radiator cap BUICK CENTURY 1996 Owners Manual

When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
2.2L L4 Cooling System
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Electric Engine Fan
3.1L V6 Cooling System
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Electric Engine Fan
5-15
ProCarManuals.com

Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and
if you turn the radiator
pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come out
at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap,
is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool
if you ever have to
turn the pressure cap.
ProCarManuals.com

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
I NOTICE:
r
Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to
follow this procedure could cause your
engine to overheat and be severely damaged.
1. You
can remove the
radiator pressure cap
when the cooling
system, including the
radiator pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no longer hot.
2. Then keep turning
the pressure cap,
but
now push down as you
turn it. Remove the
pressure cap.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until
it first stops. (Don’t press down while turning
the
pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there
is still some pressure left.
,A CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
5-20
ProCarManuals.com

4. Fill the radiator with the proper mix, up to the base
of
the filler neck.
If you see a stream of coolant coming from an air
bleed valve, close
the valve. Otherwise, close the
valves after the radiator is filled.
5. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the
engine compartment.
6. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the FULL
HOT mark.
7. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap
off.
5-22
ProCarManuals.com

8. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fan.
9. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add
more
of the proper mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches the base of the filler neck. 10.
Then replace the
pressure cap. At any
time during this
procedure
if coolant
begins to
flow out of
the filler neck, reinstall
the pressure cap. Be
sure the arrows on
the
pressure cap line up
like this.
11. Check the coolant
in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at the HOT
mark when the engine is hot or at the COLD mark
when
the engine is cold.
5-23
ProCarManuals.com

rhacking Coc’mt * clding Coolant
!
The coolant recovery tank is located on the passenger’s
side
of the engine compartment.
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
ADD or a little higher. When your engine is warm, the
level should be up to
FULL HOT or a little higher.
.
If you need more coolant, add the proper mix at the
coolant recovery tank.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant to the radiator. (See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.)
I-
Thrning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
With the coolant recovery tank, you
will almost
never have to add coolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure
cap -- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
ProCarManuals.com

Add coolant mix at the recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill it.
'B CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and
it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
Radiator Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@
cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an
AC' thermostat
is recommended.
6-25
ProCarManuals.com

Adc J Washer 1
The windshield washer reservoir is located on the
passenger’s side
of the engine compartment.
The wagon rear washer fluid
comes from the windshield
washer reservoir.
Open the cap labeled
WASHER FLUID ONLY. Add
washer fluid until the tank
is full.
NOTICE:
0
0
0
0
When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze
and damage your washer fluid tank and
other parts of the washer system. Also,
water doesn’t clean
as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it’s very cold. This
allows for expansion, which could damage
the tank if it is completely full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your
windshield washer. It can damage your
washer system and paint.
6-28
ProCarManuals.com

Capacities and Specifications
Engine Crankcase with filter change
.............................................. 4.5 quarts (4.2 L)
Automatic Transaxle
3-Speed (3T40)
Pan Removal and Replacement
...................................... 4 quarts (3.8 L)
After Complete Overhaul .......................................... 7 quarts (6.6 L)
4-Speed with Overdrive (4T60-E)
Pan Removal and Replacement
...................................... 6 quarts (5.7 L)
After Complete Overhaul
.......................................... 8 quarts (7.6 L)
When draining or replacing torque convertel; more fluid may be needed.
Cooling System
2.2L L4 (Code 4):
Radiator and Engine only
...................................... 6.06 quarts (5.73 L)
Complete System ............................................ 8.27 quarts (8.17 L)
3.1L V6 (Code
M):
Radiator and Engine only ...................................... 9.18 quarts (8.69 L)
Complete System ............................................. 11.6 quarts (1 1 .O L)
6-61
ProCarManuals.com

I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
17 Drain, flush and refill cooling system
(or every
60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See “Engine
Coolant’’ in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap and neck. Pressure test
cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
Inspect spark plug wires.
0 Replace spark plugs.
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32°C) or higher.
An Emission Control Service.
An
Emission Control Service.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, the fluid and filter do not
require changing.
DATE SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
~ .. ~ - - z - ~- -_ .~~_ - :_ ~~ -. ..
7-25
ProCarManuals.com