engine oil BUICK RAINIER 2004 Owner's Guide

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 your used oil, ask your dealer,
a service station or a local recycling center for help.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-14
for the location of the
engine air cleaner/lter.
When to Inspect
Inspect the air cleaner/lter at every oil change
and replace at the rst oil change after
25,000 miles (40 000 km).
5-23

How to Inspect
To inspect the air cleaner/lter, remove the lter from
the vehicle and lightly shake lter to release loose dust
and dirt. If the lter remains caked with dirt, a new
lter is required.
To inspect or replace the lter, do the following:
1. Remove the screws on the engine cleaner/lter and
lift off the cover.
2. Remove the air cleaner/lter from the housing. Care
should be taken to dislodge as little dirt as possible.
3. Install the new engine air cleaner/lter.
4. Reinstall the cover and tighten the screws.
{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/lter
off can cause you or others to be burned. The
air cleaner not only cleans the air, it helps to
stop ame if the engine backres. If it is not
there and the engine backres, you could be
burned. Do not drive with it off, and be careful
working on the engine with the air
cleaner/lter off.Notice:If the air cleaner/lter is off, a backre
can cause a damaging engine re. And, dirt
can easily get into your engine, which will damage
it. Always have the air cleaner/lter in place
when you are driving.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission uid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the uid and lter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the uid and lter every
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
5-24

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how
to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, seeEngine Overheating
on page 5-29.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work
as they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
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.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-halfclean, drinkable waterand
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant. If you use this coolant
mixture, you don’t need to add anything else.
{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.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost would not be covered by your warranty.
Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
5-27

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Engine Fan
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface. L6 Engine
V8 Engine
5-32

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable waterand DEX-COOL
®engine coolant
at the coolant recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-27for more information.
{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.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.
5-34

Checking Brake Fluid
You can check the brake uid without taking off the cap.
Just look at the brake uid
reservoir. The uid level
should be above MIN.
If it is not, have your brake
system checked to see
if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the level is above the MIN but not over
the MAX mark.
What to Add
When you do need brake uid, use only DOT-3 brake
uid. Use new brake uid from a sealed container
only. SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 6-12.Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This will
help keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake uid.
Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage brake
system parts. For example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in your
brake system can damage brake system parts so
badly that they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint nish can be damaged.
Be careful not to spill brake uid on your
vehicle. If you do, wash it off immediately.
SeeAppearance Care on page 5-92.
5-42

Fuses Usage
1Electrically-Controlled Air
Suspension
2Passenger’s Side High-Beam
Headlamp
3Passenger’s Side Low-Beam
Headlamp
4 Back-Up-Trailer Lamps
5 Driver’s Side High-Beam Headlamp
6 Driver’s Side Low-Beam Headlamp
7 Wash
8 Automatic Transfer Case
9 Windshield Wipers
10 Powertrain Control Module B
11 Fog Lamps
12 Stop Lamp
13 Cigarette Lighter
14 Ignition Coils
15 Blank
16 TBD-Ignition 1
17 CrankFuses Usage
18 Air Bag
19 Electric Brake
20 Cooling Fan
21 Horn
22 Ignition E
23 Electronic Throttle Control
24Instrument Panel Cluster,
Driver Information Center
25 Automatic Shift Lock Control System
26 Engine 1
27 Back-Up
28 Powertrain Control Module 1
29 Oxygen Sensor
30 Air Conditioning
31 Truck Body Controller
32 Trailer
33 Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
34 Ignition A
35 Blower Motor
5-105

Fuses Usage
1Electrically-Controlled Air
Suspension
2Passenger’s Side High-Beam
Headlamp
3Passenger’s Side Low-Beam
Headlamp
4 Back-Up-Trailer Lamps
5 Driver’s Side High-Beam Headlamp
6 Driver’s Side Low-Beam Headlamp
7 Wash
8 Automatic Transfer Case
9 Windshield Wipers
10 Powertrain Control Module B
11 Fog Lamps
12 Stop Lamp
13 Cigarette Lighter
14 Ignition Coils
15 Cannister Vent
16 TBD-Ignition 1
17 CrankFuses Usage
18 Air Bag
19 Electric Brake
20 Cooling Fan
21 Horn
22 Ignition E
23 Electronic Throttle Control
24Instrument Panel Cluster,
Driver Information Center
25 Automatic Shift Lock Control System
26 Engine 1
27 Back-Up
28 Powertrain Control Module 1
30 Air Conditioning
31 Truck Body Controller 1
32 Trailer
33 Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
34 Ignition A
35 Blower Motor
36 Ignition B
5-108

Capacities and Specications
Engine VIN Code Transmission Spark Plug Gap
“VORTEC™ ” 4200 L6 S M30 0.042 inches (1.07 mm)
“VORTEC™ ” 5300 V8 P M30 0.040 inches (1.01 mm)
ApplicationL6 Engine V8 Engine
English Metric English Metric
Wheel Nut Torque 100 lb ft 140Y100 lb ft 140Y
Cooling System 13.9 quarts 13.1 L 15.3 quarts 14.5 L
Air Conditioning Refrigerant R/134a 1.9 lbs. 0.85 kg 1.9 lbs. 0.85 kg
Engine Oil with Filter 7.0 quarts 6.6 L 6.0 quarts 5.7 L
Transmission
(Drain and Rell)5.0 quarts 4.7 L 5.0 quarts 4.7 L
Differential Fluid
Rear 3.6 pints 1.7 L 4.3 pints 2.0 L
Front 1.7 pints 0.8 L 1.7 pints 0.8 L
Fuel Tank 22.0 gallons 83.3 L 22.0 gallons 83.3 L
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to ll to the appropriate level, as recommended in this manual.
Recheck the uid level after lling.
5-113

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level and
change as recommended.
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan?
The Plan supplements your new vehicle warranties.
See your Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet
or your dealer for details.
Maintenance Requirements
Notice:Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections,
replacement parts and recommended uids and
lubricants as prescribed in this manual are necessary
to keep your vehicle in good working condition.
Any damage caused by failure to follow scheduled
maintenance may not be covered by warranty.
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep
your vehicle in good working condition, but also helps
the environment. All recommended maintenance is
important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even
affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper uid
levels or the wrong tire ination can increase the level
of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect our
environment, and to keep your vehicle in good condition,
be sure to maintain your vehicle properly.
6-2