heater OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1993 User Guide

Your Driving and the Road
176
lf You’re Caught in a Blizard
(CON X)
Run your engine only as long as you
must. This saves fuel. When you run
the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the
accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps
the battery charged.
You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the
vehicle and possibly for signaling later
on with your headlights. Let the heater
run for a while. Then,
shut the engine off and close
the window almost all the way to preserve the heat.
Start the engine
again and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from the
cold. But
do it as little as possible.
Preserve the fuel as long as you can.
To help keep warm, you can get out of
the vehicle and do some fairly
vigorous exercises every half-hour or
so until help comes.
If Mu’re Stuck in Deep Snow
This manual explains how to get the
vehicle out
of deep snow without
damaging it. See the
Index under
Rocking Your Ehicle.
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
I Enaine overheating (CONT:)
you keep driving with no coolant
your vehicle can be badly
damaged. The costly repairs wou
not be covered bv vour warrantv.
If No Steam is Coming from Your
Engine:
If you 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:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
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 or so:
1 . 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. Try to keep your engine under load
(in a drive gear where the engine
runs slower).
If you no longer have the overheat
warning, you can drive. Just
to be safe,
drive slower for about ten 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.
ProCarManuals.com

Engine Overheating (CONTI)
The coolant level should be at or above
the
FULL HOT 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.
I, rn Heater and radiator hoses, and
b other engine parts, can be
VGI~ 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
cou
be burned. Get any leak fix
before you drive the vehicle Engine damage from running your
: engine without coolant isn’t
i.: covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, check to
see if the electric engine fan(s) is
running. If the engine is overheating, the
fan(s) should be running. If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery
Tank:
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but
the coolant level isn’t at or above the
FULL HOT mark, add a 50/50 mixture
of
clean water (preferably distilled) and
a proper antifreeze at the coolant
recovery
tank. (See the Index under
Coolant for more information about the
proper coolant mix.)
ProCarManuals.com

A
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 a proper
antifreeze.
I
In cold- weatl , w r can .
and crack the engine, radial
heater core
and other parts. ‘,A
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.
I
When the coolant in the coolant
recovery
tank is at or above the FULL
HOT mark, 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.
199
ProCarManuals.com

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 km).
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 km) or 12
months-whichever comes first. Change
the filter at the first oil change and at
every other oil change after that.
Engine Block Heater (omoN)
An engine block heater can be a big
help if you have to park outside in very
cold weather,
0°F (-18" C) or colder. If
your vehicle has this option, see the
Index under Engine Block Heater.
229
ProCarManuals.com

Service & Appearance Care
Engine Coolant (CONT.)
I
fmIlTIfi I I
Adding only plain water to I
L L your cooling system can be
aangerous. Plain water, or some
other liquid like alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mix will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning
I
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 mi
of clean water and a proper
antifreeze.
I
I’
NOTICE
If you use an improper coolant
mix, your engine could overheat
and be badly damaged. The repail
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.
I
Adding Coolant
To Check Coolant:
When your engine is cold, the coolant
level should be
at COLD, or a little
higher. When
your engine is warm, the
level should be
up to mJLL HOT, or a
little higher.
ProCarManuals.com

Index
Accessory Power Outlet .......... 89
Adding Brake Fluid
............. .240. 272
Engine Coolant
.. .198. 236. 269. 272
Engine Oil
............. .225. 269
Power Steering Fluid
.. .239. 270. 272
Sound Equipment
............. 121
Transaxle Fluid
..... .234. 269. 272
Adjusting Rear Seats
............. 19
Air Cleaner
.............. .230. 271
Air Conditioner
................ 114
Air Inflator System
.............. 90
Alcohol. Driving Under the Influence
of ......................... 145
Alcohol in Gasoline
............. 217
Aluminum Wheels
........ .252. 260
Antenna
...................... 136
Antifreeze
........... .235. 269. 272
Anti-Lock Brake System
......... 149
Brake Master Cylinder
........ 240
Junction Block Fuse
.......... 267
Warning Light
............... 109
Appearance Care ............... 254
Ashtrays and Lighter
..... .94. 95. 96
Electrical Equipment
.. .63.
121. 263
Windshield Washer Fluid
.. .239. 292 Audio Systems
................. 121
AM/FM Stereo Radio
......... 123
Cassette Player
........ .125. 127
AM/FM Stereo Radio with
Compact Disc Player
........ 129
Care of Audio Systems
......... 135
Radio Reception. For the Best
... 134
Setting the Clock
............. 122
Steering Wheel Touch Controls
. . 134
Adding Fluid
....... .234. 269. 272
Checking Fluid
.............. 232
Shifting
..................... 65
Automatic Transaxle
Battery
...................... 242
Jump Starting
................ 187
Battery Warning Gage
........... 107
Blizzard
...................... 175
Block Heater. Engine ........ .63. 229
“Blowout
,” Tire ................ 203
Brake Adjustment
.................. 153
Anti-Lock Brakes
............. 149
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
..................... 109 Junction Block
Fuse
........... 267
Fluid
.................. .240. 272
Master Cylinder
.............. 240
Parking
..................... -68
Pedal Travel
................. 152
Rear Drums
................. 152
Warning Light
................ 108
Wear Indicators
............... 151
Brake System Warning Light
...... 108
Braking
....................... 148
Braking in Emergencies
.......... 153
Braking Technique .............. 148
“Break-In,” New Vehicle
..... .60, 178
Bucket Seats, Removable Rear
...... 17
Buckling Up (see Safety Belts)
Bulb Replacement
Headlight
................... 243
Taillight
.................... 244
Bulbs, Replacement
............. 273
Capacities
& Specifications ...... 269
Carbon Monoxide in
Cassette Tape Player Exhaust
.... .60, 71, 72,
111, 175, 181
(see
Audio Systems)
311
ProCarManuals.com

312
Center Passenger Position (see Safety
Chains. Safety ................. 180
Chains. Tire
.............. .2l2. 253
Changing a Flat Tire
............ 204
Checking Brake Fluid
.................. 240
Engine Coolant
............... 236
Engine Oil
.................. 225
Power Steering Fluid
.......... 238
Things Under the Hood
........ 220
Transaxle Fluid
.............. 232
Child Restraints
................. 35
How to Install ................. 35
Where to Put
................. 36
Children and Safety Belts
..... .34, 40
Cigarette Lighter ................ 94
Circuit BreakerIRelay Panel
....... 267
Circuit Breakers
& Fuses ......... 264
City Driving
................... 165
Cleaner. Air
.............. .230. 271
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
............ 260
Cassette Tape Player
........... 135
Belts)
Safety Belt Systems ............ 42
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......... 262 Compact Discs
............... 136
Finish Care
.................. 259
Foreign Material
.............. 261
Glass
...................... 258
Inside of Your Vehicle
......... 255
Leather or Vinyl
.............. 257
Outside of the Windshield
and Wiper Blades
........... 259
Outside
of Your Vehicle ....... -259
Safety Belts
.................. 258
Special Problems
............. 257
Stains. Removing
............. 257
Top of the Instrument Panel
..... 258
Underbody Maintenance
........ 261
Vinyl or Leather
.............. 257
Warnings
................... 254
Weatherstrips
................ 260
White Sidewall Tires
.......... 260
Windshield
.................. 259
Climate Control System
...... .114, 117
Clock, Setting the
............... 122
Cluster, Instrument Panel
......... 102
Comfort Controls
............... 113
Air Conditioner
............... 114
Heater
...................... 115
Fabric .................. .255. 256 Rear
........................ 116
Ventilation
................... 120
Compact Disc Player (seeAudio Systems)
Compact Overhead Console ....... 99
Compact Spare Tire
............. 212
Compass Display
................ 87
Console, Overhead
.............. 85
Control of a Vehicle
............ -147
Convenience Net
................ 96
Convex Outside Mirror
........... 92
Coolant
...................... 235
Checking
& Adding ........... 236
Proper Mixture to Use
......... 198
Safety Warnings About
.. .199. 200, 236
Temperature Gage
............. 108
Cruise Control
.................. 75
Cup HoldedAshtray, Front ......... 94
Curves. Driving on
.............. 154
Customer Assistance Information
. . 297
Dead Battery: What
to Do ....... 187
Defensive Driving
.............. 144
Defogger. Rear Window
.......... 119
Defogging and Defrosting
......... 118
Delco LOC
II@ ................. 132
ProCarManuals.com

Dome Lights ................... 89
Door Locks
............. .47.48. 54
Door. Power Sliding
......... .54. 111
Door. Sliding
................... 53
Driver Position .................. 25
Driving
....................... 139
AtNight
.................... 159
City
........................ 165
Controlling a Skid
............. 158
Defensively
.................. 144
Drunken
.................... 145
Freeway
.................... 166
Hill and Mountain
............ 170
In a Foreign Country
........... 218
In Fog. Mist and Haze
......... 164
In Rain
..................... 161
Long Distance
................ 168
Loss
of Control ............... 158
On Curves
................... 154
Passing
..................... 156
Through Deep Standing Water
.............. 63
Winter Driving
............... 173
With a Trailer
................ 181
Drunken Driving
............... 145
- .
Electric Outside Mirror Control ... 92
Electrical Equipment.
Adding
............. .63. 121. 263
Electronic Level Control
..... .99. 245
Emergencies. Braking in ......... 153
Emergencies on the Road
......... 185
Emergencies. Steering in
......... 155
Emergency Starting
............. 187
Emergency Towing
.............. 191
Engine Block Heater
........ .63. 229
Engine Coolant
....... .235. 269. 272
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
............. 108
Engine Exhaust
.... .60. 71. 72. 111. 175. 181
Engine Identification
............ 263
Engine Oil
.................... 225
Additives
................... 229
Checking
& Adding ...... .225. 226
Disposing
of Used Oil ......... 230
Energy Conserving
............ 228
Pressure Gage
................ 106
Pressure Indicator
............ -106
Warning
.................... 230
When to Change
.............. 229
Engine Overheating
............. 195 Engine Specifications
............ 271
Engine. Starting
................. 61
Ethanol in Gasoline
............. 217
Exhaust
Dangerous Gas
Parking with the in
......... .60.71.72.111.175. 181
Engine Running
......... .70. 72
Expectant Mothers.
Use of
Safety Belts .................. 29
Expressway Driving
............. 166
Extender. Safety Belt
............. 42
Exterior Appearance (see
Appearance Care)
n
&bric Cleaning (see Appearance Care)
Fan Warnings ...... .188. 189. 197. 222
Filling
the Fuel Tank ............ 219
Filter Air Cleaner
............. .230. 271
Oil
.................... .229. 271
Finish Care
................... 259
Flashers. Hazard Warning
........ 186
Flat Tire
...................... 203
Flooded Engine
................. 62
313
ProCarManuals.com

314
Flow-Through Ventilation ........ 120
Fluid Brake
................. .240. 272
Capacities
................... 269
Power Steering
...... .238, 270. 272
Transaxle
.......... .232. 269. 272
Windshield Washer
....... .239. 292
Fluids
& Lubricants ........ .272. 291
Fog. Driving in
................. 164
Fog Lights
................ .81. 164
Freeway Driving
................ 166
Fuel
......................... 217
Alcohol in Fuel
............... 217
Capacity
.................... 217
Door Release. Remote
.......... 219
Exhaust Warnings
...... .60. 71. 72.
111. 175. 181
Fuels with Alcohol
............ 217
Gage
....................... 105
In Foreign Countries
........... 218
Low. Warning
................ 105
Methanol in Fuel
.............. 217
Requirements
................ 217
Filling
Your Tank
............. 219
Fuse Panel and Usage
...... .265. 266 Fuses
& Circuit
Breakers ......... 264
Anti-Lock Brakes Fuse
......... 267
Injector Fuse
................ 268
Gages Coolant Temperature
.......... 108
Fuel ........................ 105
Oil Pressure
................. 106
Oil Pressure Indicator
.......... 106
Tachometer
.................. 103
Voltmeter
................... 107
Garage Door Opener
Compartment
................. 85
Gasoline ...................... 217
Gasoline Tank, Filling Your
....... 219
Gas Station Information
.......... 320
Gate Agar Light
................ 110
Gear Positions
(see
Shifting the Transaxle)
Gearshift Lever (see Shifting the
Transaxle)
Glove Box/Storage Compartment .... 93
&dogen Bulbs ................ 243
Hazard Warning Flashers
......... 186
Headlight
& Taillight. Removing
and Replacing
........... .243. 244
Headlights
..................... 79
High-Low Beam Changer
...... -80
Instrument Panel Intensity
Control
.................... 81
“On” Reminder
............... 80
Operation .................... 80
Replacement Bulb ............. 273
Wiring
..................... 268
Head Restraint .................. 16
Heater (see
Comfort Controls)
Heater, Engine Block ............. 63
High Beams
............... .80, 160
“Highway Hypnosis’’ ............ 169
Hill and Mountain Roads
......... 170
Hills. Parking on ........... .171. 183
Hood Release .................. 221
Safety Warning
............... 222
Warning. Overheated Engine
........... .195. 236. 238
Horn ......................... 72
Hot Engine. Safety Warnings.
.......... .195, 236. 238
Hydroplaning
.................. 163
ProCarManuals.com