oil viscosity HONDA INSIGHT 2001 1.G Owners Manual

The condition of your car and your
driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.
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(see page ). For
example, an underinf lated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses f uel. It also wears out
f aster, so check the tire pressure at
least monthly. Engine oil also af f ects f uel economy.
The f uel ef f icient, low-viscosity
0W-20 oil recommended f or your
Insightisformulatedtohelpthe
engine use less f uel. This oil is
available at your Honda dealer.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car’s underside adds weight and
rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your f uel mileage and reduces
thechanceof corrosion.
You can improve f uel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more f uel.
To get the best f uel mileage, drive in
the highest gear that is practical for
the speed you are driving, and
always accelerate slowly.You may f ind that your Insight’s
unique combination of an engine and
an electric motor has driving
characteristics that are somewhat
dif f erent f rom what you are used to.
Shif t Up and Shif t Down indicators
(5-speed manual transmission only)
on the instrument panel show when
to shif t to a higher or lower gear. By
shifting as soon as the indicator
comes on, you will keep the engine
operating in its most economical
range.
Wind resistance causes vehicles to
usemorefuelathigherspeeds.
Driving at moderate speeds on the
highway reduces wind resistance
and conserves f uel.
Depending on traf f ic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra f uel.
165
Fuel Economy
Bef ore Driving
Vehicle Condition
Owner Maintenance
Checks Driving Habits
126

The numbers on the container’s label
tell you the oil’s viscosity or weight.
Select the oil f or your car according
to this chart.You may use a synthetic motor oil if
it meets the same requirements
given f or a conventional motor oil: it
displays the API Certif ication Seal,
and it is the proper weight as shown
on the chart. When using synthetic
oil, you must f ollow the oil and f ilter
change intervals given in the
maintenance schedule.Your Honda does not require any oil
additives. Additives may adversely
af f ect your engine’s or transmission’s
perf ormance and durability.
A very low-viscosity, f uel-ef f icient
0W-20 oil is pref erred engine
lubricant f or your Insight. This
special oil is f ormulated to help your
engine use less f uel. It is available at
your Honda dealer. A 5W-20 or
5W-30oilmaybeusedif 0W-20isnot
available.
Engine Oil
Maint enance Synthetic Oil Additives
168
AAmmbbiieennttTTeemmppeerraattuurree

If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an API service SG, SH or SJ
grade motor oil with a viscosity of
SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40 as a
temporary replacement. An SG
grade is pref erred, but an SH or SJ
grade may be used if SG is not
available. However, motor oil does
not contain the proper additives and
continued use can cause stif f er
shif ting. Replace as soon as it is
convenient.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
Check the f luid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the car sitting on
the level ground.
Remove the black cover under the
engine. Remove the transmission f iller bolt
and caref ully f eel inside the bolt hole
with your f inger. The f luid level
should be up to the edge of the bolt
hole. If it is not, add Honda Manual
Transmission Fluid (MTF) until it
starts to run out of the hole. Reinstall
the f iller bolt and tighten it securely.
Maint enance
T ransmission Fluid
5-speed Manual Transmission 180

CONT INUED
.....................................
Load Limit . 131
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 69
Locks
............................
Fuel Fill Door . 121
............................................
Hatch . 71
........................
Low Coolant Level . 125
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator . 58
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 139
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 244
.........................................
Luggage . 130
..................................
Maintenance . 153
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 165
........................................
Record . 154
......................
Required Indicator . 59
..........................................
Saf ety . 154
....................................
Schedule . 156
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 48, 230
...................
Manual Transmission . 136
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 180
...............................
Meters, Gauges . 50
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 248
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting . 78 ..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 120
..................
NOTICE, Explanation of . ii
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 242
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 120
.........................................
Odometer . 50
...............................
Odometer, Trip . 51
Oil
........................
Change, How to . 169
......................
Change, When to . 158
......................
Checking Engine . 124
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart . 168
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 70
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery . 250
.........................
Opening the Hatch . 71
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 249
..............................
Outside Mirrors . 78
....................
Overheating, Engine . 227
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 165
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels . 248 ..............................
Paint Touch-up . 210
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 62
...........................................
Parking . 147
.................................
Parking Brake . 79
Parking Brake and Brake
.................
System Indicator . 46, 232
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 252
.............................
PGM-FI System . 251
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 210
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 11
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 17
............................
Protecting Adults . 12
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 17
........................
Protecting Children . 19
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 29
.........
Protecting Small Children . 26
Using Child Seats with
.....................................
Tethers . 33
Index
M N O
P
V

ÎÎ
.............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 41
..................
Warranty Coverages . 257
Washer, Windshield
.....................................
Operation . 64
.........................................
Washing . 209
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 210
Wheels
............
Alignment and Balance . 194
..........................
Compact Spare . 216
......................................
Wrench . 219
Windows
.....................................
Cleaning . 212
...........................
Rear, Def ogger . 65
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning . 63
.....................................
Def roster . 95
.......................................
Washers . 64
Wipers, Windshield
.......................
Changing Blades . 187 .....................................
Operation . 65
....................................
Worn Tires . 194
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing . 239
.................................................
VIN . 242
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning . 211
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 168
U.S. and Canada only
Index
W
VIII

Service Inf ormat ion Summary
Gasoline:
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Recommended Engine Oil:Brake Fluid:
Automatic Transmission Fluid:
Tire Pressure (measured cold):
5-speed Manual Transmission Fluid:
10.6 US gal (40
, 8.8 Imp gal)
Oil change capacity (including
filter): 2.6 US qt (2.5
, 2.2 Imp qt)
API Service SJ ‘‘Energy
Conserving’’ oil, SAE 0W-20
viscosity (see page ).
Unleaded gasoline, pump octane
number of 87 or higher.
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 preferred, or a DOT 3 or
DOT 4 brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page ).
Spare Tire:
Rear:
Front:
Use Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) only.
Honda Manual Transmission
Fluid preferred, or an API service
SG, SH or SJ, SAE 10W-30 or
10W-40 motor oil as a temporary
replacement (see page ).
Capacity (including differential):
1.6 US qt (1.5
, 1.3 Imp qt) 38 psi (260 kPa)
35 psi (240 kPa)
60 psi (420 kPa)
167 181
180