I've never had a car with a manumatic trans (only driven auto and only a vague grasp how to drive a stick), but last Thursday (the 30th) I bought my first car, an '01 Acura CL-S with 211k miles. I took it on several test drives and to 2 mechanics before I bought it (found out that I'd need to replace the rack and pinion soon).
On the way home however the temperature went to the H, so I pulled over checked the water/coolant levels only to find it was bone dry. I added water, finished the drive in mid-temp, and contributed the lack of to the fact it had been sitting in a lot for five months.
The next day before I had a chance to add antifreeze to the radiator, it did the same thing three times within several hours. Each time I checked the water level it was always dry or very minimal (and I had to add more). I've checked everywhere I've parked and havent seen any water leaking so I assumed the radiator had no leak (But where's the water going?). I had been driving the car in the automatic D5 setting (leftmost one).
Later that same day (still driving auto), a friend pointed out that the rpms were 5-6+ and the digital shift level screen on the tachometer had a 2 while going 50-60 mph (Since I've only driven auto, I'll admit that I never pay attention to the rpms :/ ). My friend drove it in "manual" and the temp stays at mid-range or below and the rpms are normal.
I added antifreeze the next day (and have been driving it as a manual since) and haven't had really any problems.
So, am I using the automatic part wrong? I'm really afraid of killing my transmission, esp. with all the problems I've read about the CL's tranny.

 

Whenever you have gear number indicator lit you are in tiptronic mode which will shift automatic only from 1-to-2 afterwards you need to shift your gears yourself. As of antifreeze "disappearing" - pay close attention if it is not leaking anywhere, if not - that does not sound good and may be an indication of a blown head gasket. Usually with BHG you get steam cloud from your exhaust or combustion gases push out coolant through reservoir tank and overheat. In the worst case scenario you may get both symptoms .

 

Thanks I'll continue to be on the look out for leaks... So, to drive it as an automatic, without having shift for 2-5, to you place it in D5 all the way to the left or right? And to bypass all the technacalities, I could just continue to drive it as a "manual" without it hurting the transmission? (As you might be able to tell the car didn't come with a manual)

 

If you don't want to shift it yourself, just shift down to D5 and leave it there. It should say D5 on the dash. Don't push the stick to the left and enter manual mode. If you see the LED indicator light up with a 1 or 2, you have entered into manual mode.
I suggest you do this until you familiarize yourself with the car first. You are causing some (auguably any) accelerated wear on the engine and trans by running that high RPM for an extended amount of time.

 

I had steam coming from under my hood. The top portion of the radiator wore out, and the seal or weld broke. It would be low on water every once in a while before it finally blew. Paid 175.00 for remove and replace, works fine now, your time may be coming, I have 197k 2001 cls