oil change 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.

Fuel
Press FUEL to see how much fuel has been used since
you last pressed the reset button. The display will show
a reading such as:
10.4 GALLONS USED or 39.4 LITERS USED
To learn how much fuel will be used from a specific
starting point, first press FUEL to display fuel used,
then press RESET.
Don’t confuse fuel used with
the amount of fuel in your tank.
Fuel Range
RANGE calculates the remaining distance you can drive
without refueling. It’s based on fuel economy and the
fuel remaining in the tank. The display will show a
reading such as:
FUEL RANGE
235 MI or FUEL RANGE 378 KM
If the range is less than 50 miles (80 km), the display
will read LOW FUEL RANGE.
The fuel economy data used to determine fuel range is
an average of recent driving conditions.
As your driving
conditions change, this data is gradually updated.
Resetting fuel range causes the fuel economy data to be
updated immediately. To reset fuel range, press
RANGE, then RESET.
Average Speed
The calculation for average speed begins when SPEED
is reset. Press SPEED to display the average speed,
such as:
AVG SPEED 55 MPH or AVG SPEED 90 KM/H
To reset the average speed, press SPEED and
then RESET.
Engine
The ENG button scrolls through the following functions:
0 Oil pressure, such as:
OIL PRESSURE
40 PSI or OIL PRESSURE
276 Wa
0 Battery voltage, such as:
BATTERY
13.8 VOLTS
Transaxle fluid life, such as:
TRANS FLUID
LIFE 40%
This is an estimate of the transaxle fluid’s remaining
useful life. It will show 100% when the system is
reset after a transaxle fluid change. It
will alert you
to change your transaxle fluid on a schedule
consistent with your driving conditions.

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

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.
5-14

5. Raise the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench to the
right on the jack. Raise the vehicle
far enough off the
ground so there’s enough room for the spare tire
to fit.
4. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
7. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
~ emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper towel
to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later,
if you need to, to get all the rust or
dirt off.
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could
fall off, causing
a serious accident. 1
8. Place the spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.

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.
6- 13

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.
6-14

Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine oil
is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one
or more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any
of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services’’ in
the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your Aurora retail facility
Service Department.
If
you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading
on the dipstick.
I
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a
fire. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
6-18

Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL’ extended life coolant.
J
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 DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (129 “C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL 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. Damage caused by the
use
of coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.