check oil BUICK TERRAZA 2005 User Guide

How to Add Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of transaxle uid to use. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-11.
If the uid level is low, add only enough of the proper
uid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on the
dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough uid at
the dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level.
It does not take much uid, generally less than
one pint (0.5 L). Do not overll.
Notice:Use of automatic transaxle uid labeled
other than DEXRON
®-III, Approved for the
H-Specication, may damage your vehicle, and the
damages may not be covered by your warranty.
Always use automatic transaxle uid labeled
DEXRON
®-III, Approved for the H-Specication.
3. After adding uid, recheck the uid level as
described under “How to Check Automatic
Transaxle Fluid,” earlier in this section.
4. When the correct uid level is obtained, push
the dipstick back in all the way.
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 ve 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 5-24.
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 messages 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.
5-21

What Engine Coolant to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you
do not 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.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use the proper coolant, you do not
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful.
Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery tank
is located on the driver’s
side of the vehicle,
above the engine air
cleaner/lter. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 5-12for more
information on location.
5-22

{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood
can start up even when the engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
do not do anything else until it cools down. The
vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
The coolant level should be at or above the full cold
mark. If it is not, you may have a leak at the pressure
cap or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator,
water pump or somewhere else in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them.
If you do, you can be burned.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak xed before you drive
the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both fans should be
running. If they are not, your vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty. See
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode on
page 5-26for information on driving to a safe place
in an emergency.
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.
5-27

Capacities and Specications
The following approximate capacities are given in English and metric measurements. SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-11for more information.
ApplicationCapacities
English Metric
Air Conditioning Refrigerant Systems
Front A/C 1.7 lbs 0.8 kg
Front and Rear A/C 2.2 lbs 1.0 kg
Automatic Transaxle — Pan Removal and Replacement 7.4 quarts 7.0 L
AWD Automatic Transaxle — Pan Removal and
Replacement8.7 quarts 8.3 L
Cooling System
Front A/C 11.3 quarts 10.7 L
Front and Rear A/C 12.8 quarts 12.2 L
Engine Oil with Filter 4.5 quarts 4.3 L
Fuel Capacity
Regular 20.0 gallons 75.7 L
Extended 25.1 gallons 95.0 L
Wheel Nut Torque 100 ft lb 140Y
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to ll to the approximate level, as recommended in this
manual. Recheck uid level after lling.
Engine VIN Code Transaxle Spark Plug Gap
3.5L V6 8 Automatic 0.060 inches (1.52 mm)
5-93

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

Owner Checks and Services on page 6-8tells you
what should be checked, when to check it and what
you can easily do to help keep your vehicle in
good condition.
The proper replacement parts, uids and lubricants to
use are listed inRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 6-11andNormal Maintenance Replacement
Parts on page 6-13. When your vehicle is serviced,
make sure these are used. All parts should be replaced
and all necessary repairs done before you or anyone
else drives the vehicle. We recommend the use of
genuine GM parts.
Scheduled Maintenance
When the CHANGE OIL SOON message comes on,
it means that service is required for your vehicle. Have
your vehicle serviced as soon as possible within the
next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that, if you
are driving under the best conditions, the engine oil
life system may not indicate that vehicle service
is necessary for over a year. However, your engine
oil and lter must be changed at least once a year
and at this time the system must be reset. Your
GM Goodwrench
®dealer has GM-trained service
technicians who will perform this work using genuine
GM parts and reset the system.If the engine oil life system is ever reset accidentally,
you must service your vehicle within 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) since your last service. Remember to reset
the oil life system whenever the oil is changed. See
Engine Oil Life System on page 5-16for information on
the Engine Oil Life System and resetting the system.
When the CHANGE OIL SOON message appears,
certain services, checks and inspections are required.
Required services are described in the following for
“MaintenanceI” and “MaintenanceII.” Generally,
it is recommended that your rst service be
MaintenanceI, your second service be MaintenanceII
and that you alternate MaintenanceIand MaintenanceII
thereafter. However, in some cases, MaintenanceII
may be required more often.
MaintenanceI— Use MaintenanceIif the CHANGE
OIL SOON message comes on within 10 months
since the vehicle was purchased or MaintenanceII
was performed.
MaintenanceII— Use MaintenanceIIif the previous
service performed was MaintenanceI. Always use
MaintenanceIIwhenever the message comes on
10 months or more since the last service or if the
message has not come on at all for one year.
6-4

Scheduled Maintenance
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Change engine oil and lter. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13. Reset oil life system.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 5-16.An Emission Control Service.••
Lubricate chassis components.See footnote #.••
Visually check for any leaks or damage.See footnote (k).••
Inspect engine air cleaner lter. If necessary, replace lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-17.An Emission Control Service. See footnotes †
and (g).•
Rotate tires and check ination pressures and wear. SeeTire Inspection and
Rotation on page 5-54.••
Inspect brake system.See footnote (a).••
Check engine coolant and windshield washer uid levels and add uid as
needed.••
Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required Services”
in this section.••
Inspect suspension and steering components.See footnote (b).•
Inspect engine cooling system.See footnote (c).•
Inspect wiper blades.See footnote (d).•
Inspect restraint system components.See footnote (e).•
Lubricate body components.See footnote (f).•
Check transaxle uid level and add uid as needed.•
Inspect throttle system.See footnote (j).•
6-5

(g)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions, inspect
the lter at each engine oil change.
(h)Change automatic transaxle uid and lter 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.
(i)Drain, ush and rell cooling system. See Engine
Coolant on page 5-21 for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and ller neck.
Pressure test the cooling system and pressure cap.
(j)Check system for interference or binding and
for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts as needed.
Replace any components that have high effort or
excessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator or cruise
control cables.
(k)A uid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired
and the uid level checked. Add uid if needed.Owner Checks and Services
These owner checks and services should be performed
at the intervals specied to help ensure the safety,
dependability and emission control performance of your
vehicle. Your GM Goodwrench
®dealer can assist
you with these checks and services.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any uids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
inRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-11.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important to perform these underhood checks at
each fuel ll.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13for further
details.
Notice:It is important to check your oil regularly
and keep it at the proper level. Failure to keep your
engine oil at the proper level can cause damage
to your engine not covered by your warranty.
6-8

Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture if necessary.
SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-21for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer uid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the proper uid if necessary.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Ination Check
Visually inspect your vehicle’s tires and make sure they
are inated to the correct pressures. Do not forget to
check the spare tire. SeeTires on page 5-47for further
details. Check to make sure the spare tire is stored
securely. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-62.
Tire Wear Inspection
Tire rotation may be required for high mileage highway
drivers prior to the Engine Oil Life System service
notication. Check the tires for wear and, if necessary,
rotate the tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation
on page 5-54.
At Least Once a Year
Starter Switch Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this inspection, the
vehicle could move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be injured.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular
brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-37if
necessary.
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to
turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The starter
should work only in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
If the starter works in any other position, contact
your GM Goodwrench
®dealer for service.
6-9

Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake,
set the parking brake.
To check the parking brake’s holding ability: With
the engine running and transaxle in NEUTRAL (N),
slowly remove foot pressure from the regular
brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held by the
parking brake only.
To check the PARK (P) mechanism’s holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to PARK (P). Then
release the parking brake followed by the regular
brake.
Contact your GM Goodwrench
®dealer if service is
required.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to ush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care
to clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other
debris can collect.
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identied below by name, part
number or specication may be obtained from your
dealer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilEngine oil which meets
GM Standard GM6094M and
displays the American Petroleum
Institute Certied for Gasoline
Engines starburst symbol.
GM Goodwrench
®oil meets all
the requirements for your vehicle.
To determine the proper viscosity
for your vehicle’s engine, see
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and use only
DEX-COOL
®Coolant. See
Engine Coolant on page 5-21.
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDelco Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT-3 brake uid.
Windshield
Washer SolventGM Optikleen
®Washer Solvent.
6-11