engine oil Oldsmobile Aurora 1998 s User Guide

Engine Overheating
Attach a separate safety
chain around the outboard
end of each lower
control
arm.
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. Your driver information
center will also display messages about engine
overheating. See “Coolant Temperature Gage”
in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
Should an overheated engine condition exist and the
message HOT
STOP ENGINE is displayed, an overheat
protection mode which alternates firing groups of four
cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
you will notice a loss in power and engine performance.
This operating mode allows your vehicle to be driven to
a safe place in an emergency; you may drive up to
50 miles (80 km). Towing a trailer in the overheat
protection mode should be avoided.
NOTICE:
After driving in the overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine damage, allow
the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely degraded. Repair
the cause
of coolant loss, change the oil and reset
the oil life indicator. See “Engine Oil, When to
Change” in the Index.
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Cooling System
When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see:
B
A. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap
B. Two Electric Engine Cooling Fans
% CAUT IN:
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 surge tank is boiling,
don't
do anything else until it cools down.

/r CAUTION:
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 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 wouldn’t
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned.
Use a
50/50 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.

@ Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows
how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
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6-2 1
6-26
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6-3
1
6-33
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6-5 1 Service
Fuel
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery Bulb Replacement
Headlamp Aiming
Tires Appearance Care 6-5
1
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6-59
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6-64 6-70
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6-7
1
6-7 1
6-72 Cleaning the
Inside of Your Vehicle
Cleaning the Outside
of Your Vehicle
Underbody Maintenance Chemical Paint Spotting
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Electrical System
Removing the Rear Seat Cushion
Replacement Bulbs Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Engine Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts Vehicle Dimensions
6-1

I A CAUTION:
Things that burn can get 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.
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. Then
go to the front
of the vehicle and pull up on the
underhood release.
Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure
all the filler caps are on
properly. Then pull the hood down and close it fiiy.
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4.0L Engine
When you open the hood, you'll see:
A. Remote Positive (+)
Battery Terminal
B. Windshield Washer
fluid Reservoir
C. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir G. Automatic Transaxle Fluid
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap Dipstick
(behind air cleaner)
E. Engine Oil Dipstick H. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
E Brake Fluid Reservoir I. Air Cleaner

Engine Oil
73
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 02 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.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD line, then you’ll need
to add at least one quart of 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.
Be sure to 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 Engine 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:
6-12

I RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS I
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
I SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE. I
HOT
WEATHER
/OF OC' -
+loo- t38 -
+EO- t27 -
+60- - +16 -
+40--+4
+20---7
0---18 I
\WI
COLD
WEATHER
-1 -I
111. SAE 1d-30 PREFERRED above IPF (-l WC) SAE 5W-30
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY
OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
As shown in the chart, SAE low-30 is best for your
vehicle. However, you can use
SAE 5W-30 if it's going
to be colder than
60°F ( 16 " 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.
If you are in an area where the temperature falls below
-20°F (-29"C), consider using either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic
oil or an SAE OW-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely
low temperatures.
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Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your retailer is ready
to advise if you think something should be added. 2. Press
RESET and
hold for five seconds. The word
RESET will appear, then OIL LIFE 100 % will
be displayed.
When to Change Engine Oil
Your vehicle has an Oil Life Indicator. The Oil Life
Indicator will let you know when to change your oil
and filter
-- usually between 3,000 miles (5 000 km)
and
7,500 miles (12 500 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 (12 500 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. Remember to reset the Oil Life
Indicator when the oil has been changed. For more
information, see “Oil Life Indicator” in the Index.
How to Reset the Oil Life Indicator
Always reset the engine oil life to 100 percent after
every oil change.
It will not reset itself. To reset the
OIL LIFE reminder, do the following:
1. With the ignition on, press the
ENG button so the
OIL LIFE percentage
is displayed.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your
skin and could
even cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be a real threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever dispose of oil
by putting
it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your retailer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
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