HONDA PRELUDE 1992 Owners Manual
Manufacturer: HONDA, Model Year: 1992, Model line: PRELUDE, Model: HONDA PRELUDE 1992Pages: 225, PDF Size: 2.1 MB
Page 131 of 225
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 gas tank. See
page 102.
Engine coolant level — Check
the radiator reserve tank every
time you fill the gas tank. See
page 103.
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 gas. See
page 143 .
Automatic transmission — Check the fluid level monthly.
See page 144. Brakes, clutch and power
steering — Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 146.Tires — Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See
page 159.
Battery — Check its condition
and the terminals for corrosion
monthly. See page 152.
Air conditioner — Check its operation weekly. See page 157.
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 164.
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 132 of 225
Fluid Locations
Maintenance
BRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
(5-M/T only)
CLUTCH FLUID (Gray cap)
ENGINE OIL
FILLER CAP
POWER STEERING
FLUID (Red cap)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
RESERVOIR
(Gray cap)
COOLANT
RESERVOIR
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION FLUID DIPSTICK
(Yellow loop)
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
(Orange loop)WASHER FLUID
(Blue cap)ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 133 of 225
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. Make sure the car is parked
on level ground.
1. Pull out the dipstick (orange
loop) and wipe it with a cloth orpaper 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
To add oil, unscrew and remove the
oil filler cap on top of the valve
cover. Pour in the oil, and replace
the filler 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
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
OIL FILLER CAP
DIPSTICKProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 134 of 225
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 Classifi-
cation from the API Service label
on the oil container. It should look
like this: The numbers in the middle tell you
the oil's SAE viscosity or weight. Select the oil for your car accord-
ing to this chart:
Ambient Temperature
An oil with a viscosity of 5W-30 is preferred for improved fuel econo-
my 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). 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 SG." This service rating
may also include other designations,
such as CD. These additional
classifications are not a problem, as long as the label also carries the SG
classification. An oil that is only
classified SF is not recommended.
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.
MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 135 of 225
Engine Oil
Oil and Filter Changes
Always change the oil and filter according to the time and mileage
recommendations on 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. 2. Open the hood and remove the oil
filler 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.
Maintenance
CONTINUED
The oil, engine components
and the exhaust system are
hot and can burn you.
Use caution and wear protec-
tive clothing while working in
the engine compartment.
Repeated, prolonged exposure
to used motor oil may cause
skin cancer.
Wash your hands thoroughly
with strong soap as soon as possible after handling used oil. OIL FILTER
OIL DRAIN BOLTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 136 of 225
Engine Oil
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:
40 N .
m (4.0 kg-m , 29 Ib-ft) 6. Refill the engine with the recom-
mended oil.
Engine oil capacity
(including filter):
(US: S, Canada: S)
3.8
(4.0 US qt, 3.3 Imp qt)
(US: Si, Si 4WS, Canada: SR, SR 4WS)
4.3
(4.5 US qt, 3.8 Imp qt)
7. Replace the oil filler 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 bolt
and 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. If you change your own oil, please
dispose of the 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.
The oil and filter should be chang-
ed every 6 months or 12,000 km
(7,500 miles), whichever comes first.
Under severe driving conditions,
they should be changed every 3
months or 6,000 km (3,750 miles).
See page 130 for a description of
severe driving conditions.
Maintenance
NOTICE
OIL DRAIN BOLTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 137 of 225
Cooling System
Checking the Coolant Level
Check the level of the engine
coolant by looking at the radiator
reserve tank next to the battery. If
the level is at or below the MIN line, add coolant to bring it up to the
MAX line. This coolant should
always be a mixture of 50%
antifreeze and 50% water. Never
add straight antifreeze or plain
water. Always use Genuine Honda Anti-
freeze/Coolant. The cooling system contains many aluminum compo-
nents which can corrode if an
improper antifreeze is used. Some
antifreeze, even though labeled as
safe for aluminum parts, may not
provide adequate protection.
Adding Radiator 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.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
RESERVE TANK
MAX
MIN
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.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 138 of 225
Cooling System
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.
Do no t
add any rust inhibitors or
other additives to your car's
cooling system. They may not be
compatible with the coolant or
engine components.
Replacing Coolant
The cooling system should be
completely drained and refilled
with new coolant according to the
time and mileage 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.
Maintenance
RADIATOR CAP
RESERVE TANKProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 139 of 225
Cooling System
1. Slide the heater temperature control lever to maximum heat.
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. 4. Remove the reserve tank from
its holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant, then put the
tank back in its holder.
5. When the coolant stops draining, tighten the drain plug in the
bottom of the radiator. Apply non-hardening sealant to the
drain bolt threads and reinstall
the bolt in the engine block.
Tighten it securely.
Maintenance
DRAIN
PLUG
DRAIN
BOLT RESERVE TANK
HOLDER
RESERVE
TANK CAP
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 140 of 225
Cooling System
6. Mix the recommended antifreeze with an equal amount of purifiedor distilled water in a clean
container. The cooling system
capacity is:
With 5-speed transmission:
(US: S, Canada: S)
3.5
(0.92 US gal, 0.77 Imp gal)
(US: Si, Si 4WS, Canada: SR, SR 4WS)
3.8
(1.00 US gal, 0.84 Imp gal)
With automatic transmission:
(US: S, Canada: S)
3.4
(0.90 US gal, 0.75 Imp gal)
(US: Si, Si 4WS, Canada: SR, SR 4WS)
3.7
(0.98 US gal, 0.81 Imp gal)
7. Pour coolant into the radiator up to the base of the filler neck.
8. Loosen the bleeder bolt on top ofthe engine. Tighten it again
when coolant comes out in asteady stream with no bubbles.
9. Refill the radiator to the base of the filler neck. Put the cap on the
radiator, only tighten it to the
first stop. Start the engine and
let it run until it warms up (the
radiator cooling fan comes on at
least twice).
Maintenance
FILLER NECK
Fill up to here
BLEEDER
BOLTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t