Honda Maintenance Minder

To keep your Honda running like new between scheduled Maintenance Minder items, periodically check the following items:Engine oil (orange loop dipstick)
Weekly or when you stop for gas. Add oil if the level is below the lower mark.

Engine coolant
Weekly or when you stop for gas. Check the reserve tank; don’t remove the radiator cap – the fluid is hot and may gush out.

Windshield washer fluid (blue cap)
Monthly. Frequent users should check each time they get gas.

Automatic transmission fluid (yellow loop dipstick)
Monthly

Brake fluid (large gray cap)
Monthly. Low brake fluid could indicate a problem. Take your Honda to a dealer for service immediately.

Clutch fluid (small gray cap, manual transmission only)
Monthly

Power steering fluid (red cap)
Monthly

Tires
Monthly. Check pressure. Check tread for uneven or excessive wear and foreign objects.

Battery
Monthly. Check condition (level of fluid or color of the indicator). Check terminals for corrosion.

Air conditioning
Weekly. Turn it on for a short time.

Lights
Monthly. Check them all — head, tail, parking, and brake lights, high-mount brake light, turn signals, back up and license plate lights.

Your Honda relies on clean, well-circulating motor oil to keep its engine running smoothly. Unclean oil can accelerate engine wear and cause abrasion, resulting in expensive repair bills. To ensure the integrity and performance of your vehicle, change your oil and filter regularly, according to your Maintenance Minder system.Oil Filter
The replaceable oil filter traps contaminants and keeps them from circulating throughout the engine. Honda recommends using Honda Genuine Oil Filters.

Choosing a Motor Oil
Lighter oils flow easier once the cold engine starts, bringing vital lubrication to moving parts. Please consult your Honda owner’s manual for the recommended motor oil for your model.

Engine Oil Additives
Today’s engine oils are formulated to maximize performance. Additives are unnecessary and increase the cost of operation.

Proper and timely vehicle maintenance is important to help promote a long vehicle life. Honda engineers have conducted exhaustive performance tests to create specialized oils and fluids along with specific maintenance service intervals that help support the performance and longevity of your Honda vehicle.Using oils and fluids other than what is recommend by Honda, not following Honda’s recommended maintenance schedules, and performing services not recommended by Honda can adversely affect the performance and durability of your Honda vehicle.

Engine Oil

Engine Oil
Always use the recommended viscosity engine oil that displays the API Certification Seal. Your owner’s manual indicates which viscosity is best for your Honda. Honda Genuine Oil is the preferred lubricant for your vehicle which will help provide optimum engine protection.

Replacement Frequency
Perform engine oil changes only in accordance with each vehicle’s maintenance schedule and/or Maintenance Minder recommendations. Consult your Owner’s Manual for your vehicle’s specific maintenance information.

Additives
Your vehicle does not require any engine oil additives. Additives may adversely affect the engine performance and durability.

Engine Flushing
If a vehicle is properly maintained, there is absolutely no benefit to flushing the engine lubrication system as a maintenance procedure. This procedure may adversely affect engine performance and durability.

Synthetic Motor Oil
You may use synthetic motor oil if it meets the recommended viscosity or weight for your vehicle and it displays the API Certification Seal for gasoline engines. You must follow Honda’s recommended oil and filter change intervals shown in your owner’s manual.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Automatic Transmission Fluid
Use only Honda Genuine ATF DW-1 automatic transmission fluid. Do not mix with other transmission fluids. Using transmission fluids other than Honda Genuine ATF DW-1 may cause deterioration in transmission operation and durability that could result in damage to the transmission.

Replacement Frequency
Perform automatic transmission fluid changes only in accordance with each vehicle’s maintenance schedule and/or Maintenance Minder recommendations. Consult your Owner’s Manual for your vehicle’s specific maintenance information.

Additives
Your vehicle does not require any automatic transmission fluid additives. Additives may adversely affect the transmission performance and durability.

Transmission Flushing
If a vehicle is properly maintained, there is absolutely no benefit to flushing the transmission as a maintenance procedure. Use of additives, solvents, cleansers, or conditioners as part of a flush, or as a system enhancer, are not recommended or warranted by Honda, as they may adversely affect transmission durability, performance, and shift quality.

Engine Coolant

Engine Coolant
Always use Honda Long-life Anti-freeze / Coolant Type 2. This coolant is premixed with 50 percent antifreeze and 50 percent water. Never add straight antifreeze or water. Another non-silicate coolant may be used as a temporary replacement. However, have the cooling system drained and replaced with Honda antifreeze / coolant as soon as possible. Continued use of any non-Honda coolant can result in corrosion, causing the cooling system to malfunction or fail.

Replacement Frequency
Perform Coolant changes only in accordance with each vehicle’s maintenance schedule and/or Maintenance Minder recommendations. Consult your Owner’s Manual for your vehicle’s specific maintenance information.

Engine cooling system flushing
Use of a cooling system flushing process that “reconditions” the existing coolant should never be used, as the procedure cannot completely reverse the chemical deterioration that occurs to coolant during use. Also, coolant replacement intervals should not be exceeded, as there is no difference in the coolant replacement interval between normal and severe conditions.