PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2003 Owners Manual

When you open the hood of a vehicle with a 3800 V6 Supercharged (Code 1) engine, you’ll see:
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A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
B. Battery
C. Underhood Fuse Block D. Remote Positive
(+) Battery Terminal
E. Radiator Pressure Cap
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
H. Electric Cooling Fan
(low
in engine compartment, below generator)
I. Engine Oil Dipstick
J. Engine Oil Fill Cap
K. Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
L. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir
M. Engine Air CleanedFilter
Before closing the hood
of your vehicle, be sure all the
filler caps are on properly. Then pull the
hood down
and close it firmly.
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Engine Oil
If the LOW OIL LEVEL
light appears on the
instrument cluster, it
means you need to
check your engine oil
level right away.
LOW OIL
LEVEL
For more information, see Low Oil Level Light on
page
3-36.
Checking 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.
You should check your engine oil level regularly;
this is an added reminder.
3100 V6 Engine
3800 V6 or 3800 V6
Supercharged Engine
The engine oil dipstick handle is the yellow loop located
near the front of the engine. See Engine Comparfment
Overview on page
5-12 for more information on location.
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Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
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 down, and check the level.
3100 V6 Engine 3800
V6 or 3800 V6 Supercharged Engine
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the bottom hatchmark, then you’ll
need
to add at least one quart of oil. But you must
use the right kind. This part explains what kind
of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase capacity, see Capacities
and Specifications on page 5- 102.
Nofice: Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating range, your engine could be damaged.
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I-
3100 . - Engine
A
A
*
SAE 1OW-30
m
I
3800 V6 or 3800 V6
Supercharged Engine
The engine oil fill cap will have one of these symbols on
it, depending on the engine. It is located on the front
of the engine, near the center of the engine
compartment and the yellow-looped engine oil dipstick.
See Engine Compartment Overview on page
5-12
for more information on location.
Be sure to
fill it enough to put the level somewhere
in the proper operating range in the cross-hatched area.
Push the dipstick
all the way back in when you're
through.
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Oils recommended for your vehicle can be identified by
looking for the starburst symbol.
This symbol indicates that the oil has been certified by
the American Petroleum Institute (API).
Do not use
any oil which does not carry this starburst symbol.
If you choose to perform
the engine oil change
service yourself, be sure
the oil you use has
the starburst symbol on
the front of the oil
container. If you have your
oil changed for you, be
sure the oil put into
your engine is American Petroleum Institute certified
for gasoline engines.
You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your
vehicle, as shown in the viscosity chart.
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RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
HOT
WEATHER
COLD
SAE S’W.
LOOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
.
1-11 SAE IOW-30 ACCEPTABLE r IF 5W-30 IS NOT -30 AVAILABLE
RECOMMENDED
WEATHER
DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER VlSCOSlN GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
As in the chart shown previously, if you have the
3100 V6 engine, SAE 5W-30 is the only viscosity grade
recommended for your vehicle. You should look for
and use only oils which have the API Starburst symbol
and which are also identified as
SA€ 5W-30. If you
cannot find such SAE 5W-30 oils, you can use an
SAE IOW-30 oil which has the API Starburst symbol,
if it’s going to be 0°F (-18°C) or above. Do not use
other viscosity grade oils, such as SAE IOW-40
or SAE 20W-50 under any conditions.
As shown in the following chart,
if you have the
3800 V6 engine, SAE IOW-30 is the viscosity grade
recommended for your vehicle. However, you can use
SAE 5W-30 if it’s going to be colder than 60°F (16°C)
before your next
oil change. When it is very cold, colder
than 0°F
(-1 8°C) you should use an SAE 5W-30 oil.
These numbers on an oil container show its viscosity,
or thickness.
Do not use other viscosity grade oils,
such as SAE 1
OW-40 or SAE 20W-50 under any
conditions.
3100 V6 Engine
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RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SA€ VISCOSITY GRADE
OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ -
HOT
WEATHER
SAE SW-30
LOOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
8- SAE I 1OW-30
PREFERRED above 0°F (-1 8°C)
Notice: Use only engine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use the recommended
oil can result in engine damage not covered by
your warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below
-20°F (-29"C), it is
recommended that you use either an SAE
5W-30
synthetic oil or an SAE OW-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Don't add anything to your oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol are
all you will need for
good performance and engine protection.
3800 V6 or 3800 V6 Supercharged Engine
5-22

When to Change Engine Oil (GM Oil
Life SystemTM)
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine
oil and filter. This is
based on engine revolutions and engine temperature,
and not on mileage. Based on driving conditions,
the mileage at which an oil change will be indicated
can vary considerably. For the oil life system to
work properly, you must reset the system every time
the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary.
A CHANGE OIL SOON light will come on.
Change your
oil as soon as possible within the next two
times you stop for fuel.
It is possible that, if you are
driving under the best conditions, the oil life system may
not indicate that an oil change is necessary for over a
year. However, your engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and at this time the system
must be reset. It is also important to check your oil
regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at
3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your
last oil change. Remember
to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the GM Oil Life System
The GM Oil Life SystemTM calculates when to change
your engine oil and filter based on vehicle use. Anytime
your oil is changed, reset the system
so it can calculate
when the next oil change is required.
If a situation occurs
where you change your oil prior to a CHANGE
OIL SOON
light being turned on, reset the system.
To reset the GM Oil Life SystemTM after the oil has
been changed, use one of the following two procedures:
Using the Driver Information Center (DIC)
1.
2.
3.
With the ignition key in RUN but the engine off, fully
push and release the accelerator pedal slowly three
times within five seconds.
If the CHANGE OIL SOON light flashes, the system
is resetting.
Turn the key to OFF after the light stops flashing,
then start the vehicle.
If the CHANGE OIL SOON light comes back on, the
engine oil life monitor has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Using the Trip Computer (If Equipped)
1. Press the MODE button until the light appears lit
2. Press and hold the RESET button for three seconds.
next to
OIL LIFE.
The
oil life percentage should change to 100%.
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What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
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 dispose of clothing or
rags containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer's
warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
filter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it
in the trash, 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 properly disposing of your used oil, ask
your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
Supercharger Oil
Unless you are technically
qualified and have the
proper tools, you should let
your dealer or a qualified
service center perform
this maintenance.
When to Check
Check oil level every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or every
36 months, whichever occurs first.
What Kind of Oil to Use
Use only the recommended supercharger oil. See Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-15.
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How to Check and Add Oil
Park the vehicle on a level surface. Check oil only when
the engine is cold. Allow the engine to cool two to
three hours after running.
I
If you remove the supercharger oil fill plug
while the engine
is hot, pressure may cause
hot oil to blow out of the oil fill hole. You may
be burned. Do not remove the plug until the
engine
cools.
1. Clean the area around the oil fill plug before
removing it.
2. Remove the oil
fill plug.
3. The oil level is correct when it just reaches the
bottom of the threads of the inspection hole.
4. Replace the oil plug with the O-ring in place.
Tighten to
88 Ib-in (10 Nom ).
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleanedfilter is located in the engine
compartment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
See Engine Compartment Oven/iew on page 5-12 for
more information on location.
To check or replace the engine air cleanedfilter do the
following:
1. Loosen the two clips on the top of the engine air
cleaner/filter housing and lift the filter cover tabs
out of the housing.
2. Push the filter cover housing toward the engine.
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