oil viscosity OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1994 Owners Manual

Features & Controls
102
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from
neglected oil problems can be costly
and
is not covered by your
warranty.
I I
3il Pressure Gage (3800 v6 ENGINE)
four oil pressure gage shows the oil
x-essure
in psi (pounds per square
nch) when the engine is running.
Zanadian vehicles indicate pressure in
. Oil pressure may vary
vith engine speed, outside temperature
md oil viscosity. In fact, while the
mgine is warming up, the oil pressure
vi11 be higher than at the normal
Iperating temperature. Readings above
.he red warning zone indicate the
lormal operating range.
.f the gage reads in the red warning
:one, your engine's oil level may be
langerously low or there may be
mother problem causing low oil
xessure. Driving
your vehicle with low oil
pressure can cause extensive engine
damage. Have your vehicle serviced
immediately.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from
neglected oil problems can be costly
and is not covered by your
warranty.
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When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD mark,
then you’ll need to add some oil. But
you must use the right kind. This
section explains what kind of oil to use.
For crankcase capacity, see
Capacities
and Specifications
in the Index.
NOTICE:
3100 V6: Adding Engine Oil What Kind of Oil to Use
3eginning midyear 1993, oils of the
)roper quality for your vehicle will be
dentified with this new “starburst”
iymbol. The “starburst” symbol
ndicates that the oil has been certified
)y the American Petroleum Institute
IAPI), and is preferred for use in your
;asoline engine.
(ou should
look for this on the front of
he oil container, and use only oils that
lisplay this new symbol.
(ou should also use the proper viscosity
)il for your vehicle, as shown in the
ollowing charts.
Don’t
add
too much oil. If your
engine has
so much oil that the oil
level gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, your engine could
be damaged.
I’
Just fill it enough to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you’re through.

3800 V6: Adding Engine Oil
191
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Service &Appearance Care
192
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING,
SELECT THE LOWEST SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL
FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
LOOK FOR
HOT ONE OF THESE
WEATHER LABELS
t100 .
+80 -
+60 -
+40 -
+20 -
0-
“C
+38
+27
+16
+4
-7
-18
COLD
SAE 1OW-30 PREFERRED above 0°F
SAE 5W-30 (-18°C)
1 IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30 GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30 GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES WEATHER ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES c).
DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL HOT RECOMMENDED.
2300 V6: Oil Viscosity Chart
As shown in the chart, SAE 1OW-30 is
best for your vehicle. However, you can
use SAE 5W-30 if it’s going to be colder
than
60°F (16°C) before your next oil
change. When it’s very cold,
you should
use
SAE 5W-30. 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.
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING,
SELECT THE LOWEST SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL
FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
‘-’ F
+loo
+80
+ 60
+40
+20
0
“C
+38
+ 27
+16
+4
-7
-18

LOOK FOR
LABELS
HOT ONE
OF THESE
- SAE I 1
OW-30
SAE 5W-30 PREFERRED
IF NEITHER SAE
5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30 GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE. SAE 30 COLD
WEATHER ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES c).
GRADE
MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES
DO NOT USE SAE
1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED.
3100 V6: Oil Viscosity Chart
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As shown in the chart, SAE 5W-30 is
best for your vehicle. However, you can
use SAE 1OW-30 if it’s going
to be 0°F
(-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 “SHKD,”
“SH,SG,CD,” “SG/CD,” etc. These
letters show American Petroleum
Institute (API) levels of quality.
SAE 1OW-30 (3800 engine)
SAE 5W-30 (3100 engine)
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. 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 ltm).
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 ltm) or 3
months - whichever comes first.
If none
of them is true, change the oil
every
7,500 miles (12 500 ltm) 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)
An engine coolant 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
Engine
Coolant Heater in the Index. 193
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Maintenance Schedule
238
Explanation of Scheduled
Maintenance 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
NO. SERVICE
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 E.
Rotation in the Index. Check the
tires for uneven wear
or damage. If
you see irregular or premature wear,
check the wheel alignment. Check for
damaged wheels also.
Engine Accessory Drive Inspection
- Inspect the drive belt for cracks,
fraying, wear and proper tension.
Replace as needed.
I
Cooling System Servicee - Drain,
flush and refill the system with new
or approved recycled coolant
conforming to GM Specification
I
1825M. Keep coolant at the proper 1
mixture as specified. See Coolant in
the
Index. This provides proper
freeze and boil protection, corrosion
I
inhibitor level and maintains proper ’
engine operating temperature.
Inspect hoses
and replace if they are
cracked, swollen or deteriorated.
Tighten screw-type hose clamps.
Clean the outside of the radiator and
air conditioning condenser. Wash tht
pressure cap and neck.
To help ensure proper operation, we
recommend
a pressure test of both the
cooling system and the pressure cap.
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Maintenance Schedule
244
Section D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
NOTE: Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part number or specification may be obtained from your GM
dealer.
USAGE FLUID/LUBRICANT
Engine Oil API service
SH or SG Energy Conserving I1
oils of the 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, see
Engine OiZ in the Index.
Engine Coolant
50/50 mixture of water (preferably distilled) and good quality ethylene glycol base antifreeze
(GM Part No. 1052753 or equivalent) conforming
to GM Specification 1825M or approved
recycled coolant conforming to GM Specification 1825M.
Hydraulic Brake Svstem
I Delco Supreme 1 lo Brake Fluid (GM Part No. 1052535 or equivalent DOT-3 brake fluid).
Chassis lubricant (GM Part
No. 1052497 or equivalent) or lubricant meeting requirements of
NLGI Grade 2, Category LB or GC-LB. Guides
Power Steering
System I
I GM Hydraulic Power Steering Fluid (GM Part No. 1052884 or equivalent)
Automatic Transaxle DEXRONo-I11 or DEXRONo-IIE Automatic Transmission Fluid.
ICey oil or silicone lubricant (GM Part No. 1052276 or 1052277).
Lubricate with Multi-Purpose Lubricant (GM Part No.
12345120), synthetic SAE 5W-30 engine
Automatic Transaxle
Shift Linkage
Engine oil.
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