engine coolant SATURN VUE 2009 User Guide

Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 2.4L L4 engine, you will see the following:
A. SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 5-17.
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System on
page 5-19. C. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View).
See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 5-14 .
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap (Out of View). See “When to Add Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 5-14 .E. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brakes on page 5-28 .
F. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. See “Checking Coolant” under Engine
Coolant on page 5-22 .
G. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting on page 5-31 .
H. See Underhood Fuse Block
on page 5-82.
I. See Battery on page 5-30 .
J. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Windshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-27 .
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When you open the hood on the 3.5L V6 engine (3.6L V6 similar), you will
see the following:
A. SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 5-17.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Out of View). See Power
Steering Fluid on page 5-26 .C. Electric Engine Cooling Fan (Out
of View). See Cooling System
on page 5-19.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil” under Engine
Oil on page 5-14. E. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View).
See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 5-14.
F. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking the Fluid Level” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
on page 5-18.
G. Brake Fluid Reservoir (Out of View). See Brakes on page 5-28 .
H. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. See Cooling System on
page 5-19.
I. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting on page 5-31 .
J. See Underhood Fuse Block
on page 5-82.
K. See Battery on page 5-30 .
L. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Windshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-27 .
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Notice:Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission uid
may damage the vehicle, and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle’s warranty. Always use
the automatic transmission uid
listed inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-13.
For the 2.4L, 3.5L and 3.6L engines,
the transmission uid will not
reach the end of the dipstick unless
the transmission is at operating
temperature. If you need to check the
transmission uid level, please take
your vehicle to your dealer/retailer.Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the
hood, here is what you will see:
A. Electric Engine Fan
B. Coolant Surge Tank
C. Pressure Cap{CAUTION
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant
surge tank is boiling, do not do
anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a
level surface.
2.4L L4 Engine shown, 3.5L V6
and 3.6L V6 Engines similar
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The coolant level should be between
the MIN and MAX lines. If it is not,
you may have a leak at the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump, or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
{CAUTION
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine re, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
xed before you drive the vehicle.If there seems to be no leak, with
the engine on, check to see if
the electric engine cooling fan is
running. If the engine is overheating,
the fan should be running. If it is
not, your vehicle needs service.
Turn off the engine.
Notice:Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL
®can cause premature
engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing
sooner, at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant
in the vehicle.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
Notice:This vehicle has a
specic coolant ll procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely
damaged.
If you have not found a problem
yet, check to see if coolant is
visible in the surge tank. If coolant is
visible but the coolant level is not at
between the MIN and MAX lines, add
a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at
the coolant surge tank, but be sure
the cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap, is
cool before you do it. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-22for more
information.
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{CAUTION
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn
the coolant surge tank pressure
cap — even a little — they can
come out at high speed. Never
turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
coolant surge tank pressure cap
to cool if you ever have to turn
the pressure cap.
{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.
Notice:In cold weather, water
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core and other
parts. Use the recommended
coolant and the proper coolant
mixture.
{CAUTION
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
1. You can remove the coolant
surge tank pressure cap when
the cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about
one-quarter of a turn. If you hear
a hiss, wait for that to stop.
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This will allow any pressure still
left to be vented out the
discharge hose.
2. Then keep turning the pressure
cap slowly, and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with
the proper DEX-COOL
®coolant
mixture, to between the MIN
and MAX lines.4. With the coolant surge tank
pressure cap off, start the engine
and let it run until you can feel
the upper radiator hose getting
hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank may
be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL
®
coolant mixture to the coolant
surge tank until the level reaches
between the MIN and MAX lines.
5. Then replace the pressure cap.
Be sure the pressure cap is
hand-tight.
Check the level in the surge
tank when the cooling system
has cooled down. If the coolant is
not at the proper level, repeat
Steps 1 through 3 and reinstall the
pressure cap. If the coolant still is not
at the proper level when the system
cools down again, see your dealer/
retailer.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle
is lled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in your vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km),
whichever occurs rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
®extended life
coolant.
The following explains your cooling
system and how to add coolant
when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on page 5-25.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to
−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to
265°F (129°C).
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Protect against rust and
corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages
work as they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL
®can cause premature
engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing
sooner, at the rst maintenance
service after each 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free)
coolant in the vehicle.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean,
drinkable water and one-half
DEX-COOL
®coolant which will not
damage aluminum parts. If you
use this coolant mixture, you do not
need to add anything else.
{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.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.
If you have to add coolant more
than four times a year, have
your dealer/retailer check your
cooling system.
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. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on
page 6-13for more information.
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Checking Coolant
The surge tank is located on
the driver side of the engine
compartment. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for more information
on location.
{CAUTION
Turning the surge tank pressure
cap when the engine and radiator
are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and
burn you badly. Never turn the
surge tank pressure cap — even
a little — when the engine and
radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level
surface. When your engine is cold,
the coolant level should be
between the MIN and MAX lines.Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the
proper DEX-COOL®coolant mixture
at the surge tank, but only when
the engine is cool. SeeCooling
System on page 5-19for instructions
on “How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank”.
{CAUTION
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap,
make sure it is hand-tight and
fully seated.
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Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not
tightly installed, coolant loss and
possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
If you need to replace your coolant
surge tank pressure cap, see
your retailer.
Engine Overheating
There is a coolant temperature
warning light on your vehicle’s
instrument panel. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light
on page 3-34.
If Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
{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.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 No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
If you get an engine overheat
warning, but see or hear no steam,
the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little
too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
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4. Wipe the cap and the top of the
reservoir clean.
5. Unscrew the cap and wipe the
dipstick with a clean rag.
6. Replace the cap and completely
tighten it.
7. Remove the cap again and look
at the uid level on the dipstick.
The uid level should be within the
area indicated on the dipstick
when the engine is cold.
What to Use
To determine what kind of uid to
use,Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-13. Always
use the proper uid.
Notice:Use of the incorrect uid
may damage the vehicle and
the damages may not be covered
by the vehicle’s warranty.
Always use the correct uid
listed inRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-13.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield or rear
window 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 Windshield Washer
Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer uid until
the tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for 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.
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