How to Check and Fill Engine Fluids 2008-12 Honda Accord
Created on: 2018-02-27
How to drain and refill your engine fluids on 08 Honda Accord.
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step 1 :Checking the Brake Fluid
- Twist the brake fluid reservoir cap off counterclockwise
- Check the brake fluid level, using a flashlight if necessary
- Check that the brake fluid is between the minimum and maximum lines
- Check that the brake fluid is clear or an almost yellow color
- If the brake fluid is murky or dark, drain and refill it
- Twist the brake fluid reservoir cap on clockwise
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step 2 :Checking the Coolant
- Wait for the engine to cool
- Twist the coolant reservoir cap off counterclockwise
- Check the coolant level, using a flashlight if necessary
- Remove the radiator cap with the engine cool
- Make sure the level is right at the top of the radiator
- Check that the fluid is between the minimum and maximum lines
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step 3 :Checking the Washer Fluid
- Pull off the washer fluid reservoir cap
- Check the reservoir has fluid above the MIN line
- Snap on the washer fluid reservoir cap
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step 4 :Checking the Power Steering
- Twist off the cap and check the level with a flashlight
- If the power steering fluid smells burnt, is murky or dark, drain and refill it
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step 5 :Checking the Oil
- Pull out the oil dipstick
- Clean off the oil dipstick
- Insert the oil dipstick
- Pull out the oil dipstick
- Check that the oil level is between the low and full marks
- Insert the oil dipstick
- Twist the oil fill cap off counterclockwise, to add oil
- Add oil as necessary
- Twist the oil cap on clockwise
Tools needed
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Windshield Washer Fluid
Power Steering Fluid
Brake Fluid
Anti-Freeze
Engine Oil
Hi, I’m Mike from 1A Auto. We’ve been selling auto parts for over 30 years!
Open the hood, go inside. The latch is way down here by your left foot. Hood release for the safety is under here. Lift it up. Hood has two positions. There's one here. It also has a service position down here. Push the hood way open so you don't bump your head into the hood.
Brake fluid is located here on the driver’s side. The minimum line is on this side just below the seam, and the maximum line is over here just under the tap. This is actually a little bit low, we can kind of see the fluid level here. We need to add some fluid. Just unscrew the cap, comes right off. Use a funnel and add the appropriate fluid to the max level. Add it slowly, because it takes a while to fill up. You don't want to over fill it, and try not to spill any brake fluid because it can damage paint and other things. That's perfect. Reinstall the cap. The ears, one facing front, one facing the rear, and then just turn it clockwise, it'll lock in place.
Radiator cap is here. You can check the fluid level in the radiator by looking in the overflow tank. It has a minimum and maximum. This one actually looks pretty low, so when it's low like this you want to also double check inside the radiator, and you only do this when the vehicle is cool, because the coolant and the radiator is under heat and pressure when the engine is running and it will come out as hot steam.
So this car's been sitting for a while. It’s nice and cold. I can open up the radiator cap by turning it counterclockwise, and then just kind of wiggle it off. Sometimes they get a little stuck. That has plenty of coolant in it. It’s right at the top of the radiator, so I'm happy about that. I'm just going to add some coolant to the overflow to bring it up to the max level. Using a funnel and the appropriate coolant, just top off the overflow bottle. Take your funnel out, clean it up so you don't drip coolant everywhere.
Reinstall the hose and the cap and tighten it down. Washer fluid is located right here. Bottle is translucent, you can see it's full of washer fluid. These usually hold about a gallon, so if you don't see it fill up the top like this you can just add it until your fluid comes up. I don't need to add any to this right now. Just lift up the cap. It actually has a dipstick in it, but it's pretty easy to see whether it's full or not. Clips back on.
Right next to it is power steering fluid. There's a minimum and a maximum. You can see this is just about the maximum level. Need to add some. Pull the cap right out. Add the appropriate fluid to bring it up to the level. This is pretty much perfect so I'm going to leave it alone. Push the cap right back on.
Dipstick's right here at the top of the engine. Pull it out. Wipe it off with a clean rag. Put it back in. Pull it out, check the oil level. So if it was here at this first dot, it would be low, and at the top dot it's full, so that's perfect. Actually look pretty clean and doesn't need to be changed. Wipe it off, put it back in. If we needed to add oil, oil caps right here. Tells you the weight of the oil it takes. Just unscrew it. Take your funnel, add the appropriate amount of oil and reinstall the cap. Put the property right back in its spot and you're all set.
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