coolant level Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1994 Owner's Manuals

94
P
,w 0I.L LOW
EVEL COOLANT I
I
Low Coolant Wa-mjng Light
If this light comes on, your system is
low on coolant and the engine may
overheat.
See .the
Index. under Engine Coolant.
and have your vehicle serviced as.soon
as you can
...
LOW 'OIL .
LEV-E L; COOLA
Low Engine Oil- Level Warning
Light
(omorv)
Your engine may be equipped with an
oil level monitoring system. When. the
ignition key is turned on, the
LOW OIL
LEVEL light will briefly flash. If the
light stays
on, stop the vehicle on a level
surface and turn the engine off. Check
the oil level using the engine oil
dipstick. (See the
Index under Engine
Oil.) If the light does not flash, have the
low oil level sensor system repaired
so it
will be ready to warn you if there's a
problem.
NOTIC E:
The oil.leve1 monitoring system
only checks oil level during the
brief period between key on and
engine crank. It does not monitor
engine oil level when the engine is
running. Additionally, an oil level
check is only performed if the
engine has been turned off for a
considerable peri.od of time
allowing the oil normally in
circulation to drain back into the
oil pan.

160
Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the
hood, here’s what you’ll see:
(A) Coolant recovery tank
(€3) Radiator pressure cap
(C) Electric engine fans If
the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank
is boiling, don’t do
anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at or above
the
COLD mark. 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.

8. Start the engine and let it run until
you can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine
fans.
9. By this time the coolant level inside
the radiator filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add more of the
proper mix through the filler neck
until the level reaches the base of the
filler neck.
10. Then replace the pressure cap. At
any time during this procedure if
coolant begins to flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure
cap. Be sure the arrows on the
pressure cap.line up like this.
11. Check the coolant in the recovery
tank. The level in the coolant
recovery tanlc should be at the
HOT
mark when the engine is hot or at
the
COLD mark when the engine is
cold.
Ifa Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out”
while you’re driving, especially
if you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if you should ever
have
a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to
do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will
create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, then gently brake to a stop
well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like a slid and may require
the same correction you’d use
in a skid.
In any rear blowout, remove your foot
from the accelerator pedal. Get the
vehicle under control by steering the
way you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well
off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next section shows
how to use your jacking equipment to
change a flat tire safely.
165

1
Service & Appearance Care
186
(-18°C) or above. These numbers on an
oil container show its viscosity, or
thickness. Do not use other viscosity
oils,
such as SAE 1OW-40 or SAE 20W-50.
If you cannot find oils with the new
“starburst” symbol on the front of the
container, you should look for and use
oils containing the following three things:
SH or SG
“SH” or “SG” must be on the oil
container, either by itself or combined
with other quality designations, such
as “SH/CD,” “SH,SG,CD,”“SG/CD,”
etc. These letters show American
Petroleum Institute (API) levels of
quality.
SAE 5W-30
Energy Conserving I1
Oils with these words on the container
will help you save fuel.
These three things are usually included in
a doughnut shaped logo (symbol) on
most containers. If you cannot find
oils
with the “starburst” symbol, you should
look for oils with the doughnut shaped
symbol, containing the three things
noted above.
NOTICE:
If you use oils that do not have
either the “starburst” symbol or an
API
SH or SG designation, you can
cause engine damage not covered
by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench* oil (in Canada, GM
Engine Oil) meets all the requirements
for your vehicle.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your
Oldsmobile dealer is ready to advise if
you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles
(6 km)
.
It’s below freezing outside and most
trips are less than 10 miles (16 ltm).
The engine is at low speed most of the
time (as in door-to-door delivery, or in
stop-and-go traffic).
You tow a trailer often.
Most trips are through dusty places.
If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your
oil and filter every 3,000 miles (5 000
km) or 3 months - whichever comes
-first.
If none of them is true, change the oil
every
7,500 miles (12 500 lm) or 12
months -whichever comes first.
Change the filter at the first
oil change
and at every other oil change after that.
Engine Coolant Heater (Engine
Block Heater) (omoN)
An engine coolant heater can be a big
help if you have to
park outside in very

NOTICE:
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.
Adding Coolant
To Check Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at the
COLD mark or a
little higher. When your engine is warm,
the level should be up to the
HOT mark
or a little higher.
1 SECURITY I
P
w OIL LOW
EVEL COOLANT I
If this light comes on, it means you’re
low on engine coolant.
To Add Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the
proper mix
at the coolant recovery
tank.
If the coolant recovery tank is
completely empty, add coolant to the
radiator. (See
Engine Overheating in
the
Index.)
191

Service & Appearance Care
Radiator Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi
(105kPa) pressure-type cap and
must be tightly. installed
io prevent
coolant loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be sure
the arrows on the cap line up with
192
Add coolant mix at the recovery tank,
but be careful not to spill it.
L I
the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
I Power Steering Fluid
How To Check Power Steering
When you replace your radiator premre
cap, an
AC@ 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
AC@ thermostat is recommended.
Fluid
-
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick
with a clean rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten it. Then remove the
cap again and look at the fluid level on
the dipstick.
When the engine compartment is hot,
the level should be at the
H mark.
When the engine compartment is
cool, the level 'should be at the
C
mark.
What to Add
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of fluid to use. See

Maintenance Schedule
242 ~
Explanation of~scheduled
Mainfenance Services
Following are explanations of the
services listed in Schedule I and
Schedule
11.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use
are listed in Section D. Make sure
whoever services your vehicle
uses
these. All parts should be-replaced and
all necessary repairs done before you or
anyone else drives the vehicle.
ITEM SERVICE
NO.
1. Engine Oil and Filter Change* -
Always use SH or SG Energy
Conserving I1 oils of proper viscosity.
The “SH” or “SG” designation may
be shown alone or in combination
with others, such as “SH/CD,” “SH,
SG, CD,”“SG/CD,” etc. To
determine the preferred viscosity for
your vehicle’s engine (e.g., SAE 5W-
30 or SAE 10W-30), see
Engine Oil
in the Index.
2. Chassis Lubrication - Lubricate
suspension and steering linkage.
Lubricate the transaxle shift linkage,
and parking brake cable guides,
underbody contact points and
linkage.
3. Tire and Wheel Rotation and
Inspection
- For proper wear and
maximum tire life, rotate your tires
following the instructions in this
manual. See
Tires, Inspection 6
Rotation in the hdex. Check the
tires for uneven wear or damage.
If
you see irregular or premature wear,
check the wheel alignment. Check for
damaged wheels also.
Inspection *‘ - Inspect the belt for
cracks, fraying, wear and proper
tension. Replace as needed.
5. Camshaft Timing Belt Inspection
(3.4L Code X engine only) * -
Inspect for cracks, wear or oiliness.
Check tensioner for proper operation.
See the service manual.
(To purchase
4. Engine Accessory Drive Belt
a service manual, see Service
Publications
in the Index.) Replace
parts as needed.
6. Cooling System Service* - Drain,
flush and refill the system with new
or approved recycled. coolant
conforming
to GM Specification
1825M. Keep coolant at the proper
mixture as specified. See
Coolant in
the
Index. This provides proper
freeze and boil protection, corrosion
inhibitor level and maintains proper
engine operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace
if they are
cracked, swollen or deteriorated.
Clean the outside of the radiator and
air conditioning condenser. Wash the
pressure cap and neck.
To help ensure proper operation, we
recommend a pressure test of both
the cooling system and the pressure
cap.
7. Transaxle Service - Change both
the fluid and filter .every
15,000 miles
(25
000 lm) if the vehicle is mainly

Maintenance Schedule
244
Section B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which. should
be performed at the intervals specified to help ensure the
safety, dependability and emission control performance of
your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to
your vehicle
make sure they are the proper ones, as shown in Section D.
At Each Fuel Fill -(It is important for you or a service station attendant to perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.)
I
CHECK
OR SERVICE WHAT TO DO.
Engine Oil Level
Check
the engine oil level and add the proper oil if necessary. See Engine Oil in the Index for
further details.
Engine Index for further details.
Check
the engine coolant level and add the proper coolant mix if necessary. See Coolant in the
Windshield Washer Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid
if
Fluid Level necessary. See Windshield Washer Fluid in the Index for further details.
At Least Once Month
CHECK
OR SERVICE WHAT TO DO
Tire
Inflation Check
tire inflation. Make sure they are inflated to the pressures specified on the Tire-Loading
Information label located on the rear edge of the driver’s door. See Tires in the Index for
further details.
Cassette Deck
I
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every 15 hours of tape play, See Audio Systems in
the
Index for further details.

I
Stoplight. Inside .................... 215. 216
Taillights
.......................... 77. 202. 203
Turn Signal
.................................... 146
Warning Lights
.......................... 91. 98
Loading Your Vehicle
...................... 205
Lock Finder
........................................ 56
Locks. Door
........................................ 51
Locks. Remote Control ...................... 52
Lockout Control Switch. Power
Window
............................................ 72
Long Distance Driving
.................... 138
Low Battery ........................................ 98
Low Coolant Warning Light
.............. 94
Low Oil Level Light
........................... 94
Luggage Carrier
.................................. 87
Low
Fuel Warning Light
.................... 98
M- aintenance
Replacement Parts
......................... 233
Schedule
........................................ 235
Services. Scheduled
...................... 237
When Trailer Towing
.................... 148
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
............. 97
Manual Front Seat
............................. 12
Master Cylinder. Brake
.................... 194
Methanol in Gasoline
...................... 177
Mileage Indicator (see
Odometer G
Speedometer)
Mirrors
Convex Outside
............................... 81
Inside Manual Daymight ............... 81
Manual Adjust ................................. 82
Manual Remote Control
................. 82
Power Remote Control
.................... 82
Visor Vanity ..................................... 83
Mountain Driving 139
............................
N et,
Convenience ............................ 57
New Vehicle Break-In
............... 58. 144
Night Driving
................................... 134
Octane Requirements (see
Fuel)
Odometer ........................................... 92
Oil. Engine
....................................... 184
Capacity
......................................... 227
Pressure Gage
.................................. 95
Quality
........................................... 185
Thickness
....................................... 186
Used
Oil ......................................... 187
When to Change ............................ 186
Oil Warning Light
........................ 94. 98
Outside Rearview Mirrors
................. 82
Overdrive. Automatic
........................ 65
Overheated Engine
.......................... 158
Overheated Engine Coolant Warning
Light
................................................. 94
Owner Checks
& Services ............... 244 Paint
Chemical Spotting
......................... 218
Finish Care
.................................... 217
Finish Damage
.............................. 217
Park. Shifting Into
Column Shift
................................... 67
Console Shift
................................... 68
Over Things That Burn
................... 69 .
With the Engine Running ......... 68. 70
Parking
Parking
Brake
..................................... 66
PASS-Key*II
...................................... 55
Passenger Belts (see Safety Belts)
Passing .............................................. 132
Polishing and Waxing (see
Appearance
Power Antenna ................................ 124
Power Door Locks
............................. 52
Power Mirrors
.................................... 82
Power Seat Controls
.......................... 13
Power Steering
......................... 192, 226
Power Steering Fluid
....................... 192
Power Windows
............................... 226
Power Window Lockout Control
Switch
.............................................. 72
Problems on the Road
...................... 149
Publications (see
Service Publications)
Care)
Pregnancy, Use of Safety Belts During ... 27
Pulse Windshield Wipers
................... 76
.
267