Temperature PONTIAC G8 2009 Owner's Manual

What to Use
{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.Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
Gives freezing protection down
to−34°F (−37°C), outside
temperature.
Gives boiling protection up to
265°F (129°C), engine
temperature.
Protects against rust and
corrosion.
Will not damage aluminum parts.
Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.Notice:If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and
other parts.
Notice:If extra inhibitors and/or
additives are used in the vehicle’s
cooling system, the vehicle
could be damaged. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine
coolant listed in this manual
for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-12for
more information.
9-16 Vehicle Service and Care

Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to
warn of engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature warning light on
your vehicle’s instrument panel.
SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 4-17.
You may decide not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, but
instead get service help right away.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program
on page 12-6.
If you do decide to lift the hood,
make sure the vehicle is parked on
a level surface.Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are
not, do not continue to run the
engine and have the vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Notice:If the engine catches re
because of being driven with
no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
If Steam Is Coming From The
Engine Compartment
{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.
9-20 Vehicle Service and Care

If No Steam Is Coming From
The Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little too hot when the vehicle:
Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
Stops after high-speed driving.
Idles for long periods in traffic.
Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam:
1. Turn the air off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest
temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle
in N (Neutral) while stopped. If it
is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral) and
let the engine idle.If the temperature overheat gage is
no longer in the overheat zone
or an overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle
slow for about 10 minutes. Keep a
safe vehicle distance from the
car in front of you. If the warning
does not come back on, continue to
drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down. Also, see ‘‘Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode’’
later in this section.
Power Steering Fluid
Power Steering Fluid Level
Power steering uid is used in
all vehicles.
Check the level after the vehicle has
been driven for at least twenty
minutes so the uid is warm.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
To check the power steering uid,
do the following:
1. Turn the key off and let the engine
compartment cool down.
2. The power steering uid reservoir
is located on the driver side
toward the front of the engine
compartment. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 9-6.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-21

Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer
uid, be sure to read the
manufacturer’s instructions before
use. If you will be operating
your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing,
use a uid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer uid
until the tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 9-6
for reservoir location.Notice:
When using concentrated
washer uid, follow the
manufacturer’s instructions
for adding water.
Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer uid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage your
washer uid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as
well as washer uid.
Fill the washer uid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for uid
expansion if freezing occurs,
which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in your windshield
washer. It can damage the
vehicle’s windshield washer
system and paint.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-23

(A) Tire Size:The tire size is
a combination of letters and
numbers used to dene a
particular tire’s width, height,
aspect ratio, construction
type, and service description.
See the “Tire Size” illustration
later in this section for more
detail.(B) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specication)
:Original
equipment tires designed to
GM’s specic tire performance
criteria have a TPC specication
code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications meet
or exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department of
Transportation)
:The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that
the tire is in compliance with
the U.S. Department of
Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identication Number
(TIN)
:The letters and numbers
following DOT (Department
of Transportation) code is the
Tire Identication Number (TIN).
The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and
date the tire was manufactured.The TIN is molded onto both
sides of the tire, although only
one side may have the date
of manufacture.
(E) Tire Ply Material
:The type
of cord and number of plies
in the sidewall and under
the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG)
:Tire
manufacturers are required to
grade tires based on three
performance factors: treadwear,
traction, and temperature
resistance. For more information
seeUniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 9-62.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination
Load Limit
:Maximum load
that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to
support that load.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
Example
Vehicle Service and Care 9-43

Radial Ply Tire:A pneumatic
tire in which the ply cords that
extend to the beads are laid
at 90 degrees to the centerline
of the tread.
Rim
:A metal support for a
tire and upon which the
tire beads are seated.
Sidewall
:The portion of a tire
between the tread and the bead.
Speed Rating
:An alphanumeric
code assigned to a tire
indicating the maximum speed
at which a tire can operate.
Traction
:The friction between
the tire and the road surface.
The amount of grip provided.
Tread
:The portion of a tire that
comes into contact with the road.Treadwear Indicators
:Narrow
bands, sometimes called
wear bars, that show across
the tread of a tire when only
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread
remains. SeeWhen It Is Time
for New Tires on page 9-59.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards)
:A tire
information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a
tire’s traction, temperature,
and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers
using government testing
procedures. The ratings are
molded into the sidewall of the
tire. SeeUniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 9-62.Vehicle Capacity Weight
:The number of designated
seating positions multiplied
by 150 lbs (68 kg) plus the rated
cargo load. SeeLoading the
Vehicle on page 8-30.
Vehicle Maximum Load on
the Tire
:Load on an individual
tire due to curb weight,
accessory weight, occupant
weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard
:A label
permanently attached to a
vehicle showing the vehicle’s
capacity weight and the original
equipment tire size and
recommended ination pressure.
See “Tire and Loading
Information Label” under
Loading the Vehicle on
page 8-30.
9-48 Vehicle Service and Care

When It Is Time for
New Tires
Various factors, such as
maintenance, temperatures, driving
speeds, vehicle loading, and
road conditions inuence when you
need new tires.
One way to tell when it is time
for new tires is to check the
treadwear indicators, which will
appear when the tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or less
of tread remaining.You need new tires if any of the
following statements are true:You can see the indicators at
three or more places around
the tire.
You can see cord or fabric
showing through the tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked,
cut, or snagged deep enough to
show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge,
or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or
other damage that cannot be
repaired well because of the size
or location of the damage.
The rubber in tires degrades over
time, even if they are not being
used. This is also true for the spare
tire, if the vehicle has one. Multiple
conditions affect how fast this
aging takes place, including
temperatures, loading conditions,
and ination pressure maintenance.
With proper care and maintenance
tires typically wear out beforethey degrade due to age. If you are
unsure about the need to replace
the tires as they get older, consult
the tire manufacturer for more
information.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specic tires for your vehicle. The
original equipment tires installed on
your vehicle, when it was new, were
designed to meet General Motors
Tire Performance Criteria
Specication (TPC Spec) system
rating. If you need replacement tires,
GM strongly recommends that you
get tires with the same TPC Spec
rating. This way, your vehicle will
continue to have tires that are
designed to give the same
performance and vehicle safety,
during normal use, as the
original tires.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-59

Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in
the United States. The grades
are molded on the sidewalls ofmost passenger car tires. The
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG) system does not apply to
deep tread, winter-type snow
tires, space-saver, or temporary
use spare tires, tires with nominal
rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they
must also conform to federal
safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specied government test
course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the
government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart signicantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices, and differences
in road characteristics and
climate.
9-62 Vehicle Service and Care

Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest
to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled
conditions on specied
government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
performance.
{WARNING
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are
A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance
to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and
A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
{WARNING
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire
that is properly inated and
not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underination, or
excessive loading, either
separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-63

Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
2,000 lbs (907 kg). But even
that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use
your rig. For example, speed,
altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your
vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all
important. It can also depend on
any special equipment that you have
on your vehicle, and the amount
of tongue weight the vehicle
can carry. See “Weight of the Trailer
Tongue” later in this section for
more information.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in the tow
vehicle and it has all the required
trailering equipment. The weight of
additional optional equipment,
passengers and cargo in the tow
vehicle must be subtracted form the
maximum trailer weight.You can ask your dealer/retailer for
our trailering information or
advice, or you can write us at our
Customer Assistance Offices.
SeeCustomer Assistance Offices
on page 12-4for more information.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total or gross
weight of your vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the
curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo you may carry in it, and the
people who will be riding in the
vehicle. If you have a lot of options,
equipment, passengers, or cargo
in your vehicle, it will reduce
the tongue weight your vehicle can
carry, which will also reduce the
trailer weight your vehicle can tow.
And if you tow a trailer, you
must add the tongue load to the
GVW because your vehicle will be
carrying that weight, too. SeeLoading the Vehicle on page 8-30
for more information about your
vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
If you are using a weight-carrying
hitch, the trailer tongue (A)
should weigh 10 to 15 percent of
the total loaded trailer weight (B).
After you have loaded your trailer,
weigh the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, you may be
able to get them right simply by
moving some items around in the
trailer.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-91