mileage BUICK PARK AVENUE 1996 Owners Manual

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour
(km/h). Your
odometer shows
how far your vehicle has been driven,
in either miles (used in the United States) or kilometers
(used in Canada).
Your Buick has a tamper-resistant odometer. If you see
bright silver lines between the numbers, probably
someone has tried to turn it back. The numbers may not
be true.
You may wonder what happens
if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If possible, the new one has to
be set to the same reading the old one had. If
it can’t be,
then it’s set at zero and a label must be put on the
driver’s door to show the old mileage reading and when
the new one was installed.
Trip Odometer
A trip odometer can tell how far you’ve driven since
you last set it back to zero.
To reset it, push the button.
Tachometer (Option)
The tachometer on the
optional gage cluster tells
4
3 \I/
2‘ /

F==O
.
RPM X 1000
5
7
ybu how fast the engine is
running.
It displays engine
speed
in thousands of
revolutions per minute
(rpm).
NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area, or engine damage may occur.
ProCarManuals.com

Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll
want to get the proper Buick Service Manual. It tells you
much more about how to service your Buick than this
manual can.
To order the proper service manual, see
“Service and Owner Publications” in the Index.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Buick” in the Index.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date
of any service work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in the Index.
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged
if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, and the proper replacement parts and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confused.
If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or
fall off. You could be hurt.
6-2
ProCarManuals.com

When to Change Engine Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
0
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
your vehicle.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine oil to
break down sooner.
If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your oil and filter
every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever
occurs first. (See “Change Oil Soon” in the Index.)
If none of them is true, change the oil and filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months -- whichever
occurs first. Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed
engine under highway conditions causes engine oil to
break down slower.
If the optional CHANGE OIL SOON light comes on,
you will need to change your oil sooner than either
mileage specified. Depending upon driving habits, the
CHANGE OJL SOON light may come on as early as
2,000 miles
or less from the last time the oil life monitor
was reset. (See “Oil Life Monitor” in the Index.)
Always
reset the
oil life monitor after every oil change.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don’t 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 throw
away 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 real threat to the environment.
If you
change your own oil, be sure
to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever 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 your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
ProCarManuals.com

I
I 1
I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
3,000 Miles (5 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. *
t
DATE
SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
6,000 Miles (10 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. *
0 Lubricate the suspension, steering linkage,
transaxle
shift linkage, parking brake cable guides
and the underbody contact points and linkage (or
every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation”
in the Index for proper rotation pattern and
additional information.
During .tire rotation,
check brake calipers for fieedom of movement.
Refer to the appropriate
GM service manual for
proper caliper service procedures.
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY:
.. , 7-7
ProCarManuals.com

I Short TriplCity Maintenance Schedule I
9,000 Miles (15 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. *
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE
I
1
SERVICED BY
12,000 Miles (20 000 km)
I7 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. *
0 Lubricate the suspension, steering linkage,
transaxle shift linkage, parking brake cable
guides and the underbody contact points
and linkage (or every
6 months, whichever
occurs first).
I DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY
ProCarManuals.com

I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
15,000 Miles (25 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Corztrol Service. *
0 Inspect air cleaner filter if you are driving
in dusty conditions. Replace filter if
necessary.
An Emission Control Service.
I 18,000 Miles (30 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs fist).
An Emission Control Service. *
0 Lubricate the suspension, steering linkage,
transaxle
shift linkage, parking brake cable guides
and the underbody contact points and linkage (or
every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation”
in
the Index for proper rotation pattern and
additional information. During tire rotation,
check brake calipers for freedom
of movement.
Refer
to the appropriate GM service manual for
proper caliper service procedures.
DATE SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
DATE
SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
~ I -
~~ 7-9
ProCarManuals.com

I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
21,000 Miles (35 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. *
I DATE I ACTUAL MILEAGE ISERVICED BY I
24,000 Miles (40 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. *
0 Lubricate the suspension, steering linkage,
transaxle shift linkage, parking brake cable
guides and the underbody contact points
and linkage (or every
6 months, whichever
occurs first).
DATE SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
7-10
ProCarManuals.com

I -7
1 Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
27,000 Miles (45 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. *
DATE
SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
30,000 Miles (50 000 km)
17 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. *
0 Lubricate the suspension, steering linkage,
transaxle shift linkage, parking brake cable
guides and the underbody contact points
and linkage (or every
6 months, whichever
occurs first).
0 Replace air cleaner filter.
An Emission Control Service.
0 Inspect fuel tank, cap and lines for damage
or leaks. Inspect fuel cap gasket for any
damage. Replace parts as needed.
An Emission Control Service.
(Continued)
7-11
ProCarManuals.com

I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
30,000 Miles (50 000 km) (Continued)
Ll For Supercharged engines only: Check the
supercharger oil level and add oil as needed
(or every
36 months, whichever occurs
first). See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in this section.
An Emission Control Service. 3-
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and
Rotation’’ in the Index for proper rotation
pattern and additional information. During
tire rotation, check brake calipers for
freedom of movement. Refer to the
appropriate’
GM service: manual for proper
caliper service procedures.
I DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY:
33,000 Miles (55 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. *
I DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY:
L
7-12
ProCarManuals.com

Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule
36,000 Miles (60 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. *
0 Lubricate the suspension, steering linkage,
transaxle shift linkage, parking brake cable
guides and the underbody contact points
and linkage (or every
6 months, whichever
occurs first).
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY
39,000 Miles (65 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. *
I I 1
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY
ProCarManuals.com