maintenance schedule BUICK REGAL 1997 User Guide

r
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the
lower level. The fluid level must be.in the
cross-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push
the dipstick back
in all the way.
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 dimtic1
1. Pull out me alpsnclc.
2. 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 one
pint
(0.5 L). Dun 7 overfill.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-111
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
ProCarManuals.com

How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may
look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure
to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires or
wheels. See “When It’s Time for New Tires” and
“Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for
all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals. When
rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust
the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in the Index.
ProCarManuals.com

Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
This section covers the maintenance required for your Buick. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its safety,
dependability and emission control performance.
7-2
7-2
7-3 7-4
7-4
7-4
7-7
7-28
7-39
7-39
7-39 Introduction
Your Vehicle
and the Environment
How This Section is Organized
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
Selecting the Right Schedule
Footnotes
Footnotes
Part
B: Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Fill
At Least Once a Month 7-40
7-40
7-43
7-43
7-43 7-43
7-43
7-43
7-44
7-46 At Least Twice
a Year
At Least Once a Year
Part
C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
Exhaust System Inspection
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Brake System Inspection
Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Part E: Maintenance Record
ProCarManuals.com

How This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows
what to have done and how often. Some
of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary equipment, you should
let your dealer’s service department or another qualified
service center do these
jobs.
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can
be dangerous. In trying to do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance
work only
if you have the required know-how
and the proper tools and equipment for the job.
If you have any doubt, have a qualified
technician do the work.
If you are skilled enough to do some work on your
vehicle, you will probably want to get
the service
information
GM publishes. See “Service and Owner
Publications’’ in the Index.
“Part B: Owner Checks and Services” tells
you what should be checked and when. It also explains
what you can easily do to help keep your vehicle in
good condition.
“Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections”
explains important inspections that your Buick dealer’s
service department or another qualified service center
should perform.
“Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” lists
some products
GM recommends to help keep your
vehicle properly maintained. These products, or their
equivalents, should be used whether you do the work
yourself or have it done.
“Part E: Maintenance Record” provides a place for
you to record the maintenance performed
on your
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance is performed, be
sure to write it down in this part. This will help you
determine when your next maintenance
should be done.
In addition, it
is a good idea to keep your maintenance
receipts. They may be needed to qualify your vehicle for
warranty repairs.
7-3
ProCarManuals.com

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle in good working condition.
But we don’t know
exactly how you’ll drive
it. You may drive very short
distances only a few times a week. Or you may drive
long distances all the time
in very hot, dusty weather.
You may use your vehicle in making deliveries.
Or you may drive it to work, to do errands or
in
many other ways.
Because
of all the different ways people use their
GM vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may even
need more frequent checks and replacements than
you’ll
find in the schedules in this section. So please read this
section and note how you drive.
If you have any
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good
condition, see your Buick dealer.
This part tells you
the maintenance services you should
have done and when
you should schedule them. If you
go to your dealer for your service needs, you’ll know
that GM-trained and supported service people will
perform the work using genuine
GM parts. The
proper fluids and lubricants to
use are listed in Part 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.
These schedules are for vehicles that:
0 carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these limits on your vehicle’s
Tire-Loading Information label.
See “Loading Your
Vehicle”
in the Index.
0 are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
use the recommended fuel. See “Fuel” in the Index.
Selecting the Right Schedule
First you’ll need to decide which of the two schedules is
right for your vehicle. Here’s how to decide which
schedule to follow:
7-4
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Short TripKity Definition
Follow the Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule if any
one of these conditions is true for your vehicle:
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
0 Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
0 You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
your vehicle. (With some models, you should never
tow
a trailer. See “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.)
0 If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
One
of the reasons you should follow this schedule if
you operate your vehicle under any of these conditions
is that these conditions cause engine oil to break
down soonel:
Short Trip/City Intervals
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change
(or 3 months, whichever occurs first).
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 km): Tire Rotation.
Every 12,000 Miles (20 000 km): Passenger
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Compartment Air Filter Replacement.
Inspection, if driving
in dusty conditions.
Replacement. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection.
Supercharger Oil Check (or every 36 months,
whichever occurs first)
(3.8L Code 1 engine only).
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic Transaxle
Service (severe conditions only).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Spark Plug Wire
Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Every 150,000 Miles (240 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete maintenance schedule
on
the following pages.
I- 7-5
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Follow this maintenance schedule only if none of the
conditions from
the Short TripKity Maintenance
Schedule is true.
Do not use this schedule if the vehicle
is used for trailer towing, driven in a dusty area or used
off paved roads. Use the Short Trip/City schedule for
these conditions.
Driving a vehicle with a fidly warmed engine under
highway conditions causes engine oil to break
down
slowex
Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or every 12 months, whichever occurs first).
Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Passenger
Compartment Air Filter Replacement.
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Supercharger Oil
Check (or every
36 months, whichever occurs first)
(3.8L Code 1 engine only). Air Cleaner Filter
Replacement. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection.
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic Transaxle
Service (severe conditions only).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 krn): Spark Plug Wire
Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Every 150,000 Miles (240 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete nzaintenance schedule on
the following pages.
7-6
ProCarManuals.com

* Your vehicle has an Engine Oil L’
Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) should be performed after 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) at the same intervals. The services shown
at
150,000 miles (240 000 km) should be performed at
the same interval after
150,000 miles (240 000 km).
See “Owner Checks and Services” and “Periodic
Maintenance Inspections” following.
Footnotes
-f The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board 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 the vehicle’s useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at
the indicated intervals and the maintenance
be recorded. ~fe
Monitor. Thi
.s
monitor will show you when to change the oil -- usually
between
3,000 miles (5 000 km) and 7,500 miles
(1 2 500 km) since your last oil change. Under severe
conditions,
the indicator may come on before
3,000 miles (5 000 km). Never drive your vehicle more
than
7,500 miles (1 2 500 km) or 12 months, (whichever
occurs first), without an oil change.
The system won’t detect dust in the oil.
So if you
drive in
a dusty area be sure to change your oil every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or sooner if the CHANGE OIL
SOON light comes on. Remember to reset the Oil Life
Monitor when the oil has been changed. For more
information, see
“CHANGE OIL SOON” light in
the Index.
+ A good time to check your brakes is during tire
rotation.
See “Brake System Inspection” under “Periodic
Maintenance Inspection” in Part C
of this schedule.
7-7
ProCarManuals.com

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. (See footnote *.)
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE
nn 7
SERVICED BY
6,000 Miles (1 0 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
AH Enzissiou Cot2trol Service. (See footnote * .)
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and
Rotation”
in the Index for proper rotation
pattern
and additional information.
(See footnote
+.)
DATE SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
1-25
ProCarManuals.com

I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
9,000 Miles (15 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote * .)
DATE
SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
12,000 Miles (20 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote *.)
0 Replace passenger compartment air filter.
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and
Rotation” in the Index for proper rotation
pattern and additional information.
(See footnote
+.)
DATE SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
7-9
ProCarManuals.com