engine overheat BUICK REGAL 1996 User Guide

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 COLD mark, add a
50/50 mixture of
clean water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL TM
(orange-colored, silicate-free) antifreeze at the coolant
recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the Index for
more information.)
I
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 antifreeze.
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 mix.
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c
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.
5-18
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If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
L
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured. And,
the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle can
overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don’t
,
spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of you%
vehicle as well
as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transaxle back and
forth, you can destroy your transaxle.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get it Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift back
and forth between REVERSE
(R) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as
little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on
the accelerator pedal when the transaxle
is in gear. If
that doesn’t get you out after a few tries, you may need
to be towed out. If you do need to be towed out, see
“Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.
5-33
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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.
6-21
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NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Too
much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
I NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
-1
:king Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be
at the
COLD mark or a little higher. When your engine
is warm, the level should be up to the HOT mark or a
little higher.
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LOW
COOLANT
If this light comes on, it
means you’re low on engine
coolant.
Addinq Coolar A
If you need more coolant, add the proper mix at the
coolant recovery tank.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant to the radiator. (See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.)
I
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
With the coolant recovery tank, you will almost
never have to add coolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure cap
-- even a
little -- when the engine and radiator are hot.
Add coolant mix at
the recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill
it.
I
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.
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Radiator Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overflow tube on the radiator filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@
cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches
a preset temperature.
When
you replace your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat
is recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
3.lL L82 (Code M) Engine 3.8L L36 (Code K) Engine
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise.
A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
6-24
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Convex Outside Mirror .......................... 2-37
Coolant
....................................... 6-20
Bleedvalves
................................. 5-19
RecoveryTank
............................... 5-16
Coolant Heater. Engine
.......................... 2- I3
Cooling System
................................ 5- I4
Courtesy Lamps
................................ 2-33
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-5
Cruise Control
................................. 2-29
CruiseLight
................................... 2-56
Cupholders
.................................... 2-38
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users
......... 8-3
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8- 1
Damage. Finish ............................... 6-49
Damage. Sheet Metal
............................ 6-48
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-32
Dead Battery
................................... 5-2
Defects. Reporting Safety ......................... 8-7
Defensive Driving ............................... 4- 1
Defogger. Rear Window .......................... 3-6
Defogging
..................................... 3-5
Defrosting
..................................... 3-5
Dimensions, Vehicle
............................ 6-62
Dolby@
B Noise Reduction ................... 3-9, 3- 12
DoorLocks
..................................... 2-3
Driver Position
................................. 1 - 1 1
Driving
City
........................................ 4-17
Defensive
.................................... 4-1
Drunken
..................................... 4-2
Freeway
.................................... 4-18 InaBlizzard
................................. 4-25
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-4
IntheRain
.................................. 4-15
Night
...................................... 4-13
OnCurves
................................... 4-8
On Grades While Towing
a Trailer ............... 4-34
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-21
OnSnowandIce
............................. 4-24
Through Deep Standing Water
................... 4-17
WetRoads
.................................. 4-15
Winter
...................................... 4-23
With a Trailer
................................ 4-33
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-2
Electrical Equipment, Adding
..... 2- I I, 2- 12, 3-24, 6-52
Electrical System
............................... 6-52
Electronic Climate Control
........................ 3-1
Engine
.................................... 6-8, 6-9
Coolant
..................................... 6-20
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-13
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-35
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-51
Coolant Temperature Light
..................... 2-50
Exhaust
..................................... 2-23
Fuse Block (Driver’s Side)
...................... 6-58
Fuse Block (Passenger’s Side)
................... 6-56
Identification
................................ 6-51
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-35
Overheating
................................. 5-12
Running While Parked
......................... 2-23
Specifications
................................ 6-62
Starting
Your ........................... 2- 11, 2- 12
0.
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