recommended oil BUICK CENTURY 1994 Owners Manual

Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
0 Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel. Engine Oil. Other Fluids: Have you checked all
levels?
Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
0 Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along
your route? Should you delay your trip a short time
to avoid
a major storm system?
0 Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway
hypnosis”? Or is it
just plain falling asleep at the wheel?
Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness,
or
whatever. There
is something
about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it
happen to
you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the
road
in less than a second, and you could crash and be
injured.
What can you
do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
0 Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to
the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
0 If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service,
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
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RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD Sw“nwl’l li, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE
VISCOSITY GRADE OIL FOR THE EX. _____ TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER 7
”F
t 100
+ 80
+ 60
+ 40
+ 20
0
f
SAE 5W-30 PREFERRED
IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30
GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30 .,. GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES
ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C).
ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR
WEATHER
As shown in the chart, SAE 5W-30 is best for your
vehicle. However, you
can use SAE 1OW-30 if it’s going
to be
0°F (-18°C) or above. These numbers on an oil
container show it.+ viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other
viscosity
oils, such as SAE low-40 or SAE 20W-50.
If you cannot find oils with the new “starburst”symbo1
on the front of the-container, you should look for and
use oils containing the following three things:
SHor SG
“SH or SG” must be on the oil container, either by
itself
or combined with other quality designations,
such as
“SH/CD,” “SH,SG,CD,” “SG/CD,” etc.
These letters show American Petroleum Institute
(API) levels of quality.
SAE 5W-30
Energy Conserving I1
Oils with these words on the container will help you
save fuel.
These three things are usually included in
a doughnut
shaped logo (symbol) on most containers. If you cannot
find oils with the “starburst” symbol, you should look
for oils with the doughnut shaped symbol, containing
the three things noted above.
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid
to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Engine Coolant
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on the
dipstick.
1. Pull
out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a pint
(OSL).
Don’t overfill. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-I11 or DEXRON@-IIE,
because fluids with that label are made especially for
your automatic transaxle. Damage caused by fluid other
than DEXRON@-I11 or DEXRON@-IIE is
not covered
by your new vehicle warranty. dipstick
hole
to bring it to the proper level.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way. The following explains
your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or if
you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
The proper coolant for your Buick will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 262 “F ( 128 “C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights work as they should.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half antifreeze that meets “GM
Specification 1825-M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts.
You can also use a recycled coolant conforming to
GM Specification 1825-M with a complete coolant flush
and refill. If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add
anything else.
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basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat paint
finish.
I
I NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing
on a basecoatklearcoat paint finish may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
Aluminum Wheels (If So Equipped)
Your aluminum wheels have a protective coating similar
to the painted surface
of your buick. Don’t use strong
soaps, chemicals, chrome polish, abrasive cleaners
or
abrasive cleaning brushes on them because you could
damage this coating. After rinsing thoroughly,
a wax
may be applied.
NOTICE:
If you have aluminum wheels, don’t use an
automatic vehicle wash that has hard silicon
carbide cleaning brushes. These brushes can
take
off the protective coating.
White Sidewall Tires
Your Buick dealer has a GM White Sidewall Tire
Cleaner.
You can use a stiff brush with the cleaner.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth
at least every six
months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent
application may be required. (See “Recommended Fluids
& Lubricants’’ in the Index.)
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material
to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Foreign Material
Calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting agents,
road oil and tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals from
industrial chimneys, and other foreign matter can
damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on painted
surfaces. Use cleaners that are marked safe for painted
surfaces
to remove foreign matter.
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IMPORTANT:
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL
AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
I protection
Plan
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The
Plan supplements
your new vehicle warranties. See
your Buick dealer
for details.
Introduction
A Word About Maintenance
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle in good working condition. But we don’t know
exactly how you’ll drive it.
You may drive very short
distances only a few times a week. Or you may drive
long distances all the time in very hot, dusty weather.
You may use your vehicle in making deliveries. Or you
may drive it to work, to do errands
or in many other
ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their GM
vehicles, maintenance needs vary.
You may even need
more frequent checks and replacements
than you will
find in the schedules in this part.
So please read this
part and note how you drive.
If you have any questions
on
how to keep your vehicle in good condition, see your
Buick dealer, the place many GM owners choose to
have their maintenance work done.
Your dealer can be
relied upon to use proper parts and practices.
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Section D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
NOTE: Fluids and lubricants identified below by name,
part number
or specification may be obtained from your
GM dealer.
USAGE
Engine Oil
Engine Coolant
Hydraulic Brake
System
FLUID/LUBRICANT
API service SH or SG Energy
Conserving
I1 oils of the proper
viscosity. The
“SH” or “SG’
designation may be shown alone or in
combination with others, such as
“SH/CD,” “SG/CD’ or “SH,SG,CD,”
etc.
To determine the preferred
viscosity for your vehicle’s engine, see
“Engine Oil” in the Index.
50/50 mixture of water (preferably
distilled) and good quality ethylene
glycol base antifreeze (GM Part
No.
1052753 or equivalent) conforming to
GM Specifications 1825M or approved
recycled coolant conforming to GM
Specification 1825M.
Delco Supreme 11
Q Brake Fluid (GM
Part
No. 1052535 or equivalent)
DOT-3 brake fluid.
USAGE
Parking Brake
Guides
Power Steering
System
Automatic
Transaxle
Key Lock
Cylinders
Automatic
Transaxle Shift
Linkage
Chassis
Lubrication
Windshield
Washer Solvent
~ ~~~ - -_ - -~
FLUIDlLUBRICANT
Chassis lubricant (GM Part No.
1052497 or equivalent) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI Grade
2, Category LB or GC-LB.
GM Hydraulic Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part
No. 1052884 or equivalent).
DEXRONQ- III or DEXRONB- IIE
Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Lubricate with Multi-Purpose
Lubricant (GM Part
No. 12345120),
synthetic SAE 5W-30 engine oil or
silicone lubricant (GM Part
No.
1052276 or 1052277).
Engine oil.
Chassis lubricant (GM Part
No.
1052497 or equivalent) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI Grade
2, Category LB or GC-LB.
GM Optikleena Washer Solvent (GM
Part No. 1051515) or equivalent.
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USAGE
Hood Latch
Assembly
a. Pivots and
b. Release Pawl
Spring
Anchor
Hood and
Door
Hinges, Wagon
Liftgate, Fuel Door
Hinge, Folding
Seat Hardware,
Rear Compartment
Lid Hinges
Weatherstrips
FLUID/LUBRICANT I
a. Engine oil.
b. Chassis lubricant meeting
requirements of NLGI Grade
2,
Category LB (GM Part No.
1052497 or equivalent) or GC-LB.
Engine oil or Lubriplate Lubricant
(GM Part
No. 1050109).
Dielectric Silicone Grease
(GM Part
No. 12345579 or equivalent).
See “Specifications Chart” in the Index for
recommended replacement filters, valves and spark
plugs.
Section E: Maintenance Record
After the scheduled services are performed, record the
date, odometer reading and who performed the service
in the columns indicated. When completing the
Maintenance Performed column, insert the numbers
from the Schedule
I or Schedule I1 maintenance charts
which correspond
to the maintenance performed. Also,
you should retain all maintenance receipts. Your owner
information portfolio is a convenient place to store
them.
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Fabric Cleaning ................................ 246
Features and Controls ............................. 65
Filling
the Fuel Tank ............................. 21 1
Filter. Oil ............................... 2 13.259. 260
Finish Care
..................................... 249
Finish Damage
.................................. 25 1
First Gear
....................................... 82
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 172
Flat Tire
....................................... 193
FloodedEngine
.................................. 76
Fluid Brake
....................................... 228
Capacities
............................... 259. 260
Power Steering ............................... 226
Transaxle
.................................... 220
Windshield Washer
............................ 227
Fluids and Lubricants. Recommended
................ 277
Folding Rear Seats
................................ 17
Foreign Operation
............................... 2 10
Francais. Guide En ................................. 2
Freeway Driving
................................ 157
French Language Manual ........................... 2
Fuel
.......................................... 209
Capacity
................................ 259. 260
FillingYourTank
............................. 211
Gage
....................................... 112
In Foreign Countries
........................... 210
Fuse Usage Chart ................................ 255
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ........................ 254
Gage
Battery (Voltage Indicator)
...................... 119
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 116
Fuel ........................................ 112
Gasoline
....................................... 209
Gasoline Tank. Filling Your
........................ 211
Gear Positions
................................... 79
Glass Cleaning
.................................. 248
GloveBox
...................................... 73
Halogen Bulbs
................................. 232
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 172
Headlamp Bulb Replacement
....................... 232
High-Low Beam Changer
....................... 91
“On” Warning ................................. 99
Head Restraints
.................................. 17
Hearing Impaired Assistance
....................... 283
Heater
......................................... 123
Highway Hypnosis
............................... 159
Hill and Mountain Roads
.......................... 160
Hitches. Trailer .................................. 167
Hood Release
................................... 212
Hot Coolant Warning Light/Gage
............... 11 5. 116
Hot Engine Safety Warnings
....................... 184
Headlights
...................................... 98
Heater. Engine Block (Engine Coolant Heater)
.. ., ... 78, 218
Horn
........................................... 88
Hydroplaning ................................... 155
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Methanol in Gasoline ............................. 209
Mirrors
........................................ 102
Mountain Driving ................................ 160
Net. Convenience ............................... 105
Neutral Gear Position
.............................. 80
New Vehicle Break-In
............................. 74
NightDriving
................................... 152
Octane Requirements
........................... 209
Odometer
...................................... 110
Off-Road Recovery
.............................. 149
Oil. Engine
..................................... 213
Change
................................. 217. 261
Quality
..................................... 215
Warning Light
................................ 11 7
Overdrive. Automatic
............................. 8 1
Overheated Engine ............................... 184
Paint Spotting
.................................. 251
Park
........................................... 77
Park. Shifting Into
................................ 83
Parking Brake
........................................ 82
Over Things That Burn
.......................... 85
With a Trailer
................................ 165
With the Engine Running
........................ 86
Passing
........................................ 150 Polishing
and Waxing
............................ 249
Power
Antenna
..................................... 137
DoorLocks
................................... 68
Mirrors
..................................... 102
Seats
........................................ 15
Steering
..................................... 147
Steering Fluid
................................ 226
Windows
..................................... 87
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts
...................... 42
Problems on the Road ............................ 171
Publications. Service
............................. 286
Radiator Overheating
............................ 184
Radiator Pressure Cap
............................ 226
Radio 125
Reading Lights
.................................. 100
Rear Seats. Folding ............................... 17
Rear Storage Security Cover
....................... 105
Rear Window Defogger
........................... 123
Rearview Mirror
................................. 102
Reclining Seatbacks
............................... 15
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
................ 277
Remote Keyless Entry System
....................... 68
Remote Trunkbiftgate Release ...................... 71
Replacing
BrakeSystemParts
............................ 231
Safety Belts
................................... 64
Tires
....................................... 241
Wheels
..................................... 243
Light Bulbs
.................................. 232
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