engine coolant BUICK LACROSSE 2007 User Guide

Service........................................................ 340
Accessories and Modications................... 341
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 341
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 342
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 343
Fuel............................................................. 343
Gasoline Octane........................................ 343
Gasoline Specications.............................. 344
California Fuel........................................... 344
Additives................................................... 344
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 345
Filling the Tank......................................... 346
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 348
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 348
Hood Release........................................... 349
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 350
Engine Oil................................................. 353
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 356
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 358
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 360Engine Coolant.......................................... 363
Radiator Pressure Cap.............................. 367
Engine Overheating................................... 367
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 370
Cooling System......................................... 370
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 378
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 380
Brakes...................................................... 381
Battery...................................................... 384
Jump Starting............................................ 385
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 391
Bulb Replacement....................................... 394
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 394
Headlamps and Sidemarker Lamps........... 395
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps....... 397
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps.............. 398
License Plate Lamp................................... 400
Replacement Bulbs................................... 400
Windshield Replacement............................ 401
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
337

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while
it is in your vehicle. Static electricity
discharge from the container can ignite the
gasoline vapor. You can be badly burned
and your vehicle damaged if this occurs.
To help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside
a vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup
bed, or on any surface other than the
ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with
the inside of the ll opening before
operating the nozzle. Contact should
be maintained until the lling is
complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine
parts and start a re. These include
liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake uid,
windshield washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others could be
burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
348

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 380.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 384.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 385.
D. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse
Block on page 452.
E. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. See
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 178.
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling
System on page 370.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 378.
H. Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 367.I. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 353.
J. Electric Engine Cooling Fans. SeeCooling
System on page 370.
K. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 353.
L. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See
“Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transaxle Fluid on page 360.
M. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 381.
N. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 358.
351

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 380.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 384.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 385.
D. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. See
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 178.
E. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood
Fuse Block on page 452.
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling
System on page 370.
G. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure
Cap on page 367.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Out of View).
SeePower Steering Fluid on page 378.
I. Electric Engine Cooling Fans. SeeCooling
System on page 370.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 353.
K. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 353.
L. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See
“Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transaxle Fluid on page 360.M. Engine Coolant Bleed Valve. See “How to Add
Coolant to the Radiator” underCooling
System on page 370.
N. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 381.
O. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 358.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil every time
you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 350
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several
minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If you
do not do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper
towel or cloth, then push it back in all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the tip down,
and check the level.
353

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant
is designed to remain in the vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever
occurs rst, if only DEX-COOL
®extended life
coolant is added.
The following explains the cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If there is
a problem with engine overheating or if coolant
needs to be added to the radiator, seeEngine
Overheating on page 367.A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®engine coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core, or
radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at the rst
maintenance service after each 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs
rst. Any repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Always use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free)
coolant in your vehicle.
363

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®engine coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If this coolant mixture
is used, nothing else needs to be added.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not be
covered by your warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
If coolant needs to be added more than four times
a year, have your dealer check the cooling
system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system,
you could damage your vehicle. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine coolant listed
in this manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 470for more information.
364

Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery
tank is located in the
engine compartment
toward the rear of
the engine on the
passenger’s side of the
vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 350for more
information on location.The vehicle must be on a level surface when
checking the coolant level.
When the engine is cold, the coolant level
should be at the cold ll line or a little higher.
The cold ll line is near the bottom of the
recovery tank and has an arrow pointing
down at it.
3.8L V6 Engine shown,
3.6L V6 Engine
similar
365

Adding Coolant
If more coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture at the coolant
recovery tank, but be careful not to spill it.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty,
add coolant to the radiator. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 367.
{CAUTION:
Turning 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.
{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. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
Occasionally check the coolant level in the
radiator. For information on how to add coolant to
the radiator, seeCooling System on page 370.
366

Radiator Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and possible engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
The radiator pressure cap is located in the front
of the engine compartment on the passenger’s
side of the vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 350for more information
on location.
Engine Overheating
There is a coolant temperature gage and a
warning light on the instrument panel cluster that
indicate an overheated engine condition. See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 189
andEngine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
on page 188for more information.
In addition, if your vehicle is equipped with a
Driver Information Center (DIC), you will nd an
ENGINE COOLANT HOT and a REDUCED
POWER STOP WHEN SAFE message displayed
on the DIC. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 208for more information.
367

If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood.
Stay away from the engine if you see or
hear steam coming from it. Turn it off and
get everyone away from the vehicle until
it cools down. Wait until there is no sign
of steam or coolant before you open
the hood.
If you keep driving when the vehicles
engine is overheated, the liquids in it can
catch re. You or others could be badly
burned. Stop your engine if it overheats,
and get out of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 370for
information on driving to a safe place in
an emergency.
Notice:If your engine catches re because
you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle
can be badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. See
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
on page 370for information on driving to a
safe place in an emergency.
368