engine coolant BUICK REGAL 1996 User Guide

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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. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at the
COLD mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there’s one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant mix
directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling system
is
cool before you do it.
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
CAUTION: (Continued) I
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.
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How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
NOTICE:
Your engine has a specific radiator fill 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
first stops. (Don’t press
down while turning the
pressure cap.)
h
2. Then keep turning the
pressure cap, but now
push down as you
turn it. Remove the
pressure cap.
AUTION:
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. Don’t spill coolant on
a hot engine.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
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3. After the engine cools, open the coolant air bleed
valve
or valves.
3.1L
V6 (VIN Code M): There are two bleed valves.
One
is located on the thermostat housing. The other is
located on the thermostat bypass tube.
3.8L V6 (VIN Code K):
There is one bleed valve. It
is located on the thermostat
housing.
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... ".
Fill the radiator with the
proper mix, up to the
base of the filler neck.
If you see a stream of
coolant coming from an
air bleed valve, close
the
valve. Otherwise, close
the valve(s) after
radiator is filled.
5. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the
engine compartment. the
6. Then fill the coolant recovery tank
to the
COLD mark.
7. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.
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8. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
,.upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fans.
filler neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches
the base of the filler neck.
9. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator
10. Then replace the
pressure cap. At any
time during this
procedure if coolant
begins to
flow out of
the filler neck, reinstall
the pressure cap. Be
sure the
arrows on the
pressure cap line up
like this.
11. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at the
HOT
mark when the engine is hot or at the COLD mark
when the engine is cold.
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Hood Release
.. . /! CAUTION:
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.
To open the hood, first
pull
the handle inside
the vehicle.
Then
go to the front of the vehicle and release the
secondary hood release. Lift the hood.
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When you open the hood on the 3.1L L82 engine, you'll see:
D
A. Engine Coolant E. Engine Oil Dipstick I. Windshield Washer
Recovery Tank F. Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
Fluid Reservoir
B. Radiator Fill
Cap G. Brake Fluid Reservoir J. Battery (located under
C. Power Steering Reservoir
H. Air Filter Windshield Washer
D. Engine Oil Fill
Cap Fluid Reservoir)
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When you open the hood of the 3.8L L36 engine, you’ll see:
r
A. Engine Coolant
Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Fill Cap
C. Power Steering Reservoir
D. Engine Oil Dipstick
It‘ A
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap
F. Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
G. Brake Fluid Reservoir
H. Air Filter
I. Windshield Washer
Fluid Reservoir
J. Battery (located under
Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir)
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants’’
in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add
only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
1.
2.
0
0
Pull out the dipstick.
Using
a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring
it to the proper level. It doesn’t
take much fluid, generally less than a pint
(0.5 L).
Don t overfill. We recommend you use only fluid
labeled DEXRONO-111, because fluid with that label
is made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON@-I11
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level
as
described under “How to Check.”
When
the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant
is designed to remain in your
vehicle for
5 years or 100,000 miles (166 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when
it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or
if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your Buick 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.
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NOTICE:
When adding coolant it is important that you use
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored, silicate-free)
coolant meeting
GM Specification 6277M.
If silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months whichever
occurs first
.
What to Use
Use a mixture
of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze that meets GM Specification
6277M, which won’t damage aluminum parts. Use
GM Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer) (GM Part
No. 3634621) with any complete coolant change. If you
use this 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 like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning.
Your engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mix of clean
water and
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze.
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