engine OLDSMOBILE AURORA 1996 Repair Manual

4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let
it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine
fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside The coolant
surge tank may be lower.
If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mix
to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches
FULL COLD.
5-23
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If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly.
If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here
are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use
in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
I /d CAUTIO,
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip
off the jack and roll over you or other
people.
You and they could be badly injured.
Find
a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move,
you can put blocks
at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
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Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire
or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.
ITICE:
~
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.
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.
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.
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Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Aurora” in the Index.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date
of any service work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in
the Index.
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if
you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about
it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, and the proper replacement
parts and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confused. If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off.
You could be hurt.
Fuel
Use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher. At a minimum, it should meet Specifications ASTM
D4814 in the United States and CGSB 3.5-M93 in Canada.
Improved gasoline specifications have been developed by
the American Automobile Manufacturers Association
(AAMA) for better vehicle performance and engine
protection. Gasolines meeting the
AAMA specification
could provide improved driveability and emission control
system protection compared to other gasolines.
Be sure the posted octane for premium
is at least 91. If
the octane
is less than 91, you may get a heavy knocking
noise when you drive. (In an emergency, you may be
.
able to use a lower octane -- as low as 87 -- if heavy
knocking does not occur.) If you’re using
91 or higher
octane unleaded gasoline and you still hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label), it
is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications.
If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on
your instrument panel may turn
on and/or your vehicle
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may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs, return to your
authorized Aurora retailer for diagnosis to determine the
cause of failure. In the event it is determined that the
cause
of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
Some Canadian gasolines contain an octane enhancing
additive called methlycyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT).
If such fuels are used, your
emission control system performance may be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized Aurora retailer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines are now required to
contain additives that will help prevent deposits from
forming in your engine and fuel system, allowing your
emission control system to function properly. Therefore,
you should not have to add anything to the fuel. In
addition, gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be
available in your area to help clean the air. General
Motors recommends that you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Lf you plan on driving in another country outside the United
States or Canada, the proper fuel may
be hard to find.
Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not recommended
in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs caused by use
of improper
fuel wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
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Check'-g Thiry Under the Hood
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
I
Things that burn can L on hot engine parts and
start
a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber.
You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto
a hot engine.
I
The following sections tell you how to check fluids,
lubricants and important parts underhood.
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull
the hood release handle
inside the vehicle, located to
the left
of the steering wheel
under the instrument panel.
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When you open the hood, you’li see:
A. Remote Positive Battery Terminal
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
C. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap
E. Engine Oil Dipstick
E Brake Fluid Reservoir
G. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
(behind air cleaner)
H. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
I. Air Cleaner
6-9
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Engine Oil
OIL
If the CHECK OIL
LEVEL message or
the oil warning light on the instrument
panel comes on, it
means you need to
check your engine
oil level right away.
For more information,
see “Check Oil Level Message” or
“Oil Pressure Warning Light” in the Index. You should
check your engine
oil level regularly; this is an added
reminder.
It’s 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.
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
Checking Engine Oil
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.
7
6-10
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When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD line, then you’ll need to
add some oil. But you must use the right kind.
This part
explains what
kind of oil to use. For crankcase capacity,
see “Capacities and Specifications”
in the Index.
NOTICE:
Don’t 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.
Just fill it enough to put the level somewhere in the
proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you’re through.
What Kind of Oil to Use
Oils recommended for your vehicle can be identified by
looking for the “Starburst” symbol. This symbol
indicates that the oil has been certified by the American
Petroleum Institute
(API). Do not use any oil which
does not carry this Starburst symbol.
If you change your
own oil, be sure you
use
oil that has the
Starburst symbol on
the front of the oil
container. If you have
your oil changed for
you, be sure the oil put
into your engine is
American Petroleum
Institute certified for
gasoline engines.
You should also use the proper viscosity oil
for your
vehicle,
as shown in the following chart:
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RECOMMENOEO SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COUl STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE
011 FOR ME EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANBE.
HOT
WEATHER I "F
+ 100
t 20
:::
-
OI
+3
+i
+l
t4
-7
-1 ,- SAE I 1UW-30
PREFERRED above 0°F 1-18"Q . ~, SAL 5w-30
WEATHER
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GWE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
As shown in the chart, SAE 1OW-30 is best for your
vehicle. However, you can use
SAE 5W-30 if it's
going to be colder than
60" F (1 6 O C) before your
next oil change. When it's very cold, you should use
SAE 5W-30. These numbers on an oil container show
its viscosity,
or thickness. Do not use other viscosity
oils, such as
SAE 20W-50.
NOTICE:
Use only engine oil with the American Petroleum
Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines "Starburst" symbol. Failure to use the
recommended oil can result in engine damage
not covered by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
Engirn v~l AUUlLl V GI -.
Don't add anything to your oil. Your Aurora retailer is
ready to advise if you think something should be added.
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