fuel additives PONTIAC G6 2008 Owners Manual

Service............................................................5-4
Accessories and Modications..........................5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-5
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-5
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-5
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-6
Fuel................................................................5-6
Gasoline Octane............................................5-6
Gasoline Specications....................................5-7
California Fuel...............................................5-7
Additives.......................................................5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-8
Filling the Tank..............................................5-9
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-11
Checking Things Under
the Hood....................................................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-12
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-21
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-24
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-26
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(3.9L Engine)............................................5-27Automatic Transmission Fluid
(2.4L L4, 3.5L and 3.6L V6 Engines)............5-30
Engine Coolant.............................................5-30
Pressure Cap...............................................5-33
Engine Overheating.......................................5-33
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-35
Cooling System............................................5-36
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-40
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-41
Brakes........................................................5-42
Battery........................................................5-45
Jump Starting...............................................5-46
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-51
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-52
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-52
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
(Sedan)...................................................5-54
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
(Retractable Hardtop and Coupe).................5-54
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps (Sedan).......................5-55
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps (Coupe).......................5-56
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

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 could choose to use middle grade 89 octane
unleaded gasoline. If the octane rating is less than
87, you might 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, the
engine needs service.
If your vehicle has the 2.4L L4 engine (VIN Code B),
use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 91 or higher. You can also use regular
unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but
your vehicle’s acceleration could be slightly reduced,
and you might notice a slight audible knocking
noise, commonly referred to as spark knock. If the
octane is less than 87, you might notice a heavy
knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use a
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you could damage the engine. If
you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and
you hear heavy knocking, the engine needs service.Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM specication
D 4814 in the United States or CAN/CGSB-3.5 or
3.511 in Canada. Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines containing MMT. See
Additives on page 5-8for 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 might be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and your vehicle might fail
a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-38. If this occurs, return to your authorized
dealer/retailer for diagnosis. If it is determined that
the condition is caused by the type of fuel used, repairs
might not be covered by your warranty.
5-7

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work properly. In
most cases, you should not have to add anything to the
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 dealer/retailer has
additives that will help correct and prevent most
deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines might be available
in your area. We recommend 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 the fuel
system and also damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be covered under your
warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. We recommend against
the use of such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can
reduce the life of spark plugs and the performance of the
emission control system could be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp might turn on. If this occurs,
return to your dealer/retailer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel might 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.
5-8

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-4
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-73
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-8
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-109
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-25
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-26
Air Conditioning......................................3-19, 3-23
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-31
Readiness Light..........................................3-30
Airbag System................................................1-59
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-66
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-64
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-62
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-73
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-66
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-68
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-72
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-65
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-69
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-68
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System......................................................3-69
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-4Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-35
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels......................................5-106
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-103
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-107
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-104
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-101
Finish Care...............................................5-104
Finish Damage..........................................5-107
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-103
Interior Cleaning........................................5-100
Leather
....................................................5-102
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-106
Tires........................................................5-106
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-107
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-108
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-104
Weatherstrips............................................5-103
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-105
Appointments, Scheduling Service....................... 7-9
Audio System.................................................3-52
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-67
Backglass Antenna......................................3-69
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-68
Radio Reception..........................................3-68
Setting the Clock.........................................3-53
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-67
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-69
1

F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-26
Finish Damage.............................................5-107
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-68
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-86
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-86
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-96
Fluid.....................................................5-27, 5-30
Power Steering...........................................5-40
Windshield Washer......................................5-41
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-16
Fuel............................................................... 5-6
Additives...................................................... 5-8
California Fuel.............................................. 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-11
Filling the Tank............................................. 5-9
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-8
Gage.........................................................3-42
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-6
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-7
Low Warning Light.......................................3-42Fuses..........................................................5-110
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.................5-112
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-110
Rear Compartment Fuse Block....................5-116
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-110
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-37
Fuel..........................................................3-42
Speedometer..............................................3-29
Tachometer.................................................3-29
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-6
Specications............................................... 5-7
Glove Box.....................................................2-44
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-6
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-7
Headlamps....................................................3-13
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-51
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-14
5