engine overheat BUICK LACROSSE 2007 Owner's Guide

When the engine is cold, the coolant level should
be at or above the cold ll line on the coolant
recovery tank. If it is not, there may be a leak at the
pressure cap or in 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 fans
are running. If the engine is overheating, the fans
should be running. If the fans are not running,
the vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by your
warranty. SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 370for information
on driving to a safe place in an emergency.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL®
may 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 your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
372

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.If you have not found a problem yet, but the
coolant level is not at the cold ll line, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®engine coolant at the coolant
recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant on page 363
for more information.
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.
When the coolant level in the coolant recovery
tank is at the cold ll line, start the vehicle.
373

If the overheat warning continues, there is one
more thing you can try. You can add the proper
coolant mixture directly to the cooling system
through the coolant ll neck under the pressure cap,
but be sure the system is cool before you do it.
{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 radiator pressure cap — even a
little — they can come out at high speed.
Never turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and radiator pressure cap to cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(3.8L V6 Engine)
Notice:Your engine has a specic radiator
ll procedure. Failure to follow this procedure
could cause your engine to overheat and
be severely damaged.
1. You can remove the
radiator pressure
cap when the
cooling system,
including the radiator
pressure cap and
upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise
until it rst stops. Do not press down while
turning the pressure cap. If you hear a
hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means there
is still some pressure left.
374

How to Add Coolant to the Cooling
System (3.6L V6 Engine)
Notice:Your engine has a specic cooling
system drain and ll procedure. Failure
to follow this procedure could cause your
engine to overheat and be severely damaged.
If your engine’s cooling system needs to
be drained and re-lled, please see your dealer.
1. You can remove the
pressure cap when
the cooling system,
including the
pressure cap and
upper radiator hose
is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss
means that there is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap and
remove it.
{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.
3. Fill the cooling system with the proper
DEX-COOL
®coolant mixture, up to the base
of the ller neck. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 363for more information about
the proper coolant mixture.
4. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the
engine and the compartment.
377

Engine (cont.)
Overheated Protection Operating Mode.... 370
Overheating............................................. 367
Reduced Power Light............................... 196
Starting.................................................... 111
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)................ 295
Entry Lighting.............................................. 161
Event Data Recorders (EDR)...................... 489
Extender, Safety Belt..................................... 38
Exterior Lamps............................................ 158
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver.................... 160
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner................................... 358
Finish Damage............................................ 446
Flashers, Hazard Warning........................... 150
Flash-to-Pass.............................................. 153
Flat Tire...................................................... 425
Flat Tire, Changing...................................... 426
Flat Tire, Storing......................................... 435Fluid
Automatic Transaxle................................. 360
Power Steering........................................ 378
Windshield Washer.................................. 380
Fog Lamps.................................................. 160
Folding Rear Seat......................................... 14
Fuel............................................................ 343
Additives.................................................. 344
California Fuel.......................................... 344
Check Gas Cap Light.............................. 199
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.............. 348
Filling Your Tank...................................... 346
Fuels in Foreign Countries....................... 345
Gage....................................................... 198
Gasoline Octane...................................... 343
Gasoline Specications............................ 344
Low Warning Light................................... 198
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...................... 450
Instrument Panel Fuse Block................... 450
Underhood Fuse Block............................. 452
Windshield Wiper..................................... 449
502

Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
Normal Maintenance
Replacement Parts............................... 471
Owner Checks and Services.................... 466
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants....... 470
Scheduled Maintenance........................... 462
Using....................................................... 459
Your Vehicle and the Environment............ 459
Malfunction Indicator Light........................... 190
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages................... 208
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview................... 124
Automatic Dimming Rearview with
OnStar
®................................................ 125
Manual Rearview Mirror........................... 124
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®...... 124
Outside Convex Mirror............................. 126
Outside Power Heated Mirrors................. 126
Outside Power Mirrors............................. 125
MP3 ............................................................ 272
MyGMLink.com............................................ 481
N
New Vehicle Break-In.................................. 109
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts..... 471
O
Odometer.................................................... 181
Off-Road Recovery...................................... 300
Oil
Change Engine Oil Light.......................... 195
Engine..................................................... 353
Pressure Light.......................................... 194
Oil, Engine Oil Life System ......................... 356
Older Children, Restraints............................. 39
Online Owner Center................................... 481
OnStar
®System, see OnStar®Manual........ 126
Other Warning Devices................................ 150
Outlet Adjustment........................................ 177
Outlet(s), Accessory Power.......................... 167
Outside
Convex Mirror.......................................... 126
Power Heated Mirrors.............................. 126
Power Mirrors.......................................... 125
Overhead Console Reading Lamps............. 163
Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode....................................................... 370
Owner Checks and Services....................... 466
Owners, Canadian.......................................... 3
506