brake fluid BUICK PARK AVENUE 1993 Owners Manual

braking before moving onto the exit ramp.
Unfortunately, not all deceleration
lanes are long enough
-- some are too short for all the braking. Decide when to
start braking. If you must brake on the through lane, and
if there is traffic close behind
you, you can allow a little
extra time and flash your brake lights (in addition to
your turn signal) as extra warning that you are about to
slow down and exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense of
motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds,
you may tend
to think you are going slower than you
actually are. For example,
40 mph (65 km/h) might
seem like only
20 mph (30 km/h). Obviously, this could
lead to serious trouble on a ramp designed for
20 mph
(30 km/h)!
Driving a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are made on freeways,
there are still many made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular
highways
is the same in some ways. The trip has to be
planned and
the vehicle prepared, you drive at
higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns
behind the wheel. You’ll enjoy your trip more
if you and your vehicle
are in good shape. Here are some tips for a
successful long trip.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh -- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive
in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Buick dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help if
you need it.
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
Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
all levels?
trouble-free trip. Is
the tread good enough
for
ProCarManuals.com

Then here are some tips:
e
e
e
e Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to
the sides. Check your rearview mirrors frequently
and your instruments from time
to time. This can
help you avoid
a fixed stare.
Wear
good sunglasses in bright light. Glare can
cause drowsiness. But don't wear sunglasses at
night. They will drastically reduce your overall
vision at the very time you need all the seeing power
you have.
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.
As in any driving situation, keep pace with traffic and
allow adequate following distances. Driving on
steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly
in steep country, or if you're
,planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transaxle. These parts can work hard
on mountain
roads.
192
ProCarManuals.com

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on
a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 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
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system, and brake adjustment.
Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help
you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before
you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are
tight.
ProCarManuals.com

I
I
Here you will find information about the care of your Buick . This part begins with service and fuel information. and
then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels
. There is also technical information about your
vehicle. and a section devoted to its appearance care
.
Part 6 includes:
ServiceTips
......................................................................
Engineoil ....................................................................... \
242
Fuel
........................................................................\
..... 243
Hood Release 248
251
AirFilter
........................................................................\
. 255
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
...........................................................
Enginecoolant .................................................................... 258
PowerSteeringFluid
............................................................... 261
Windshield Washer Fluid
............................................................ 262
Brakes
........................................................................\
... 263
Battery
........................................................................\
... 265
266
268
270
278
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
.................................................. 286
Fuses .and Circuit Breakers
........................................................... 287
Capacities and Specifications
.......................................................... 292
.....................................................................
256
BulbReplacement
.................................................................
LoadingYourVehicle ...............................................................
Tires ........................................................................\
....
Appearancecare ..................................................................
241
ProCarManuals.com

A 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
I underhood electric fan. I
A CAUTION:
1
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, 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.
-- I
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on
properly. Then just pull the hood down and close it
firmly.
3800 V6 Supercharged Engine
Your Park Avenue Ultra has a 3800 V6 Supercharged
engine. Buick chose supercharging rather than
turbocharging because Buick emphasizes smooth,
refined power.
The Supercharger is a device which is designed
to pump
more air into the engine than it would normally use.
This air mixed with fuel, creates increased engine
power. Since the Supercharger is a pump and
is driven
from an engine accessory drive belt, increased pressure
is available at all driving conditions.
250
ProCarManuals.com

Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32 C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
1 80 F to 200 F
(82OC to 93OC).
Get
the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures .are above
50 F
(10OC). If it’s colder than 50°F (lO°C), you may have
to drive longer.
To check the fluid level:
Park your vehicle on a level place.
0 Place the shift lever in “P’ (Park) with the parking
brake applied.
0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever
in “P’ (Park).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these
steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
ProCarManuals.com

0
0
0
0
Brake Master Cylinder
Your brake master cylinder is here. It is filled with
DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
your master cylinder might
go down. The first is that the
brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the fluid level goes back
up. The other reason is that
fluid
is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you
should have your brake system fixed, since a leak means
ProCarManuals.com

that sooner or later your brakes won’t work well, or
won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’
your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid won’t correct
a
leak. If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then
you’ll have
too much fluid when you get new brake
linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake
hydraulic system.
I-
A CAUTION:
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn
if the engine is hot
enough. You or others could be burned, and your
vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only
when work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on and a chime will sound.
What to Add:
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM part
No.1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be
of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality GM brake
parts in them, as your Buick does when it is new. When
you replace parts of your braking system
-- for example,
when your brake linings wear down and you have to
have new ones put
in -- be sure you get new genuine
GM replacement parts.
If you don’t, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example,
if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the
ProCarManuals.com

Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance
Services
Below are explanations of the services listed in Schedule
I and Schedule
11.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Section
D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle
uses these. All parts should be replaced and all
necessary repairs done before you or anyone else drives
the vehicle.
NOTE: To determine your engine’s displacement and
code, see “Engine Identification” in the Index.
1. Engine Oil and Filter Change* -- Always use SG
Energy Conserving I1 oils of proper viscosity. The
“SG” designation may be shown alone or in
combination with others, such as “SG/CC”,
“SG/CD” or
“SF, SG, CC,” etc. To determine the
preferred viscosity for your vehicle’s engine (e.g.,
SAE
5W-30 or SAE 10W-30), see “Engine Oil” in
the Index. If your vehicle has an Engine
Oil Life
Monitor,
the monitor will show you when to change
the oil. See “Engine Oil Life Monitor” in the Index.
* An Emission Control Service.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Chassis Lubrication -- Lubricate the transaxle shift
linkage, parking brake cable guides, underbody
contact points and linkage. If your vehicle is
equipped with grease fittings, lubricate the
suspension and steering linkage.
Throttle Body Mounting Bolt Torque” -- Check
the torque
of the mounting bolts and/or nuts.
Tire and Wheel Rotation and Inspection -- For
proper wear and maximum tire life, rotate your tires
following the instructions in this manual. See “Tires,
Inspection
& Rotation” in the Index. Check the tires
for uneven wear or damage. If you see irregular or
premature wear, check the wheel alignment. Check
for damaged wheels also.
Engine Accessory Drive Belt(s) Inspection --
Inspect the belt(s) for cracks, fraying, wear and
proper tension. Replace as needed.
Cooling System Service* -- Drain, flush and refill
the system with new or approved recycled coolant
conforming to GM Specification
1825M. Keep
coolant at the proper mixture
as specified. See
“Coolant” in the Index. This provides.proper freeze
protection, corrosion inhibitor level and engine
operating temperature.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to the completion of vehicle
useful life. General Motors, however, urges that all recommended maintenance services be performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance be recorded in “Section E:Maintenance Record”.
302
ProCarManuals.com

INSPECTION
OR SERVICE
Brake System
Inspection
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
Inspect the complete system. Inspect
brake lines and hoses for proper
hookup, binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads
for wear and rotors for surface
condition. Also inspect drum brake
linings for wear and cracks. Inspect
other brake parts, including drums,
wheel cylinders, calipers, parking
brake, etc. Check parking brake
adjustment.
You may need to have
your brakes inspected more often
if
your driving habits or conditions
result
in frequent braking.
NOTE: A low brake fluid level can
indicate worn disc brake pads which
may need
to be serviced. Also, if the
brake system warning light stays on
or comes
on, something may be
wrong with
the brake system. See
“Brake System Warning Light”
in
the Index. If your anti-lock brake
system warning light stays on or
comes on, something may be wrong
with
the anti-lock brake system. See
“Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light”
in the Index.
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
FLUID/LUBRICANT
GM Goodwrench Motor Oil or
equivalent for API service SG
Energy Conserving I1 oils of the
proper viscosity. The
“SG”
designation may be shown alone or
in combination with others, such as
“SG/CC,” “SG/CD,”
or
“SF,SG,CC,” 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 Specification 1825M or
approved recycled coolant
conforming to GM Specification
1825M.
ProCarManuals.com