check oil OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1993 Owners Manual

1
Features & Controls
’ 106
Oil Pressure Indicator
(3.1L V6 ENGINE)
Your vehicle is equipped with an oil
pressure indicator rather than an oil
pressure gage. Your oil pressure
indicator lets you know when you may
have a problem with your engine
oil
pressure.
When the engine is running, readings
within the white graduation band
indicate the normal operating range.
Readings in or below the red area
indicate that the engine’s
oil level may
be dangerously low, or there may be
another problem causing low
oil
pressure.
Driving your vehicle with low oil
pressure can cause extensive engine damage. Have your vehicle serviced
immediately. ndt
keep driving if the
oil
- r-- ssure is low. If you do,
your engine can become
so hot that
it catches fire. You or others could
be burned. Check your
oil as soon
serviced.
I as possible and have your vehicle
I
Damage to your engine from
neglected oil problems can be
costly and is not covered by your
Oil Pressure Gage
(3800 V6 ENGINE)
Your oil pressure gage shows the oil
pressure in psi (pounds per square inch)
when the engine
is running. Canadian
vehicles indicate pressure in
kPa
(kilopascals). Oil pressure may vary
with engine speed, outside temperature
and
oil viscosity. In fact, while the
engine is warming up, the
oil pressure
will be higher than at the normal
operating temperature. Readings above
the red warning zone indicate the
normal operating range.
If the gage reads in the red warning
zone, your engine’s
oil level may be
dangerously low or there may be
another problem causing low
oil
pressure.
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Driving your vehicle with low oil
pressure can cause extensive engine
damage. Have your vehicle serviced
immediately.
CAUTION
Don't keep driving if the oil
I. pressure is low. If you do,
your engine can become so hot that
it catches fire. You or others could
be burned. Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
I Voltmeter
Your charging system gage will show the
rate
of charge when the engine is
warning zones indicate the normal
operating range. Readings in either red
zone indicate a possible problem with
your charging system. Have your
Oldsmobile serviced immediately.
When
the engine is not running but the
ignition is on (in the
Run position), the
display measures the voltage output
of
your battery.
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Driving a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well
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168
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made on freeways, there are still many
made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular highways is the same in some
ways. The trip has to be planned and the
vehicle prepared, you drive at higher-
than-city speeds, and there are longer
turns behind the wheel. You’ll enjoy
your trip more if you and your vehicle
are
in good shape. Here are some tips
for a successful long trip. rested.
If you
must start when you’re not
fresh-such as after a day’s work-don’t
plan to make too many miles that first
part of the journey. Wear comfortable
clothing and shoes you can easily drive
in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If
you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s
ready to go.
If it needs service, have it
done before starting out.
Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service
experts in Oldsmobile dealerships all across
North America. They’ll be ready
and willing to help
if you need it. Here
are some things you can check
before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the
reservoir full? Are
all windows clean
inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good
shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:
Have you checked all levels?
Lights: Are they all working? Are the
lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a
safe, trouble-free trip.
Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires
all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
weather outlook along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
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Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer can
be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on
a hill, here’s how to do it:
1 . Apply your regular brakes, but don’t
shift into
P (Park) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under
the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
apply your parking brake, and then shift to
P (Park).
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold
the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
of the chocks.
store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you’re pulling a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule for more on
this. Things that are especially
important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill)
engine oil, belts, cooling system, and
brake adjustment. Each
of these is
covered in this manual, and the
Index
will help you find them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to
review these sections before you
start
your trip.
Check periodically
to see that all hitch
nuts and bolts are tight.
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Here you will find information about
the care of your Oldsmobile
. This
part begins with service and fuel
information. and then it shows how to
check important fluid and lubricant levels
. There is also technical
information about your vehicle. and a section devoted to its appearance care
.
Part 6
Service di Appearance Care
Service ......................................................... 216
Fuel ........................................................... 217
HoodRelease
.................................................... 221
Engineoil
...................................................... 225
Aircleaner
..................................................... 230
TransaxleFluid
.................................................. 232
Enginecoolant
.................................................. 235
Power Steering Fluid
.............................................. 238
Windshield Washer Fluid
........................................... 239
Brakes
......................................................... 240
Battery
......................................................... 242
Bulb Replacement
................................................ 243
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
................................. 245
Loading Your Vehicle
............................................. 245
Tires
.......................................................... 247
Appearancecare ................................................. 254
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
................................. 262
Add-on Electrical Equipment
....................................... 263
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ........................................... 264
Capacities
& Specifications ......................................... 269
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............................... 271
Fluids
& Lubricants ............................................... 272
ReplacementBulbs
................................................ 273
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To check on fuel availability, ask an auto
club, or contact
a major oil company
that does business in the country where
you'll be driving.
You can
also write us at the following
address for advice. Just tell us where
you're going and give your Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN)
.
General Motors of Canada Ltd.
International
Export Sales
P.O. Box 828
Oshawa, Ontario LlH 7N1, Canada
Remote Fuel Door Release
The remote fuel door release can help
keep your fuel tank from being siphoned. Always be sure the fuel door
is closed and latched after refueling.
To open the fuel door (on the left rear
fender), lift the release lever beside the
driver's seat.
Filling Your Tank
The cap is behind a hinged door on the
left side
of your vehicle.
h nammable. It burns violently,
lsoline vapor is highly
ana that can cause very bad
injuries. Don't smoke if you're
near gasoline or refueling your
vehicle. Keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away from
gasoline. I
1
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the
left (counterclockwise).
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Underhood Light
Your underhood light will go on when
you open the hood.
Engine Oil
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil
every time you get fuel. In order to get
an accurate reading, the oil must be
warm and the vehicle must be on level
ground.
Turn off the engine and give the
oil a few minutes to drain back into the
oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
To Check Engine Oil:
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a
paper towel or cloth, then push it back
in
all the way. Remove it again, keeping
the tip lower.
I 3.1L V6: Checking Engine Oil
3800 V6: Checking Engine Oil
225
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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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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.
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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.
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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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Service & Appearance Care
268
/njector 3365 Fuse
(3800 V6 ENGINE ONLY)
This 20-amp fuse is located underhood,
on a bracket just behind the passenger
side headlight.
It is mounted on the face
of the bracket in the position closest to
the passenger side of the vehicle. The
fuse services the injectors, fuel pump,
oil pressure sender and fuel pump
switch.
To access the fuse, pry back the latch
with a screwdriver,
then pull down on
the base of the unit. If you need to
replace the fuse, be sure to use a
20-amp fuse.
Push the base of the unit
firmly up into
the cover until
the latch snaps into the
locked position.
Head/ight Wiring
The headlight wiring is protected by a
circuit breaker in the light switch. An
electrical overload will cause the lights
to go on and off, or in some cases to
remain off.
If this happens, have your
headlight system checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected
by a circuit breaker and
a fuse. If the
motor overheats due to heavy snow, etc.
,
the wiper will stop until the motor
cools. If the overload is caused by some
electrical problem, have it fixed.
Power Windows and Other
Power Options
Circuit breakers in the circuit
breakerhelay panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories.
When the current load is too heavy, the
circuit breaker opens and closes,
protecting the circuit until the problem
is fixed.
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