check oil HONDA PASSPORT 2002 2.G User Guide

210Care and Maintenance
Seat-back latches — Seat-back
latches are designed to prevent
forward motion of the seat-back
when the vehicle stops suddenly.
Check to see that the seat-back
latches are holding by pulling
forward on the top of the folding
seat-back.
Also check to see that the
reclining seats are operating
properly.
Lights and beepers — Check
panel lighting, warning lights, and
the seat belt reminder light and
beeper. Also check the key beeper
and interior lights. On the outside,
check the license plate light, side
marker lights, headlights, parking
lights, taillights, brake lights, turn
signals, backup lights and hazard
warning flashers. Have the
headlight aim checked promptly if the beams seem to be aimed
improperly.
Glass — Check for broken,
scratched or damaged glass that
could reduce visibility or cause
injury.
Door latches — Check that the
doors close, latch and lock
securely.
Hood latch — Check that the
hood closes firmly. Check for
broken, damaged, or missing parts
that might prevent secure
latching. Make sure the secondary
latch keeps the hood from
opening all the way when first
released.
Fluid leaks — Check for fuel,
water, oil or other fluid leaks by
looking at the surface beneath the
vehicle after it has been parked
for awhile. Water dripping from
the air conditioning system after
use is normal. If you notice
gasoline fumes or fluid at any
time, locate the source and have it
corrected at once.
Spare tire and jack — Check that
the spare tire and all jack gear are
securely stowed at all times.
Tailgate latch — Check that the
tailgate closes, latches and locks
securely.

212Care and Maintenance
Change the oil and oil filter every
3,750 miles (6,000 kilometers) or
every three months if you drive
under one or more of these
“severe driving” conditions:
•Driving in dusty areas
•Towing a trailer
•Frequent idling or idling for
long periods
•Frequent short trips (4 miles [6
kilometers] or less) in cold or
freezing weather, where the
engine does not thoroughly
warm up.
•Change the oil and oil filter as
soon as possible after driving in
a dust storm.
Oil Change
Changing the oil and filter requires
special tools and access from
underneath the vehicle. The vehicle
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. Warm up the engine. This
makes the oil drain faster and
more thoroughly.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
3. Remove the drain plug and drain oil fully.
4. Install the drain plug, with a new gasket, and tighten it.
5. Fill the engine with the proper amount of new oil (see
“Specifications”). Oil Filter Installation
1. Remove the old oil filter with
the filter wrench.
2. Apply a light coat of engine oil to the oil filter gasket.
3. Hand-tighten the filter until the gasket contacts the sealing
face.
4. Using the filter wrench, tighten the filter one full turn.
5. Run the engine and inspect for leaks.
6. Shut off the engine. After a couple of minutes, check the
oil level. If necessary, add oil
to bring it to the
FULL mark.

An improperly installed oil filter
can result in severe engine
damage.

213Care and Maintenance
Oil Viscosity
Engine oil viscosity (thickness) has
an effect on fuel economy. Lower
viscosity engine oils can provide
increased fuel economy; however,
higher temperature weather
conditions require higher viscosity
engine oils for satisfactory
lubrication. To get the best fuel
economy with your vehicle, you
should use a fuel-saving engine oil
of the proper viscosity. These oils
can be found in service stations andother retail stores. They are
identified by words such as
“Energy Saving,” “Conserves
Gasoline,” “Gas Saving,”
“Gasoline Saving,” “Friction
Reducing,” “Improved Gasoline
Mileage” or “Fuel Saving.”
The chart lists the recommended
engine oil viscosities for the
temperature range you expect
before the next oil change. For
temperatures above 0

F (–18
C),
SAE 10W–30 is the preferred viscosity grade. If cold-weather
starting problems are encountered
at temperatures below 0

F
(–18
C), SAE 5W–30 viscosity
oils may be required.
Oil Level Check
It is the owner ’s responsibility to
keep the engine oil at the proper
level. Check the oil level at regular
intervals (such as every other fuel
stop) and keep it above the
“minimum” level mark.
Remember, your engine may use
more oil when it is new.
The best time to check the engine
oil level is when the oil is warm,
such as during a fuel stop. Shut off
the engine and wait about 5 minutes
for the oil to drain back to the oil
pan. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it
clean, and push it back down all the
way. Now pull out the dipstick and
–20 F 0 F
– 30 C –20 C –10 C 20 F
40 F
0 C 10 C 20 C
60 F
80 F
30 C 40 C
100 F
TEMPERATURE RANGE YOU EXPECT BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE
VISCOSITY GRADE – AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
SAE 5W–30
SAE 10W–30, PREFERRED
SAE 15W–40, 20W–40, 20W–50

214Care and Maintenance
look at the oil level on the dipstick.
The dipstick has two markings
which indicate the minimum and
maximum allowable oil level. If the
oil level is lower than the marked
area, it indicates the need for
additional oil. Push the dipstick
back down all the way after taking
the reading.
•If you check the oil level when
the oil is cold, do not run the
engine first. The cold oil will
not drain into the pan fast
enough to give a true reading.
Engine Oil Additives
There are many extra engine oil
additives for sale. Your engine
should not need these extra
additives if you use recommended
quality engine oil and change it as
suggested. If you think your
engine has an oil-related problem,
talk to your Honda dealer.
See your Maintenance Schedule for
change intervals. If the vehicle is
operated in dusty areas it will
require more frequent element
replacement. Your Honda dealer
can be of assistance in determining
the proper replacement frequency
for the conditions under which you
operate your vehicle.
Do not attempt to clean the air
filter. The filter is designed to
provide normal filtering
efficiency between replacement
intervals.
For maximum protection, it is
advisable to use genuine Honda air
cleaner filters as replacements.
Air Cleaner Filter

215Care and Maintenance
Never run the engine with the air
cleaner filter removed. If the
engine should backfire, it could
possibly cause an engine
compartment fire.
Be sure to reinstall the air cleaner
filter and assembly correctly. If it
is installed incorrectly, engine
damage could result.
See the Maintenance Schedule to
find out how often the lubricant
level should be checked.
Check that the fluid level reaches
the plug hole by removing the
filler plug on the transmission and
transfer case. If the fluid level is
low, refill the case up to the filler
plug hole.
Use a high-quality engine oil
labeled SG or SF that is of the
correct viscosity for existing
ambient temperatures as follows.
Ambient
TemperatureViscosity
Lubricant
to Be Used
Areas where
ambient
temperatures of
90
F (32
C) and
higher are regularly
encountered.
SAE 15W-40 20W-40
20W-50
Other areasSAE 5W-30
(2WD)
OIL FILL PLUG
DRAIN PLUG
(4WD)
OIL FILL PLUG
DRAIN PLUG
RIGHT SIDE
LEFT SIDE
Manual Transmission Fluid

216Care and Maintenance
Proper Fluid
Kind of Fluid
TransmissionDEXRON III
Transfer
(4WD)SAE 5W-30
(Engine oil)
Have the fluid level in the
automatic transmission checked
during the regularly scheduled
maintenance at your Honda
dealer.
If you suspect an automatic
transmission fluid leak, take the
vehicle to your Honda dealer for
inspection and repair.
Transmission damage could result
if you let the fluid level get too
low.
Drain Intervals
The automatic transmission drain
interval is not time or mileage
dependent. It will vary according
to your driving habits and vehicle
usage.
Your dealer will check the
transmission fluid’s condition and
life expectancy during regularly
scheduled maintenance, and
inform you at what mileage it
should be changed. See the Maintenance Schedule
List to determine how often the
lubricant should be changed. Add
lubricant, if needed, by filling to
the level of the filler plug hole.
Use
GL-5 gear lubricant of the
proper viscosity as shown in the
chart.
If your vehicle is equipped with
the optional limited slip
differential (on the rear axle), use
GL-5 Limited Slip Differential
Gear Lubricant together with
Limited Slip Differential Gear
Lubricant Additive (Part No.
8-01052-358-0) or equivalent.
Use the correct viscosity for the
existing ambient temperatures.
Automatic Transmission FluidFront (4WD)
and Rear Axles

217Care and Maintenance
Recommended Lubricant
Ambient
TemperatureLubricant Viscosity to Be Used
Rear
AxleFront Axle
Below 50
F(10
C)
SAE 80
or SAE80W-90
SAE
75W-90
synthetic
0
F to 90h
F(–18
C to
32
C)
SAE 90
or SAE
80W-90
SAE
75W-90
synthetic
Above 50
F(10
C)
consistentlySAE
140SAE
80W-90
or SAE
80W
-140
The engine cooling system is
designed to maintain the engine at
the proper operating temperatures.
The cooling system was filled at
the factory with a quality engine
coolant. The engine cooling system
is designed to use coolant (a
mixture of water and ethylene
glycol antifreeze) rather than plain
water. The engine coolant solution
should be used year-round. It has
many advantages such as:
•provides freezing protection as
low as –33
F (–36
C)
• provides boiling protection up
to 262
F (128
C)
•protects against rust and
corrosion in the cooling system
• maintains the proper engine
temperature for efficient
operation and emission control
•allows proper operation of the
engine coolant temperature gauge See the Maintenance Schedule in
this section to find out when the
engine coolant must be replaced.
Checking the Coolant Level
Check the engine coolant level at
the interval shown in the
Maintenance Schedule unless there
is evidence of leaking or
overheating. The engine coolant
level should be between the
maximum and the minimum level
marks on the radiator reserve tank.
Engine Cooling System

219Care and Maintenance
(–36

C) to ensure protection
against corrosion and loss of
engine coolant from boiling.
This should be done even if
freezing temperatures are not
expected.
•Add ethylene glycol-based
antifreeze when antifreeze has
to be added because of engine
coolant loss or if more
protection against freezing at
temperatures lower than –33
F
(–36
C) is needed. Do not use
an alcohol-based or
methanol-based antifreeze, or
plain water. They boil at a
lower point, and do not provide
corrosion protection.
Thermostat
The engine coolant temperature is
controlled by a thermostat, which
stops engine coolant flow through
the radiator until a preset
temperature is reached. This
thermostat is installed in the
engine coolant inlet on the front
of the engine block. The same
thermostat is used in both winter
and summer.Brake Master Cylinder
Check the master cylinder fluid
level in the reservoir every time
you check the engine oil level.
The level should be between the
MAX and ADD level line. If the
level is lower than the
ADD level
line, fill to the
MAX level line
with
DOT-3 or DOT-4 fluid.
Other Required
Maintenance

220 Care and Maintenance
If the diaphragm inside the
reservoir cap is deformed, return
it to the original (collapsed)
condition, then tighten the cap.
It is normal for the brake fluid
level to go down slightly as the
front brake pads wear. So be sure
to keep the reservoir fluid at the
proper level.
If the reservoir needs frequent
refilling, it may indicate a serious
mechanical problem.
Brake fluid absorbs water from
the air. Never use brake fluid that
has been open to the air for an
extended period. Throw it away
and use new brake fluid from a
sealed container.

Brake fluid can damage your
vehicle’s paint. Thoroughly clean
up any brake fluid spills.
Shift-on-the-Fly System
The fluid level in the system should
be checked at the intervals shown
in the Maintenance Schedule.
FILLER
PLUG
Remove the filler plug and make
sure the fluid level is up to the
edge of the hole. If it is not, add
GL-5 gear oil to bring to that
level. Use the same
GL-5 gear oil
specified for the front axle (see
page 216).
Front Wheel Bearings
Clean and repack the front wheel
bearings whenever the front brake
pads are replaced. Due to the
weight of the tire and wheel
assembly it is recommended that
they be removed from the hub
before lubricating the bearings to
prevent damage to the oil seal.
“Long Fiber” grease should not be
used to lubricate the wheel bearings.
It can cause damage. Clean the old
grease out of the bearings and hubs
before repacking.

221Care and Maintenance
Hood Latch and Hinges
Lubricate the hood latch assembly
and hood hinge assembly as
follows:
1. Wipe off any accumulation ofdirt or contamination on the
latch parts.
2. Apply multipurpose-type grease (
NLGI No. 1 or 2) to
the hood latch pin cam.
3. Apply light engine oil to all pivot points in the release
mechanism.
4. Lubricate hood hinges with multipurpose-type grease
(
NLGI No. 1 or 2).
5. Check the hood hinges and latch mechanism to assure
they are working correctly.
Air Conditioning
Periodically have your Honda
dealer check your air conditioning
system to be sure there has been
no loss in cooling output. See
your Honda dealer if you suspect
that the system is not performing
as it should.
Body Lubrication
Normal use of a vehicle causes
metal-to-metal movement at certain
points in the body. Noise, wear and
improper operation at these points
will result when a protective film
of lubricant is not provided.
For exposed surfaces such as door
checks, door lock bolts, lock
striker plates, etc., apply a thin
film of light engine oil.
Any lubricant should be used
sparingly. After application, all excess lubricant should be
carefully wiped off.
The seat adjusters and seat track
should be lubricated with water-
resistant
EP chassis lubricant.
There are other points on the
vehicle body which may
occasionally require lubrication.
Window regulators and controls
are confined in the space between
the upholstery and the outside
door panel. Easy access to the
working parts may be made by
removing the trim. Door
weatherstrips and rubber hood
bumpers should be lightly coated
with a rubber lubricant.