenance schedule assume you
will use your vehicle as normal
transportation. You should:
•
Avoid exceeding your vehicle’s
load limit. This puts excess
stress on the engine, brakes, and
many other parts of your vehicle.
The load limit is shown on the
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 the proper octane rating
(see page 200).
Your authorized Honda dealer
knows your vehicle best and can
provide competent, efficient
service. However, service at a
dealer is not mandatory to keep
your warranties in effect.
Maintenance may be done by any
qualified service facility or person
who is skilled in this type of
automotive service. Keep all the
receipts as proof of completion,
and have the person who does the
work fill out the Maintenance Record. Check your warranty
booklet for more information.
We recommend the use of
Genuine Honda parts and fluids
whenever you have maintenance
done. These are manufactured to
the same high-quality standards as
the original components, so you
can be confident of their
performance and durability.
U.S. Vehicles:
Maintenance, replacement or repair
of emission control devices and
systems may be done by any
automotive repair establishment or
individual using parts that are
“certified” to EPA standards.
Maintenance Schedule

259
Foreign Countries, Operation in
173. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel Filling the Fuel Tank
197. . . . .
Fuel Fill Cap
197. . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel Gauge
59. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Low Fuel Indicator
64. . . . . .
Octane Requirement
200. . . . .
Oxygenated
200. . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommendation
198. . . . . . . .
Tank Capacity
198, 237. . . . . .
Fuel Injection System
249. . . . . .
Fuses Checking the
193, 240. . . . . . .
Locations
240. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G
Gas Mileage, Improving170. . . . Gasohol
200. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gasoline
200. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
See also Fuel
Octane Requirement
200. . . . .
Tank, Filling the
197. . . . . . . . . . . .
Gas Station Procedures
197. . . . .
Gauges Engine Coolant Temperature
60. . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel
59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Speedometer
58. . . . . . . . . . .
Tachometer
58. . . . . . . . . . . .
GAWR (Gross Axle
Weight Rating)
233. . . . . . . . . . .
Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic Transmission
76. .
5-Speed Transmission
83. . . .
Glass Cleaning
230. . . . . . . . . . . . Glove Box
114. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating)
233. . . . . . . . . .
H
Halogen Headlight Bulbs243. . . .
Hazard Warning Flasher
76. . . .
Head Restraints
8, 12, 93. . . . . . .
Headlights
72. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
High Beam Indicator
62. . . . .
High Beams
72. . . . . . . . . . . .
On, Reminder
73. . . . . . . . . .
Replacing Halogen Bulbs
243.
Turning on
72. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Heating and Cooling
120. . . . . . .
High-Low Beam Switch
72. . . .
Hood Release
109, 199. . . . . . . . .
Horn
115. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hydroplaning
168. . . . . . . . . . . . .

261
Low Coolant Level217. . . . . . . .
Low Oil Pressure Indicator
65. .
Lower Gear, Downshifting to a
84
Lubricant Specifications Charts
235. . . . . .
Luggage, Loading
175, 233. . . . .
Luggage Light
110. . . . . . . . . . . .
M
Maintenance195. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Periodic Checks. See Owner Safety Checks
Record
206, 207. . . . . . . . . . . .
Safety
201. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Schedule
203, 204, 20. . . . . .
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
63.
Map Light
112. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Meters, Gauges
58. . . . . . . . . . . Methanol in Gasoline
201. . . . . . .
Mirror Adjusting the
105. . . . . . . . . . .
Defogger
74. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vanity
106. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moonroof
112. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
N
Neutral Gear Position77. . . . . . .
New Vehicle Break-In
158. . . . . .
Normal Shift Speeds
84. . . . . . .
NOTICE, Explanation of
i. . . . . .
Numbers, Identifications
232. . . .
O
Octane Requirement, Gasoline
200. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Odometer, Trip
58. . . . . . . . . . . . Off-Road Driving. See the
Off-Road Driving Information
booklet in your owner’s packet.
Oil ChangeHow to
212. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When to
204, 205, 211. . . . .
Checking Engine
213. . . . . . . .
Front and Rear Axle
216. . . . .
Pressure Indicator
65. . . . . . .
Selecting Proper Viscosity Chart
213. . . . . . . .
ON (Ignition Key Position)
101. .
Opening the Hood
109. . . . . . . . .
Opening the Tailgate
108. . . . . . .
Opening the Windows
107. . . . . .
Operation in Foreign Countries
173. . . . . . . .
Ordering Service Parts
232. . . . . .
Overheating, Engine
190. . . . . . .