engine HONDA ODYSSEY 1996 Owner's Guide

Maintenance Schedule
The Maintenance Schedule specifies how often you should have your car serviced 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 emission control
performance.
The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the maintenanceschedule assume you will use your
car as normal transportation. You

should:

Avoid exceeding your car's loadlimit. This puts excess stress on
the engine, brakes, and many other 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 adistance of several kilometers
(miles).

Always use unleaded gasoline with the proper octane rating (see page
108). Which Schedule to Follow:
Service your car according to the
time and mileage periods on one of the Maintenance Schedules on page 140 and 141 . 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."

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Periodic Checks
You should check the following items at the specified intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perform any check, turn to the page given. Engine oil level — Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page 112.
Engine coolant level — Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 113 .
Windshield washer fluid — Check the level in the reservoir monthly.If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 154 .
Automatic transmission — Check the fluid level monthly. See page 155.
Brakes and power steering — Check the fluid level monthly. See
page 156. Tires — Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for

wear and foreign objects. See page
169 .
Battery — Check its condition and
the terminals for corrosion monthly. See page 162 .
Air conditioning — Check its operation weekly. See page 168 .
Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See
page 175.

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Fluid Locations

Maintenance

BRAKE FLUID

(Gray cap)
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP

COOLANT
RESERVOIR

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK

(Yellow loop)
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
(Orange loop)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
RESERVOIR
(Gray cap)

POWER STEERING
FLUID (Red cap)
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Engine Oil

Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil a couple of
minutes after shutting off the engine.
This will allow the oil to drain down to the bottom of the engine. Makesure the car is parked on level

ground.

1. Pull out the dipstick (orange loop) and wipe it with a cloth or paper

towel.

2. Insert it all the way back in its tube. 3. Pull it out again and look at the oil
level at the end of the dipstick. If it
is between the upper and lower
marks, the level is correct. Add oil
if the level is at or below the lower
mark.
Adding Oil

To add oil, unscrew and remove the
engine oil fill cap on top of the valve
cover. Pour in the oil, and replace the engine oil fill cap. Tighten it securely
Wait a few minutes and recheck the oil level. Do not fill above the upper
mark; you could damage the engine.
Maintenance
DIPSTICK

UPPER MARK
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Engine Oil
Recommended Oil Oil is a major contributor to your
engine's performance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade deter- gent oil.
You can determine an oil's SAE viscosity and Service Classificationfrom the API Service label on the oil
container.

A fuel-efficient oil is recommended for your Honda. This is shown on the
API Service label by the words "Energy Conserving II." This oil is
formulated to help your engine use less fuel. The API Service label also tells you
the service classification of the oil.
Always use an oil that says "API Service SH." This service rating mayalso include other designations, suchas CD. These additional classifica-
tions are not a problem, as long as the label also carries the SH classifi-cation. An oil that is only classified
SF is not recommended.
API SERVICE LABEL The oil container may also display
the API Certification mark shown
below. Make sure it says "ForGasoline Engines."
API CERTIFICATION MARK
CONTINUED

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Engine Oil
The SAE numbers tell you the oil'sviscosity or weight. Select the oil for
your car according to this chart.

Ambient Temperature

An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 is preferred for improved fuel economy
and year-round protection in your
Honda. You may use a 10W-30 oil if
the temperature in your area never

goes below 20°F ( — 7°C).
Synthetic Oil
You may use a synthetic motor oil if it meets the same requirements
given for conventional motor oil;
energy conserving, a service
classification of SH, and the proper
weight as shown on the chart. When
using synthetic oil, you must follow
the oil and filter change intervals given in the maintenance schedule.
Additives Your Honda does not need any oil additives. Purchasing additives for
the engine or transmission will not increase your car's performance or
longevity. It only increases the cost of operating your car. Oil and Filter Changes
Always change the oil and filter according to the time and distance
recommendations in the mainte-
nance schedule. The oil and filter collect contaminants that can dam-age your engine if they are not
removed regularly.
Changing the oil and filter requires
special tools and access from
underneath the car. The car should
be raised on a service station-type
hydraulic lift for this service. Unless
you have the knowledge and proper equipment, you should have this
maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.

1. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature,
then shut it off.

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Engine Oil

2. Open the hood and remove the
engine oil fill cap. Remove the oil
drain bolt from the bottom of the

engine. Drain the oil into an

appropriate container.
3. Remove the oil filter and let the
remaining oil drain. A special
wrench (available from your Honda dealer) is required to
remove the filter.
4. Install a new oil filter according to instructions that come with it.
5. Put a new washer on the drain bolt, then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:43 N.m (4.4 kgf.m , 32 Ibf.ft) 6. Refill the engine with the recom-

mended oil.

Engine oil change capacity
(including filter):
3.8 (4.0 US qt, 3.3 Imp qt)
7. Replace the engine oil fill cap. Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator light should go out within
five seconds. If it does not, turn off
the engine and reinspect your
work.
8. Let the engine run for several minutes and check the drain boltand oil filter for leaks.
9. Turn off the engine, let it sit for several minutes, then check the oil
level. If necessary, add oil to bring
the level to the upper mark on the
dipstick.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

WASHER
DRAIN BOLT OIL FILTER
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Engine Oil, Cooling System

If you change your own oil, pleasedispose of the used oil properly. Put it in a sealed container and take it to arecycling center. Do not discard it in a
trash bin or dump it on the ground.
Checking the Engine Coolant
Level
Check the level of the engine coolant
by looking at the radiator reserve tank next to the battery. If the coolant level in the reserve tank is ator below the MIN line, add coolant to
bring it up to the MAX line. Inspect the cooling system for leaks. Thiscoolant should always be a mixtureof 50% antifreeze and 50% water.
Never add straight antifreeze or
plain water. Always use Genuine Honda Anti-
freeze/Coolant. The cooling systemcontains many aluminum compo-nents that can corrode if an improper
antifreeze is used. Some antifreeze,even though labeled as safe for
aluminum parts, may not provideadequate protection.

Maintenance
RESERVE TANK

MIN
MAX

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Cooling System

Adding Engine Coolant If the reserve tank is completely
empty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.
1. Make sure the engine and radiator
are cool.
2. Turn the radiator cap counter-
clockwise, without pressing down
on it, until it stops. This relieves
any pressure remaining in the
cooling system.
3. Remove the radiator cap by pushing down and turning
counterclockwise.
4. The coolant level should be up to
the base of the filler neck. Add
coolant if it is low.
5. Put the radiator cap back on. Tighten it fully.
6. Pour coolant into the reserve tank. Fill it to halfway between the MAX
and MIN marks. Put the cap back
on the reserve tank.

Maintenance
CONTINUED

Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap. RADIATOR CAP
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Cooling System

Do not add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your car's cooling
system. They may not be compatible
with the coolant or engine compo-
nents.

Replacing Engine Coolant

The cooling system should be completely drained and refilled with
new coolant according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule. Only use recommended antifreeze.
Draining the coolant requires access
to the underside of the car. Unless
you have the tools and knowledge,
you should have this maintenance done by a skilled mechanic. 1. Start the engine. Turn the heater
temperature control dial to
maximum heat and turn off the
engine. Open the hood. Make sure
the engine and radiator are cool to
the touch.
2. Remove the radiator cap. 3. Loosen the drain plug on the
bottom of the radiator. The
coolant will drain through the
splash guard. Remove the drain
bolt from the engine block.
Maintenance DRAIN BOLT
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