oil dipstick Oldsmobile Alero 2004 Owner's Manuals

A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeCooling System on
page 5-29.
B. Ground. SeeJump Starting on page 5-42.
C. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” in
Engine Oil on page 5-15.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
inEngine Oil on page 5-15.
E. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” inBrakes
on page 5-38.F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-35.
G. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-90.
H. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20.
I. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-41.
J. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-36.
5-13

A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeCooling System on
page 5-29.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-35.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
inEngine Oil on page 5-15.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” in
Engine Oil on page 5-15.
E. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” inBrakes
on page 5-38.
F. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20.
G. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-41.
H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-36.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
2.2L L4 ECOTEC™ Engine
5-15

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the MIN mark for the 2.2L L4
ECOTEC™ engine or below the cross-hatched area at
the tip of the dipstick for the 3400 V6 engine, then
you will need to add at least one quart of oil. But you
must use the right kind. This section explains what kind
of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications on page 5-95.
Notice:Do not add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the upper
mark that shows the proper operating range,
your engine could be damaged.SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the
engine oil fill cap.
Be sure to add enough oil to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the
way back in when you are through.
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Look for two things:
•GM6094M
Your vehicle’s engine requires oil meeting GM
Standard GM6094M. You should look for and use
only an oil that meets GM Standard GM6094M. 3400 V6 Engine
5-16