BUICK SKYLARK 1993 Owners Manual

A CAUTION:
If you get gasoline on you and then something
ignites
it, you could be badly burned. Gasoline
can spray out on you if you open the fuel filler
cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your
tank is nearly full, and is more likely
in hot
weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and wait
for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew the
cap all the way.
m Y, When you put the cay ----I on, turn it to the right until a- .~ : _, .. . I. ’
YOU hear a clicking noise.
While refueling, hang the cap inside the fuel
door. .
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
4 Y
pe. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
e wrong type,
it may not fit or have prope
enting, and your fuel tank and emissions
220

Checking Things Under the .Hood
Hood Release
I
To open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the
vehicle. It
is located in the
area to the left and beneath
the instrument panel.
Then
go to the front of the vehicle and release the
secondary hood release.
Lift the hood.
221

I1
A 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 fire. These include liquids like gasoline,.
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
I could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that
will burn onto a hot engine.
I
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on
properly.
Then just pull the hood down and close it firmly. '

Engine Oil
It's a good idea to check your 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.
1
I
The engine oil dipstick is located directly behind the
engine fan.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to get
back down into the oil pan.
If you don't, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
223

To Check Engine Oil: 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 lower.
When to Add Oil: If the oil is at or below the upper
mark, then you’ll need
to add some oil. But you must
use the right kind,. This section explains what kind of oil
to use. For crankcase capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications” in the Index.
224
I

What Kind of Oil to Use:
Look for three things:
SG
“SG’ must be on the oil container, either by itself or
combined with other quality designations, such
as
“SG/CC,” “SG/CD,” “SF,SG,CC;” etc. These letters
show American Petroleum Institute (API) levels
of
quality.
I
0 SAE low-30 (V6 3.3L LG7 Engine)
As shown in this viscosity chart,
SAE 1OW-30 is
best for your vehicle. However, you can use SAE
5W-30
if it’s going to be colder than 60 OF ( 16 C)
before your next oil change. When it’s very cold,
below
O°F (-18 C), you should use SAE 5W-30.
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOW AND COLD 16, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL
FOR THE El.. -_ .-J TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATMER
r
“F
k100
+ 80
+ 60
+ 40
+ 20
0
f
r
“C
. +38
.+27
- +16
.+4
.-7
. -18
WEATHER LOOK
LABEL
FOR THIS IOW-30
1
-
-
above WF
SAE 5W-30
IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30 GRADE OILS’ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30 GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES
ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C).
ANY OTHER GRADE
OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40,
SAE 2OW-50 OR

RECOMMENDED SAE VlSCOSlTY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE
OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER
COLD
FOR LOOK THIS @
LABEL
5W-30
"t'LcoNse94'
IE 1OW-30
SAE 5W-30 PREFERRED
IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE low-30
GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30 GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES
ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C). WEATHER
DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR
ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
SAE 5W-30 (L4 2.3L L40 Engine)
As shown in this viscosity chart, SAE
5W-30 is best
for your vehicle. However, you can use
SAE low-30
if it's going to be
0 OF (- 18 C) or above.
These numbers on an oil container show its viscosity, or
thickness.
Energy Conserving I1
Oils with these words on the container will help you
save fuel.
This doughnut-shaped logo (symbol) is used on most oil
containers to help you select the correct oil.
You should look for this on the oil container, and use
only those oils that display the logo.
GM Goodwrench@ oil (in Canada,
GM Engine Oil)
meets all the requirements for your vehicle.
Engine Oil Additives: Don't add anything to your oil.
Your Buick dealer is ready to advise if you think
something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil: See if any one of these
is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km).
226
I
1

0 It’s below freezing outside and most trips are less
than
10 miles (16 km).
0 The engine is at low speed most of the time (as in
door-to-door delivery, or in stop-and-go traffic).
0 You tow a trailer often.
0 Most trips are through dusty places.
If any one
of these is true for your vehicle, then you
need to change your oil and filter every
3,000 miles (5
000 km) or 3 months -- whichever comes first.
If none of them is true, change the oil every 7,500 miles
(12
500 km) or 12 months -- whichever comes first.
Change the filter at the first oil change and at every
other oil change after that.
Engine Block Heater: An engine block heater can be a
big help if you have to park outside in very cold weather, -20
F (-29 C) or colder. If your vehicle has
this option, see “Engine Block Heater.” in the Index.
What to Do with Used Oil:
I sed engine oil contains things that have caused
skin cancer in laboratory animals. Don’t let used
oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good
hand cleaner. Wash
or properly throw away
c-othing
or rags containing used engine oil.
Used oil can be a real threat to the environment. Don’t
ever dispose of it by pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used
oil. If
you have a problem propeily disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center for help.
227

Air Cleaner
The air cleaner is located on the driver’s side of the
engine compartment. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to replace the air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.

A CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can
cause you or others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air,
it stops flame if the
engine backfires.
If it isn't there, and the engine
backfires, you could be burned. Don't drive with
it off, and be careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner
off-