engine oil BUICK LACROSSE 2006 User Guide

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply the regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start the engine.
Shift into a gear.
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
The vehicle will need service more often when it pulls a
trailer. SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4for more
information. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle uid; which should not
be overlled; engine oil, drive belt(s), and cooling and
brake systems. Each of these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you nd them quickly. If trailering,
it is a good idea to review this information before starting
on a trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
The cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 5-27.
4-44

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-15
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-20
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-21
Engine Coolant.............................................5-24
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-27
Engine Overheating.......................................5-27
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-29Cooling System............................................5-30
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-37
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-38
Brakes........................................................5-39
Battery........................................................5-42
Jump Starting...............................................5-42
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-48
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-51
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-51
Headlamps and Sidemarker Lamps.................5-51
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-53
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps...................5-54
Replacement Bulb..........................................5-56
Windshield Replacement.................................5-56
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-56
Tires..............................................................5-57
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-58
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-60
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-63
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-64
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-66
Buying New Tires.........................................5-66
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-68
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-68
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury
to you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed,
or on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the lling is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and
other uids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
5-10

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
D. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-95.
E. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. SeePassenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 3-30.
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System
on page 5-30.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-37.
H. Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap on
page 5-27.I. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
J. Electric Engine Cooling Fans. SeeCooling System
on page 5-30.
K. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
L. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
on page 5-21.
M. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-39.
N. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20.
5-13

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
D. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. SeePassenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 3-30.
E. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-95.
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System
on page 5-30.
G. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-27.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Out of View). See
Power Steering Fluid on page 5-37.
I. Electric Engine Cooling Fans. SeeCooling System
on page 5-30.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
K. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
L. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
on page 5-21.M. Engine Coolant Bleed Valve. See “How to Add
Coolant to the Radiator” underCooling System on
page 5-30.
N. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-39.
O. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is 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.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. 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.
5-15

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of
the dipstick, you will need to add at least one quart/liter
of oil. But you must use the right kind. This section
explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, seeCapacities and Specications on
page 5-98.Notice:Do not add too much oil. If the engine
has so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating
range, the engine could be damaged.
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the
engine oil ll cap.
Be sure to add enough oil 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 are
through. 3.6L V6 Engine
3.8L V6 Engine
5-16

What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Look for two things:
GM6094M
Your vehicle’s engine requires oil meeting GM
Standard GM6094M. You should look for and use
only an oil that meets GM Standard GM6094M.
SAE 5W-30
As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE 5W-30 is best
for your vehicle.These numbers on an oil container show its
viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other viscosity
oils such as SAE 20W-50.
Oils meeting these
requirements should also
have the starburst
symbol on the container.
This symbol indicates
that the oil has been
certied by the American
Petroleum Institute (API).
You should look for this information on the oil container,
and useonlythose oils that are identied as meeting
GM Standard GM6094M and have the starburst symbol
on the front of the oil container.
Notice:Use only engine oil identied as meeting
GM Standard GM6094M and showing the American
Petroleum Institute Certied 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.
5-17

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 0W-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your
engine at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to your oil. The recommended
oils with the starburst symbol that meet GM Standard
GM6094M are all you will need for good performance
and engine protection.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and lter. 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 engine oil light or, if your vehicle has the
Driver Information Center (DIC), a CHANGE OIL SOON
message will come on. SeeChange Engine Oil Light on
page 3-45orDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-59.Change the oil as soon as possible within the next
600 miles (1 000 km). 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, the engine oil and lter must be changed at
least once a year and at this time the system must be
reset. Your dealer has GM-trained service people who
will perform this work using genuine GM parts and reset
the system. 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 the oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since the last
oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to change
the engine oil and lter based on vehicle use. Anytime
the oil is changed, reset the system so it can calculate
when the next oil change is required. If a situation
occurs where you change the oil prior to a change
engine oil light or CHANGE OIL SOON message being
turned on, reset the system.
5-18

After changing the engine oil, reset the system by
performing the following steps:
Vehicles with Driver Information Center (DIC)
1. Press the option button on the DIC until
ENGINE OIL MONITOR appears on the
DIC screen.
2. Press the set/reset button to reset the system.
The next screen indicates that the CHANGE
OIL SOON message has been reset.
If the vehicle has the uplevel DIC, when
the gages button is pressed and the
OIL LIFE REMAINING mode appears,
it should read 100 percent OIL LIFE
REMAINING.
3. Turn the key to OFF.
Vehicles without Driver Information Center (DIC)
1. With the engine off, turn the ignition key
to RUN.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal
slowly three times within ve seconds.
3. Turn the key to OFF, then start the vehicle.
If the light or message comes back on when you
start your vehicle, the oil life system has not reset.
Repeat the procedure.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Do not 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
lter 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 used oil, ask your dealer, a service
station or a local recycling center for help.
5-19

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/lter is located in the engine
compartment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for more information on location.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/lter at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace it at the rst oil change after each
50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4for more information. If you
are driving in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect the lter
at each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/lter, remove the lter from
the vehicle and lightly shake the lter to release
loose dust and dirt. If the lter remains caked with
dirt, a new lter is required.
To inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/lter do
the following:
1. Lift the lter cover tabs on top of the engine air
cleaner/lter housing.
2. Push the lter cover housing toward the engine.
3. Pull out the lter.
4. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/lter.
SeeNormal Maintenance Replacement Parts
on page 6-13. 3.6L V6 Engine shown, 3.8L V6 Engine similar
5-20