radiator GMC SAVANA 1996 Owners Manual

’
Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
A. Radiator Pressure Cap
B. Coolant Recovery Tank
C. Engine Fan(s)
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t
do anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should
be at or above the FULL
COLD mark.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the
radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
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A CAUTIO1 . .
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
do,
you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
I NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
~~ ~ ~
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again. See
if the fan speed increases when idle speed is doubled by
pushing
the accelerator pedal down. If it doesn’t, your
vehicle needs service. Turn
off the engine.
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 50150 mixture of
clean water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL
(orange-colored, silicate-free) antifreeze at the coolant
recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant”
in the Index for
more information.)
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.
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I 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.
I A 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. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant
in the coolant recovery tank is at the
FULL 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.
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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 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
I
1.
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2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down
as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
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.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
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3. Fill the radiator with the proper mix, up to the base
of the filler neck. 4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the mJLL
COLD mark.
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5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap
off.
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6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fan.
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.
7. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator
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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, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your vehicle will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 “F ( 129 O C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
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.
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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.
Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
FULL COLD, or a little higher.
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Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper mix ut the
coolcrnt mcoveq* tmk.
A CAUTION:
Tbrning 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.
A 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. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
Radiator Pressure Cap
The radiator pressure cap nust be tightly installed with
the arrows
on the cap lined up with the overflow tube on
the radiator filler neck.
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 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.
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