radiator Oldsmobile Cutlass 1998 Owner's Manuals

The coalant level should be at or above FULL COLD
m-ark .or slightly higher.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine
if there is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause
an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
1 NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the
engine is overheating, both fans should be running.
If
they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.

I NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
So
use the recommended coolant.
You can be bmrned 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.
1. You can remove the coolant mge tank pressure .cap
when the cooling system, inclu-ding the coalimt surge
tank pressare cap and upper radiatox hose, is no
longer hot. Tm the pressure cap slowly about
one-quafter
turn to the left and then stop.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
5-19
1
I

1 I
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-III, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
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:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 OF (1 29 O C).
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@ (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.
6-18

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum
parts. If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anfthing else.
Adding only plain water to your coorrng 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.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Too much water
in the mixture 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.
I 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.
6-19

Checking Coolant
The surge tank is located on the passenger’s side of the
engine compartment.
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to
blow out and burn you badly.
Never turn the surge
tank pressure cap -- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
When you engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the
FULL COLD mark or slightly higher.
If the light comes on, it
means you’re
low on
engine coolant.
6-20

Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture at the surge tank, but only when the
engine
is cool.
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your pressure 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.
When you replace your surge tank pressure cap, a GM
cap is recommended.
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.
When you replace your thermostat, an ACDelco'
thermostat is recommended.
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 replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is tight.
6-21
I/ I/

1 Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule I
100,000 Miles (166 000 km) (Continued)
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.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every 60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See “Engine Coolant” in. the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck.\
Pressure
test
cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
I DATE I
MILEAGE
7-18

Long Tripmighway Maintenance Schedule 1
100,000 Miles (1 66 000 ki
0 Inspect spark plug wires.
0 Replace spark plugs.
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly driven
An Emission Control Service.
An Emission Control Service.
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.
lf you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, the fluid and
filter do not require changing.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every 60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See “Engine Coolant” in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck. Pressure test
the cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
DATE I
MILEAGE
7-25

rrontTowing .................................. 5-10
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Filling
Your Tank .............................. 6-5
Gage
....................................... 2-60
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-5
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-53
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-54
Fuel
....................................... 2-60
GarmentHook
................................. 2-44
GAWR ....................................... 4-31
Gear Positions, Automatic Transaxle
................ 2- 18
GloveBox
.................................... 2-41
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-31
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ...................... 4-31
GVWR ....................................... 4-31
Halogen Bulbs
................................ 6-28
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-2
Head Restraints
................................. 1-5
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-28
High/Low Beamchanger ...................... 2-30
OnReminder
................................ 2-36
Wiring
..................................... 6-52
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance
.............. 8-4
Heating
........................................ 3- 4
Headlamps .................................... 2-36
High-BeamHeadlamps
.......................... 2-30 Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-22
HillandMountainRoads
......................... 4-22
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-35
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-8
Release
...................................... 6-8
Horn ......................................... 2-28
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-18
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2-14
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
.................... 7-29
Illuminated EntryExit
........................... 2-38
Inflation, Tire
.................................. 6-35
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-40
Inspections
.................................... 7-30
Brakesystem
................................ 7-30
Engine Cooling System
........................ 7-30
Exhaust System
.............................. 7-30
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Boot
.................. 7-30
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Seal
................... 7-30
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-30
Suspension
.................................. 7-30
Throttle System
.............................. 7-30
Instrumentpanel
............................... 2-46
Cleaning
.................................... 6-45
Cluster
..................................... 2-48
Fuse Block
........................ 6-53,6-54,6-5. 5
Intensity Control
............................. 2-38
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-38
Steering
.................................... 7-30
9-5