BUICK RAINIER 2007 Owner's Manual

Checking Coolant
The engine coolant
recovery tank is in the
engine compartment on
the passenger’s side of
the vehicle. The cap has
this symbol on it. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 366
for more information on
location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When
your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
FULL COLD, or a little higher.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture at the coolant
recovery tank.
{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.
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Add coolant mixture at the recovery tank, but be
careful not to spill 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.
Occasionally check the coolant level in the
radiator. For information on how to add coolant to
the radiator, seeCooling System on page 384.
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.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 366
for information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will nd a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 189for more
information.
If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center
(DIC), the display will show an Engine Coolant
Hot/Engine Overheated message. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 202for more
information.
382

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. Just
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 your 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.
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.
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. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest
fan speed and open the windows as
necessary.
383

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 push
down the accelerator until the engine speed
is about twice as fast as normal idle speed for
at least 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.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to
get service help right away.Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is
what you will see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Engine Fan
4.2L L6 Engine
384

A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Engine 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.The coolant level should
be at least up to the
FULL COLD mark. If it
is not, you may
have a leak at the
pressure cap or in the
radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator,
water pump, or
somewhere else in the
cooling system.{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.
5.3L V8 Engine
385

If there seems to be no leak, start the engine
again. The engine cooling fan speed should
increase when idle speed is doubled by pushing
the accelerator pedal down. If it does not,
your vehicle needs service. Turn off the engine.
Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by your
warranty.
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 your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, but the
coolant level is not at the FULL COLD mark, add
a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®engine coolant at the coolant
recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant on page 379
for more information.
{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.
386

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.
{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 in the coolant recovery tank is
at the FULL COLD mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there is one
more thing you can try. You can add the proper
coolant mixture directly to the radiator, but be sure
the cooling 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.
387

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
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
about one full turn. If you hear a hiss, wait
for that to stop. A hiss means there is
still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap. Remove
the pressure cap.3. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL
®
coolant mixture, up to the base of the ller
neck. SeeEngine Coolant on page 379
for more information about the proper coolant
mixture.
388

4. Then ll the coolant recovery tank to the
FULL COLD mark.
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery
tank, but leave the radiator pressure
cap off.6. Start the engine and let it run until you can
feel the upper radiator hose getting hot.
Watch out for the engine cooling fan.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the
radiator ller neck may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper DEX-COOL
®
coolant mixture through the ller neck until the
level reaches the base of the ller neck.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time
during this procedure if coolant begins to ow
out of the ller neck, reinstall the pressure
cap. Be sure the pressure cap is hand-tight
and fully seated.
389

Engine Fan Noise
Your vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan.
When the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster to
provide more air to cool the engine. In most
everyday driving conditions the clutch is not
engaged. This improves fuel economy and reduces
fan noise. Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer
towing, and/or high outside temperatures, the fan
speed increases when the clutch engages so
you may hear an increase in fan noise. This is
normal and should not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping or making extra shifts. It is
merely the cooling system functioning properly.
The fan will slow down when additional cooling is
not required and the clutch disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start
the engine. It will go away as the fan clutch
disengages.
Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 366for
reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power
steering uid unless you suspect there is a leak in
the system or you hear an unusual noise. A
uid loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
390