OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1993 Owners Manual

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.
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Service & Appearance Care
230
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains
things that have caused skin
cancer
in laboratory animals. 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.
Air Cleaner
Used oil can be a real threat to the Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
environment. determine when to replace the air filter.
If you change your own oil, be sure to See the Index under Scheduled
drain all free-flowing oil from the filter services*
before disposal.
Don’t ever dispose
of oil by 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 dealer, a service station or a local
recycling center for help.
CAUTION I
Operating the engine with the I
I. air cleaner off can cause you
or others
to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it
stops flame if the engine backfires
If it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires, you could be burned
Don’t drive with
it off, and be
careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner off.
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3.1L V6: Checking Air Cleaner Filter
To Check or Replace:
1. Remove the large wing nut and lift
can cause a damaging engine fire. 3
And, dirt can easily get into your the
cover.
engine, which will damage it.
Always have the air cleaner in
dace when you’re driving.
3.1L V6: Replacing Air Cleaner Filter
2. Remove the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter,
replace the cover and tighten the
wing
nut securely.
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Service & Appearance Care
232
3800 V6: Checking Air Cleaner Filter
To Check or Replace:
I,+ Loosen the four wing nuts.
Air Cleaner (CONT.)
3800 V6: Replacing Air Cleaner
Filter
2. Pull the top of the air cleaner toward
the front of the vehicle and remove
the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter,
replace the cover and tighten the
wing nuts securely.
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. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See the
Index under
Scheduled Maintenance Services.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at an Oldsmobile dealership
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.
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;:-...Too much or too little fluid can
your transaxle.
Too much
that some of the fluid
out and fall on hot
..engine parts, starting a fire. Be
accurate reading if Wait
at least
30 minutes before checking
the transaxle fluid level
if you have been
driving:
When outside temperatures are above
90" F (32 " C) .
At high speed for quite awhile.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot
weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should
be at normal operating temperature,
which is 180°F to
200°F (82°C to
93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside
temperatures are above
50" F (10°C). If
it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), you may
have to drive longer.
To Check the Fluid Level:
Park your vehicle on a level place.
Place the shift lever in P (Park) with
With your foot on the brake pedal,
the parking brake
applied.
move the shifi lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever
in P (Park).
five minutes.
Let the engine run at idle for three to
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Service & Appearance Care
234
Automatic mansaxle Fluid (CONK)
Then, without shutting off the engine,
follow these steps:
1. pull out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three
seconds and then pull
it back out
again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be
in the cross-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is where it should
be, push the dipstick back
in all the
way.
I
3.1L V6: Checking Automatic
Transaxle Fluid
I
3800 V6: Checking Automatic
Transaxle Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind
of transaxle fluid to
use. See the Index under Fluids &
Lubricants.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper fluid to bring the level into
the cross-hatched area on the dipstick.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less
than a pint (0.5 L). Don’t overfill. We
recommend you use
only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-IIE, because fluids with that
label are made especially for your
automatic transaxle. Damage caused
by
fluid other than DEXRON -DE is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid
level as described under
How to Check.
When the correct fluid level is obtained,
push
the dipstick back in all the way.
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3
F
3
1
;.1L V6: Adding Automatic Transaxle
Wid
_I
1800 V6: Adding Automatic
Pansaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling
system and how to add coolant when it
is low.
If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see the
Index under
Engine Overheating.
The proper coolant for your Oldsmobile
will:
Give freezing protection down to
Give boiling protection up to 262°F
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
Let the warning lights work as they
-34°F (-37°C).
(128” C).
temperature.
should.
What to Use:
Use a mixture of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets “GM Specification
1825M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts. You can also use a recycled
coolant conforming to GM Specification 1825M with a complete coolant flush
and refdl. Use
GM Engine Coolant
Supplement (sealer) with any complete
coolant change. If you use these, you
don’t need to add anything else.
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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.
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3.1L V6: Checking Coolant
3800 V6: Checking Coolant
To Add Coolant:
If you need more coolant, add the Add
coolant mix at the recovery tank,
r
proper mix at the coolant recovery but be careful not to spill it.
tank.
coolant on hot engine parts.
cap when the engine and Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
radiator are hot can allow steam and it will burn if the engine parts
and scalding liquids to blow out are hat enough. Don’t spill coolant
and burn you badly. With the
coolant recovery
tank, you will
almost never have to add coolant at
the radiator. Never turn
the
radiator pressure cap-even a
little-when
the engine and
radiator are
hot
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Service & Appearance Care
238
Radiator Pressure Cap
(105 kPa) pressure-type cap and
must be tightly installed to prevent
$3
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.
When
you replace your radiator pressure
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.
Power Steering Fluid
How to Check Power Steering 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 (Hot)
mark.
the level should be at the
C (Cold)
mark.
When the engine compartment is cool,
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