fuel additives SATURN ION 2006 Owners 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.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-15
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-22
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-24
Manual Transaxle Fluid..................................5-24
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-25
Engine Coolant.............................................5-25
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-29
Engine Overheating.......................................5-29Cooling System............................................5-31
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-38
Brakes........................................................5-39
Battery........................................................5-42
Jump Starting...............................................5-43
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-48
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-48
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-48
Headlamps (Coupe)......................................5-49
Headlamps (Sedan)......................................5-50
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL) (Coupe)...................5-52
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL) (Sedan)....................5-53
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-54
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-54
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-55
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-56
Tires..............................................................5-57
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-59
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-62
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-64
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-66
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-68
Buying New Tires.........................................5-68
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1
ProCarManuals.com

Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 2.2L L4 engine (VIN Code F),
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 2.4L L4 engine (VIN Code B) or
the 2.0L Supercharged engine (VIN Code P), use
premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating
of 91 or higher. You may also use regular unleaded
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s
acceleration may be slightly reduced, and you may
notice a slight audible knocking noise, commonly
referred to as spark knock. If the octane is less than 87,
you may 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 might
damage your engine. 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 5-6
for 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 3-36. If this occurs, return to your authorized
Saturn retailer 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
ProCarManuals.com

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
retailer 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 Saturn
retailer 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
ProCarManuals.com

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlet(s)...............................3-16
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-67
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-99
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-22
Air Conditioning......................................3-18, 3-20
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-31
Readiness Light..........................................3-30
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-7
Airbag System................................................1-54
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-67
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-60
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-62
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-66
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-60
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?........1-61
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-59
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-56Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-72
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System......................................................3-72
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-35
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-95
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-93
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-97
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-94
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-90
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-92
Finish Care.................................................5-94
Finish Damage............................................5-96
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-93
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-96
Tires..........................................................5-96
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-97
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-98
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-94
Weatherstrips..............................................5-93
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-95
Ashtray(s)......................................................3-17
1
ProCarManuals.com

E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-99
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.................5-102
Floor Console Fuse Block...........................5-100
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-100
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......5-100
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-100
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-22
Battery.......................................................5-42
Change Oil Message...................................3-45
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-36
Coolant......................................................5-25
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-36
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-30
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-20
Overheating................................................5-29
Reduced Power Light...................................3-41
Starting......................................................2-20
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)........................ 4-9
Entry Lighting.................................................3-16
Error Message................................................3-47
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-7
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-31
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-22
Finish Damage...............................................5-96
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-72
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-75
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-76
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-87
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-24
Manual Transaxle........................................5-24
Windshield Washer......................................5-38
Fog Lamps ....................................................3-15
Folding Rear Seat............................................ 1-9
Folding Seatback, Passenger............................. 1-7
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Daytime
Running Lamps...................................5-52, 5-53
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage .........................................................3-42
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
5
ProCarManuals.com