engine overheat OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1997 User Guide

If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If YOLI get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get
a little too hot when you:
0 Climb a long hill on a hot, day.
0 Stop after high-speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute 01- so:
I. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If;' you're in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0)
or THIRD (3).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower
for about
10 minutes. If the warning doesn't come back on,
you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park
your vehicle right away.
If there's still no sign of steam, push the accelerator
until the engine speed is about twice as fast as normal
idle speed. Bring the engine speed back
to normal idle
speed after two or three minutes. Now see
if the warning
stops. But then, if you still have the warning, tLm off
the engine ulld get el)eryolw out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
You may decide not
to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-13
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How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at the
ADD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL TM
(silicate-free) antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank.
(See “Engine Coolant’’ in the Index for more
information.)
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 mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, 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 mix of clean
water and
DEX-COOL coolant.
I NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mix.
5-16 -
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--
A CAUTION:
- I
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and
it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on
a hot engine.
When the coolant
in the coolant recovery tank is at
ADD, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there’s one more
thing you
can try. You can add the proper coolant mix
directly to the radiator but be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.
IA
I 73-55
CAUTION: 1
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn
~OLI badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator
pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come out
CAUTION: (Continued)
JTTON: (Cnntinllr I
at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap,
is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to
cool if you ever have to
turn the pressure cap.
5-17
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NOTICE:
When the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through an automatic
car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on
the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts
of your vehicle.
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.
NOTICE:
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 stuc
to spin your wheels too fast. The method known
as
:k is
“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 transmission 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.
I
5-31
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1
; What to Use
I Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
’ kind of lubricant to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
i Lubricants” in the Index.
1 , I Engine Coolant
; The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
1 DEX-COOL” engine coolant. This coolant is designed
I to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
I (240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
~ DEX-COOL” extended life coolant.
I i The following explains your cooling system and how to
i
~
i
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
I
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
1 your Oldsmobile will:
’ 0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
~ 0 Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (129°C). I
~ 0 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 TM (silicate-free) coolant.
If silicated coolant 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.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half DEX-COOL
TM coolant which
won’t damage aluminum parts. Use GM Engine Coolant
Supplement (sealer) (GM Part
No. 3634621) with any
complete coolant change.
If you use this mixture, you
don’t need to add anything else.
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1 NOTICE:
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 mix
will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, 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
50150 mix of clean
water and
DEX-COOL TM coolant.
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your retailer check your
cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
6-21
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Radiator Pressure Cap Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled
by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches
a preset temperature.
Power Steering Fluid
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed
to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
6-23
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Electrical Equipment. Adding .................... 6-54
Electrical System
............................... 6-54
Engine
........................................ 6-8
Coolant Heater
............................... 2- 14
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-39
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-56
Exhaust
..................................... 2-22
Identification
................................ 6-53
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-39
Overheating
................................. 5-12
Running While Parked
......................... 2-23
Specifications
................................ 6-60
Starting
..................................... 2-13
Engineoil
..................................... 6-9
Additives
................................... 6-12
Kind to Use
................................. 6-10
Pressure Gage
................................ 2-59
Used
....................................... 6-13
Whentochange
.............................. 6-12
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-22
Express-Down Window
.......................... 2-24
Exterior Metal Parts. Protecting
.................... 6-49
Fabric cleaning
............................... 6-45
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-5
Filter.
Air ..................................... 6-13
Finish Care
.................................... 6-49 Finish
Damage
.................................
Flat Tire. Changing ............................. 5-21
Fluids and Lubricants
....................... 6-61. 7-45
Fog Lamp Switch
............................... 2-33
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-4
Front Axle
....................................... 6-18
Reading Lamp Bulb Replacement
................ 6-33
Towing
..................................... 5-10
Turn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement
............. 6-31
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-5
Foreign Countries
.............................. 6-4
Gage
....................................... 2-61
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-55
Flashers.
Hazard Wdrning
......................... 5-2
Storage Area
................................. 2-39
Gages
Engine Coolant Temperature .................... 2-56
Engine Oil Pressure
........................... 2-59
Fuel
....................................... 2-61
Garage Door Opener
............................ 2-44
GasCap
....................................... 6-5
Gear Positions
................................. 2-15
GAWR ....................................... 4-42
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Net. Convenience .............................. 2-40
Neutral
....................................... 2-17
New Vehicle “Break-In”
......................... 2- 1 1
Night Vision ................................... 4-29
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............. 6-60
Odometer
.................................... 2-5 1
Off-Road Driving .............................. 4- 15
Off-Road Recovery ............................. 4- I I
Oil. Engine ..................................... 6-9
Outside Mirrors
................................ 2-34
Overdrive. Automatic Transmission
................ 2- I7
Overhead Console .............................. 2-36
Overheating Engine
............................. 5- 12
Owner and Service Publications
................... 8- IO
Owner Checks and Services ....................... 7-39
Ordering Owner
and Service Publications
............ 8- IO
Paint Spotting. Chemical ........................ 6-5 1
Park ......................................... 2-15
Shifting Into
................................. 2- 19
Shifting Out of ............................... 2-2 1
AtNight .................................... 2-11
Brake
...................................... 2-18
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-42
Parking Lots
....................................... 2-11
On
Hills with a Trailer ......................... 4-51
Over Things That Burn ........................ 2-22
Passing
....................................... 4-12
Payload
....................................... 4-44
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-43
Power
Accessory Outlets
............................ 2-43
Door Locks
................................... 2-5
Remote Control Mirror
........................ 2-35
Powerseat ................................... 1-2
Steering ..................................... 4-9
Steering Fluid ................................ 6-23
Windows
................................... 2-24
Pregnancy
. Usc 01‘ Safety Belts .................... 1-24
Problems on the Road
............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and Owner ................... 8-10
Radialor. Adding Coolant ....................... 5-18
Radiator Pressure Cap ........................... 6-23
Radio Reception
................................ 3-15
Radios Cassette
Tape Player ........................... 3-6
Cassette Tape Player Care
................. 3- 16. 7-39
Compact Disc Player
........................... 3-9
Theft-Deterrent Feature. CD Player
.............. 3-13
Rain . Driving .................................. 4-30
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