octane HONDA PASSPORT 2000 2.G Owners Manual

Drivin
g fo r Bes t Fue l

Econom y

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 gasolinemeeting 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 and could 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 andstop 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 in traffic, 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 meansless 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
Drivin g Tip s
Fue
l Econom y

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 catalyticconverter. These replacements
are not covered under warranty.
Accessorie
s & Modification s

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.)
When properly installed, car
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and low-powered audio systems
should not interfere with your
vehicle's computer-controlled
Driving Tip s

Operatio
n i n

Foreig n Countrie s

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.

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.
Engin
e Oi l Dipstic k
Check the oil level when the
engine is off and the oil is warm, such as during a fuel stop. See
page 209. 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.

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
Car e an d Maintenanc e
Fue
l Requirement s

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 woul d not
be covere
d 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 yoursafety and the safety of your
passengers. It will also reward you with more economical,
trouble-free driving and help
reduce air pollution.
Car e an d Maintenanc e
Maintenanc
e Safet y

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.

Maintenanc
e Schedul e

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 distanceintervals 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 196).
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 , replacemen t o r repai r
o f emissio n contro l device s an d
system s ma y b e don e b y an y
automotiv e repai r establishmen t o r
individua l usin g part s tha t ar e
"certified " t o EP A standards .

Car e an d Maintenanc e

Folding the Rear Seat ........ 91
Foreign Countries,
Operation in ............. 169
Front End, Towing by Emergency Wrecker ...... 188
Fuel Filling the Fuel Tank ..... 193
Fuel Fill Cap ........... 193
Fuel Gauge .............. 57
Low Fuel Indicator ....... 62Octane Requirement ..... 196
Oxygenated ............ 196
Recommendation ........ 194 Tank Capacity ...... 194, 233
Fuel Injectio
n System ...... 246

Fuses
Checking the .......
189, 236
Locations .............
. 236Gas Mileage, Improving .... 166
Gasohol ................. 196
Gasoline ................ 196

See also Fuel

Octane Requirement ..... 196

Tank,
Filling the ............ 193
Gas Station Procedures ..... 193

Gauges
Engine CoolantTemperature ............ 58
Fuel ................... 57
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) ........... 229
Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic Transmission .. 745-Speed Transmission ..... 81
Glass Cleaning ............ 226 Glove Box ............... 110
GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating) .......... 229
Halogen Headlight Bulbs .... 239
Hazard Warning Flasher ..... 74
Head Restraints ...... 8, 12, 90
Headlights ................ 70 High Beam Indicator ...... 60
High Beams ............ 70On, Reminder ........... 71
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 239 Turning on .............. 70
Heating and Cooling ....... 116
High-Low Beam Switch ..... 70
Hood Release ......... 105, 195

Horn ...................
111

Loading Cargo ............ 229
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) 97
Locks .................... 99
Anti-Theft Steering Column 97
Child-Safe Door ......... 101
Power Door ............ 100
Tailgate ............... 104
Low Coolant Level ........ 213
Low Oil Pressure Indicator ... 62
Lower Gear, Downshifting to a 82 Lubricant Specifications Charts ...... 231
Luggage, Loading ......... 229
Luggage Light ............ 106 Maintenance .............. 191
Periodic Checks.See Owner Safety Checks

Record ............ 202, 203
Safety ................. 197
Schedule ..... 199, 200, 201
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . 61
Map Light ............... 108
Meters, Gauges ............ 56
Methanol in Gasoline ....... 197

Mirror
Adjusting the ........... 101Defogger .............. 72

Vanity ................. 102
Moonroof ................ 108
Neutral Gear Position ....... 75
New Vehicle Break-In ...... 154
Normal Shift Speeds ........ 82 NOTICE, Explanation of ...... i
Numbers, Identifications .... 228

Octane Requirement,
Gasoline ................ 196
Odometer, Trip ............. 56

Off-Road Driving. See the
Off-Road Driving Information
booklet in your owner's packet.