check oil Oldsmobile Aurora 1998 Owner's Manuals

Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If
so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the light
to turn
on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none
of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your retailer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your retailer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to
fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Oil Pressure Warning Light
If you have a problem with
your oil, this light may
stay on after you start your
engine, or come on when
OIL you are driving.
A warning chime and the message
LOW OIL
PRESSURE may also come on.
These indicate that oil is not going through your engine
quickly enough to keep it cool. The engine could be low
on oil, or could have some other oil problem. Have it
fixed right away.
The oil light could also come on briefly when the
ignition is on but
the engine is not running. The light
will come on as a test to show
you it is working, but the
light will go out when you turn the ignition to START.
If
it doesn’t come on with the ignition on, you may have a
problem with the fuse or bulb. Have it fixed right away.

CAUTION:
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil
as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on,
your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left.
When you have less than
3 .O gallons (1 1.3 L) of fuel
remaining, the message LOW FUEL will be displayed
and a chime will
sound. You need to get more fuel
right away.
Press the FUEL button on the Driver Information Center
to turn off the warning.

0 Engine oil life, such as:
OIL LIFE 30%
This is an estimate of the oil’s remaining useful life.
It will show
100% when the system is reset after an
oil change.
It will alert you to change your oil on a
schedule consistent with your driving conditions.
When the remaining oil life or transaxle fluid life is low,
the system will alert you with a message:
CHANGE
OIL SOON or CHANGE TRNS
FLUID SOON
When the oil or transaxle fluid life is down to zero,
you will receive the message:
CHANGE OIL NOW or CHANGE TRNS FLUID NOW
To reset the OIL LIFE reminder after an oil change
or the TRNS FLUID LIFE reminder after a transaxle
fluid change:
1. With the ignition on, press the ENG button so the
OIL LIFE percentage or the TRNS LIFE percentage
is displayed.
2. Press RESET and hold for five seconds. The word
RESET will appear, then OIL LIFE
100% or TRNS
FLUID 100%.
Remember, you must reset the OIL LIFE or TRNS
FLUID yourself after each oil or transaxle fluid change.
It will not reset itself. Also, be careful not to reset the
OIL LIFE
or TRNS FLUID accidentally at any time
other than when the oil or transaxle fluid has just been
changed. It can’t be reset accurately until the next oil or
transaxle fluid change.
The DIC does not replace the need to maintain your
vehicle as recommended in the Maintenance Schedule
in this manual. Also, the oil change reminder will not
detect dusty conditions or engine malfunctions that may
affect the oil. If you drive in dusty areas, change your oil
after every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or three months,
whichever occurs first, unless the DIC instructs you to
do
so sooner. Also, the oil change reminder does not
measure how much oil you have in your engine.
So, be
sure to check your oil level often. See “Engine Oil” in
the Index.
2-78

Check Oil Level Warning
When CHECK OIL LEVEL appears, it indicates that the
engine oil level is 1 to
1 1/2 quarts (0.9 L to 1.4 L) low.
The message will appear only if the engine is running
and it’s been at least eight minutes since the engine was
last running. If the message appears, check the oil
dipstick level. If it reads low, your oil level should be
brought up to the proper level (see “Engine Oil” in the Index). After bringing the oil to the proper level, the
ignition must be off for eight minutes to allow the
majority
of oil to drain into the oil pan.
Distance to Destination
This feature acts as a reverse trip odometer by counting
backward from an estimated distance which you enter
before starting your trip.
It also uses that information to
determine the estimated time of arrival.
To set, press DEST, then
RESET and enter a maximum
of four digits for the length
of your trip. (Always use
whole miles or kilometers.) Then press ENTER. The
system will only accept the last four digits you enter
as your distance to destination.
The system will display the total distance to destination,
such as:
365 MI TO DEST or 587 KM TO DEST When
the system counts down
to zero distance
remaining, even
if you’re in another display, a chime
will sound and the display will show:
TRIP COMPLETE
The TRIP COMPLETE message will go off when you
press any button, or when you turn your ignition to
OFF,
then on. The display returns to the mode displayed prior
to the interruption.
Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA)
ETA is based on the average speed, the date and time of
the day, and the estimated distance to your destination.
After you have entered your distance to destination,
press ETA to display estimated time
of arrival, such as:
ETA TUE
12% PM
Press ETA again to display the time to destination. The
display will show the current time
as the hours and
minutes to destination, such as:
1250 TIME
TO DEST
If the time to destination calculation is seven days or
greater, the display will read:
TRIP OVER
7 DAYS

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow
a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When
you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well
in advance. If you miss your exit, do not,
under
any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed
is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must
start when you’re not fresh -- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in. Is your vehicle ready
for
a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go,
If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Aurora retail facilities all across North America. They’ll
be ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
a
a
a
a
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid
a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-22

But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
PARK
(P) yet.
brake, and then shift to
PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
0 Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer,
See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help
you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.

@ 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.
6-2 6-3
6- 8
6- 8
6-11
6- 15
6-18
6-2 1
6-26
6-28
6-3
1
6-33
6-36
6-43
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
6-55
6-57
6-57
6-58
6-59
6-60
6-64 6-70
6-70
6-7 1
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

Fuels in Foreign Countries
If 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
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
LlH 8P7
Filling Your Tank
,A CAUTION: I
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke if you’re near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from gasoline.
I I
6-5

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.
6-9

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.