HONDA CIVIC SEDAN 2000 Owner's Manual (in English)

Engin
e Oi l

Th e oi l containe r ma y als o displa y
th e AP I Certificatio n seal . Mak e sur e
i t say s "Fo r Gasolin e Engines. "

AP I CERTIFICATIO N SEA L
Th
e SA E number s tel l yo u th e oil' s
viscosit y o r weight . Selec t th e oi l fo r
you r car accordin g t o thi s chart .

A n oi l wit h a viscosit y o f 5W-3 0 is
preferre d fo r improve d fue l econom y
an d year-roun d protectio n in you r
Honda . Yo u ma y us e a 10W-3 0 oi l i f
th e temperatur e in you r are a neve r
goe s belo w 20°F( — 7°C) .
Syntheti
c Oi l
Yo u ma y us e a syntheti c moto r oi l i f
i t meet s th e sam e requirement s
give n fo r conventiona l moto r oil :
energ y conserving , a servic e
classificatio n o f SJ , an d th e prope r
weigh t a s show n o n th e chart . Whe n
usin g syntheti c oil , yo u mus t follo w
th e oi l an d filte r chang e interval s
give n in th e maintenanc e schedule .
Additive s
You r Hond a doe s no t nee d an y oi l
additives . Purchasin g additive s fo r
th e engin e o r transmissio n wil l no t
increas e you r car' s performanc e o r
longevity . I t onl y increase s th e cos t
o f operatin g you r car .
Maintenanc e Ambien
t Temperatur e

Engin
e Oi l
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filte r
Alway s chang e th e oi l an d filte r
accordin g to th e tim e an d distanc e
(miles/kilometers ) recommenda -
tion s i n th e maintenanc e schedule .
Th e oi l an d filte r collec t contami -
nant s tha t ca n damag e you r engin e if
the y ar e no t remove d regularly .
Changin g th e oi l an d filte r require s
specia l tool s an d acces s fro m
underneat h th e car . Th e ca r shoul d
b e raise d o n a servic e station-typ e
hydrauli c lif t fo r thi s service . Unles s
yo u hav e th e knowledg e an d prope r
equipment , yo u shoul d hav e thi s
maintenanc e don e b y a skille d
mechanic . 1
. Ru n th e engin e unti l i t reache s
norma l operatin g temperature ,
the n shu t i t off .
2 . Ope n th e hoo d an d remov e th e
engin e oi l fil l cap . Remov e th e oi l
drai n bol t an d washe r fro m th e
botto m o f th e engine . Drai n th e oi l
int o a n appropriat e container .3
. Remov e th e oi l filte r an d le t th e
remainin g oi l drain . A specia l
wrenc h (availabl e fro m you r
Hond a dealer ) i s require d t o
remov e th e filter .
4 . Instal l a ne w oi l filte r accordin g to
instruction s tha t com e wit h it .

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

OI
L DRAI N BOL T WASHER OI
L FILTE R

Engin
e Oi l

5 . Pu t a ne w washe r o n th e drai n bolt ,
the n reinstal l th e drai n bolt .
Tighte n it to :

(U.S. : DX , D X Valu e Package , LX ,

Canada : LX , SE , EX )

3 3 lbf·f t (4 4 N·m , 4. 5 kgf·m )

(U.S. : EX )

2 9 Ibf·f t (3 9 N· m , 4. 0 kgf·m )
6 . Refil l th e engin e wit h th e recom -

mende d oil .

Engin e oi l chang e capacit y

(includin g filter) :

(U.S. : DX , D X Valu e Package , LX ,

Canada : LX , SE , EX )
3.
8 U S q t (3. 6 , 3.2 Im p qt )

(U.S. : EX )
3.
5 U S q t (3. 3 , 2.9 Im p qt )
7
. Replac e th e engin e oi l fil l cap .
Star t th e engine . Th e oi l pressur e
indicato r ligh t shoul d g o ou t withi n
fiv e seconds . I f i t doe s not , tur n of f
th e engin e an d reinspec t you r
work .
8 . Le t th e engin e ru n fo r severa l
minute s an d chec k th e drai n bol t
an d oi l filte r fo r leaks .
9 . Tur n of f th e engine , le t i t si t fo r
severa l minutes , the n chec k th e oi l
level . I f necessary , ad d oi l t o brin g
th e leve l t o th e uppe r mar k o n th e

dipstick .
Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmful to the environment. If you
change your own oil, please dispose ofthe 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.

Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E

Coolin
g Syste m
I f th e coolan t leve l i n th e reserv e
tan k i s a t o r belo w th e MI N line , ad d
coolan t t o brin g it u p t o th e MA X line .
Inspec t th e coolin g syste m fo r leaks .
Thi s coolan t shoul d alway s b e a
mixtur e o f 5 0 percen t antifreez e an d
5 0 percen t water . Neve r ad d straigh t
antifreez e o r plai n water . Alway
s us e Genuin e Hond a
Antifreeze/Coolant . I f i t i s no t
available , yo u ma y us e anothe r
major-bran d non-silicat e coolan t a s a
temporar y replacement . Mak e sur e i t
i s a high-qualit y coolan t
recommende d fo r aluminu m engines .
However , continue d us e o f an y non -
Hond a coolan t ca n resul t i n
corrosion , causin g th e coolin g
syste m to malfunctio n o r fail . Hav e
th e coolin g syste m flushe d an d
refille d wit h Hond a antifreeze /
coolan t a s soo n a s possible . I
f th e reserv e tan k i s completel y
empty , yo u shoul d als o chec k th e
coolan t leve l i n th e radiator .
1 . Mak e sur e th e engin e an d radiato r

ar e cool .

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

Addin
g Engin e Coolan t

RESERV E TAN K

Removing th e radiato r ca p
whil e th e engin e is ho t ca n
caus e th e coolan t t o spra y out ,
seriousl y scaldin g you .
Alway s le t th e engin e an d
radiato r coo l dow n befor e
removin g th e radiato r cap .

Coolin
g Syste m

RADIATO R CA P

2 . Tur n th e radiato r ca p counter -
clockwise , withou t pressin g dow n
o n it , unti l i t stops . Thi s relieve s
an y pressur e remainin g in th e
coolin g system .
3 . Remov e th e radiato r ca p b y
pushin g dow n an d turnin g
counterclockwise .
RESERV
E TAN K

4 . Th e coolan t leve l shoul d b e u p to
th e bas e o f th e fille r neck . Ad d
coolan t i f i t i s low .
5 . Pu t th e radiato r ca p bac k on .
Tighte n it fully .
6 . Pou r coolan t int o the reserv e tank .
Fil l i t t o halfwa y betwee n th e MA X
an d MI N marks . Pu t th e ca p bac k
o n th e reserv e tank .
D
o no t ad d an y rus t inhibitor s o r
othe r additive s t o you r car' s coolin g
system . The y ma y no t b e compatibl e
wit h th e coolan t o r engin e compo -

nents .

Maintenanc e

Coolin
g Syste m

Replacin g Engin e Coolan t
Th e coolin g syste m shoul d b e
completel y draine d an d refille d wit h
ne w coolan t accordin g t o th e tim e
an d distanc e recommendation s i n
th e maintenanc e schedule . Onl y us e
Genuin e Hond a Antifreeze/Coolant .
Drainin g th e coolan t require s acces s
t o th e undersid e o f th e car . Unles s
yo u hav e th e tool s an d knowledge ,
yo u shoul d hav e thi s maintenanc e
don e b y a skille d mechanic .

1. Tur n th e ignitio n O N (II) . Tur n
th e temperatur e contro l dia l t o

maximu m heat . Tur n of f th e

ignition . Ope n th e hood . Mak e

sur e th e engin e an d radiato r ar e

coo l t o th e touch .

2 . Remov e th e radiato r cap .
DRAI
N PLU G
3 . Loose n th e drai n plu g o n th e
botto m o f th e radiator . Th e
coolan t wil l com e ou t throug h th e
hol e i n th e splas h cover .

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

Coolin
g Syste m

4 . Remov e th e reserv e tan k fro m it s
holde r b y pullin g it straigh t up .
Drai n th e coolant , the n pu t th e
tan k bac k i n it s holder . 5
. Whe n th e coolan t stop s draining ,
tighte n th e drai n plu g a t th e
botto m o f th e radiator .
6 . Mi x th e recommende d antifreez e
wit h a n equa l amoun t o f purifie d
o r distille d wate r i n a clea n
container . Th e coolin g syste m
capacit y is :

With 5-speed manual transmission:
0.8
2 U S ga l (3. 1 , 0.6 8 Im p gal )

With automatic transmission:

(U.S. : DX , D X Valu e Package , LX ,
Canada : LX , SE , EX ) 0.7
9 U S ga l (3. 0 ,0.6 6 Im p gal )
(U.S. : EX ) 0.8
5 U S ga l (3. 2 ,0.7 0 Im p gal ) 7
. Pou r coolan t int o th e radiato r u p
t o th e bas e o f th e fille r neck . Star t
th e engin e an d le t i t ru n fo r abou t
3 0 seconds . The n tur n of f th e

engine .

Maintenanc e

RESERV
E

TAN K
RESERV
E

TAN K CA P

HOLDE R
FILLE
R NEC K
Fil l u p to her e

Coolin
g Syste m

8 . Chec k th e leve l i n th e radiator ,
ad d coolan t i f needed .
9 . Fil l th e reserv e tan k t o th e MA X
mark . Instal l th e reserv e tan k cap .
10.Instal l th e radiato r cap , an d
tighte n it t o th e firs t stop .
11.Start th e engin e an d le t i t ru n unti l
th e radiato r fa n come s o n tw o
times . The n sto p th e engine .
12.Remov e th e radiato r cap . Fil l th e
radiato r wit h coolan t u p t o th e
bas e o f th e fille r neck . 13.Star
t th e engin e an d hol d it a t
1,50 0 rp m unti l th e radiato r fa n
come s on . Tur n of f th e engine .
Chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r an d ad d coolan t i f needed .
14.Instal l th e radiato r cap , an d
tighte n i t fully .
15.I f necessary , fil l th e reserv e tan k
t o th e MA X mark . Instal l th e
reserv e tan k cap .
Maintenanc e
RESERV
E TAN K

Windshiel
d Washer s

Chec k th e leve l i n th e windshiel d
washe r reservoi r a t leas t monthl y
durin g norma l usage . I n ba d weather ,
whe n yo u us e th e washer s often ,
chec k th e leve l ever y tim e yo u sto p

fo r fuel .

Th e windshiel d washe r reservoi r i s
locate d behin d th e driver' s sid e
headlight . Chec k th e reservoir' s flui d
leve l b y removin g th e ca p an d
lookin g a t th e leve l gaug e attache d
t o th e cap .

On Canadian models
Th e lo w washe r leve l indicato r wil l
ligh t whe n th e leve l i s lo w (se e pag e

56 ).
Fil
l th e reservoi r wit h a good-qualit y
windshiel d washe r fluid . Thi s
increase s th e cleanin g capabilit y an d
prevent s freezin g i n col d weather .Whe
n yo u refil l th e reservoir , clea n
th e edge s o f th e windshiel d wipe r
blade s wit h windshiel d washe r flui d
o n a clea n cloth . Thi s wil l hel p to
conditio n th e blad e 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.

Maintenanc e
LEVE
L GAUG E

NOTICE

Transmissio
n Flui d

Chec k th e flui d leve l wit h th e engin e
a t norma l operatin g temperature .
1 . Par k th e ca r o n leve l ground . Shu t
of f th e engine .
2 . Remov e th e dipstic k (yello w loop )
fro m th e transmissio n an d wip e it
wit h a clea n cloth . 3
. Inser t th e dipstic k al l th e wa y int o
th e transmissio n securel y a s
show n in th e illustration .
4 . Remov e th e dipstic k an d chec k
th e flui d level . I t shoul d b e
betwee n th e uppe r an d lowe r

marks .
5
. I f th e leve l i s belo w th e lowe r
mark , ad d flui d int o th e fille r hol e
t o brin g it t o th e uppe r mark .
Alway s us e Hond a Premiu m
Formul a Automati c Transmissio n
Flui d (ATF) . I f i t i s no t available ,
yo u ma y us e a DEXRON ® II I
automati c transmissio n flui d a s a
temporar y replacement . However ,
continue d us e ca n affec t shif t
quality . Hav e th e transmissio n
draine d an d refille d wit h Hond a
AT F a s soo n a s it i s convenient .
6 . Inser t th e dipstic k al l th e wa y bac k
int o th e transmissio n securel y a s
show n in th e illustration .
Th e transmissio n shoul d b e draine d
an d refille d wit h ne w flui d accordin g
t o th e tim e an d distanc e recommen -
dation s i n th e maintenanc e schedule .

Maintenanc e

Automati
c Transmissio n

DIPSTIC K

UPPER

MAR K

LOWE R
MAR K