fuel additives BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2006 Owner's Manual

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling the Tank..............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-8
Checking Things Under the Hood.....................5-9
Hood Release................................................5-9
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-10
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-19
Engine Coolant.............................................5-21
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-23
Engine Overheating.......................................5-23
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-25Cooling System............................................5-26
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-32
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-33
Brakes........................................................5-34
Battery........................................................5-37
Jump Starting...............................................5-38
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-43
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-44
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-44
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-45
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-47
Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps.......................5-48
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-49
Windshield Replacement.................................5-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-49
Tires..............................................................5-51
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-52
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-55
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-57
Check Tire Pressure System..........................5-59
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-60
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-62
Buying New Tires.........................................5-62
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-64
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 3.5L V6 engine (VIN Code 8),
use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87,
you may notice an audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as spark knock. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane
or higher and you hear heavy knocking, your engine
needs service.
If your vehicle has the 3.6L V6 engine (VIN Code 7),
use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 87 or higher. For best performance or trailer
towing, you may choose to use middle grade 89 octane
unleaded gasoline. If the octane rating is less than 87,
you may notice an audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as spark knock. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane
or higher and you hear heavy knocking, your engine
needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
General Motors recommends against the use of
gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives on
page 5-6for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California Emissions
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specications. See the underhood
emission control label. If this fuel is not available
in states adopting California emissions standards,
your vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp may turn on and your vehicle may fail
a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-46. If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of fuel used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
5-5

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work properly. In
most cases, you should not have to add anything to your
fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the minimum
amount of additive required to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations. To help keep fuel injectors
and intake valves clean, or if your vehicle experiences
problems due to dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline
that is advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Also,
your GM dealer has additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area. General Motors recommends that you use
these gasolines if they comply with the specications
described earlier. However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other
fuels containing more than 10% ethanol must not be used
in vehicles that were not designed for those fuels.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel
that contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors
recommends against the use of such gasolines. Fuels
containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs and
the performance of the emission control system may be
affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer
for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
5-6

A
About Driving Your Vehicle.................................... ii
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Inator...........................................5-68
Accessory Power Outlet(s)...............................3-26
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-86
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-100
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18
Air Conditioning..............................3-28, 3-30, 3-33
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-42
Readiness Light..........................................3-41
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-72
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-86
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-79
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-81
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-85
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-79
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-80
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-77
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-75
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-43
All-Wheel Drive Disable Warning Message..........3-56
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System.........................4-12
Antenna, Fixed Mast......................................3-135Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-135
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-8
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-45
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-96
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-94
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-97
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-94
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-91
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-92
Finish Care.................................................5-95
Finish Damage............................................5-97
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-93
Leather......................................................5-93
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-97
Tires..........................................................5-96
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-97
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-98
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-94
Weatherstrips..............................................5-94
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades.......5-95
Ashtray(s)......................................................3-27
Audio System(s).............................................3-74
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-132
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-134
Care of Your CD and DVD Player................3-135
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.......................3-135
Fixed Mast Antenna...................................3-135
1

Electrical System (cont.)
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-103
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-100
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-18
Battery.......................................................5-37
Change Oil Message...................................3-55
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-46
Coolant......................................................5-21
Coolant Heater............................................2-22
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-46
Coolant Temperature Warning Message..........3-52
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-10
Exhaust.....................................................2-29
Oil .............................................................5-13
Oil Life System...........................................5-16
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-25
Overheating................................................5-23
Reduced Power Message.............................3-53
Starting......................................................2-21
Entry Lighting.................................................3-17
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
Exit Delay, Headlamp......................................3-17
Exit Lighting...................................................3-18
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-45
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-18
Finish Damage...............................................5-97
Fixed Mast Antenna.......................................3-135
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-69
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-70
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-84
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-19
Power Steering...........................................5-32
Windshield Washer......................................5-33
Fog Lamps....................................................3-15
Front Armrest Storage Area..............................2-39
Front Console Storage Area.............................2-39
Front Reading Lamps......................................3-19
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-8
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-50
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Message.................................3-57
5