BUICK LACROSSE 2008 Owner's Manual

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.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode on page 5-32for 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. SeeOverheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode on page 5-32for
information on driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning, but see or hear
no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let the
engine idle.
2. Set the climate controls to the highest heat setting
and fan speed and open the windows as necessary.
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If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for three minutes while you are parked. If you still
have the warning, turn off the engine and get everyone
out of the vehicle until it cools down. Also, see
“Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode” later in
this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation.
If an overheated engine condition exists, an overheat
protection mode which alternates ring groups of
cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
you will notice a signicant loss in power and engine
performance. The REDUCED POWER STOP WHEN
SAFE message will come on in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), if the vehicle has one, along with the
engine coolant temperature warning light on the
instrument panel, to indicate the vehicle has entered
overheated engine protection operating mode. The
temperature gage will also indicate an overheat condition
exists. Driving extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer
in the overheat protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any
repair. The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause of coolant loss, change the oil and
reset the oil life system. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-18.
5-32

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, this is what
you will see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Pressure Cap
C. Electric Engine Cooling FansA. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Electric Engine Cooling Fans 3.6L V6 Engine
3.8L V6 Engine
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A. Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fans
C. Coolant Recovery Tank
{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood
can start up even when the engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
do not do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface.
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
or above the COLD FILL line on the coolant recovery
tank. If it is not, there may be a leak at the pressure cap
or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump, or somewhere else in the cooling system. 5.3L V8 Engine
5-34

{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them.
If you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak xed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, the fans should be running.
If the fans are not running, the vehicle needs service.Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty. See
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode on
page 5-32for information on driving to a safe place
in an emergency.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL®may
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant could
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by the warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in the vehicle.
5-35

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle’s
coolant warning system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too hot but you
would not get the overheat warning. The
engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.If you have not found a problem yet, but the coolant
level is not at the COLD FILL line, add a 50/50 mixture
of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®engine
coolant at the coolant recovery tank. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-27for more information.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
5-36

{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.
When the coolant level in the coolant recovery tank is at
the COLD FILL line, start the vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there is one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant
mixture directly to the cooling system through the
coolant ll neck under the pressure cap, but be sure the
system is cool before you do it.
{CAUTION:
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.
5-37

How to Add Coolant to the Cooling
System (3.6L V6 Engine)
Notice:The engine has a specic cooling system
drain and ll procedure. Failure to follow this
procedure could cause the engine to overheat and
be severely damaged. If the engine’s cooling system
needs to be drained and re-lled, please see the
dealer/retailer.
1. You can remove the
pressure cap when the
cooling system,
including the pressure
cap and upper radiator
hose is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss
means that there is still some pressure left.2. Then keep turning the pressure cap and remove it.{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.
3. Fill the cooling system with the proper DEX-COOL
®
coolant mixture, up to the base of the ller neck.
SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-27for more
information about the proper coolant mixture.
4. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the engine
and the compartment.
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5. Then ll the coolant recovery tank to the COLD
FILL line.
6. Reinstall the coolant recovery tank cap and the
pressure cap.
7. If the coolant in the recovery tank is constantly low,
you should have your dealer/retailer service
department inspect the vehicle for leaks.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(3.8L V6 Engine)
Notice:Your engine has a specic radiator ll
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.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until
it rst stops. Do not 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.
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2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
3. Open the coolant air
bleed valve located on
the thermostat housing,
near the upper
radiator hose.SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for more information on location.
4. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL
®
coolant mixture, up to the base of the ller neck.
SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-27for more
information about the proper coolant mixture.
If you see a stream of coolant coming from the air
bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise, close
the valve after the radiator is lled.
5. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the engine
and the compartment.
5-40