radiator OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1994 Owners Manual

NOTICE:
When using concentrated washer
fluid, follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-
use washer fluid. Water can cause
the solution to freeze and damage
your washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system. Also,
water doesn’t clean as well as
washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only
3/4 full when it’s very cold. This
allows for expansion, which could
damage the tank
if it is
completely full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in
your windshield washer. It can
damage your paint.
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
To Use Your Rear Wiper: Slide the
lower control to
Ql .
For a Delayed Wiper Cycle: Slide the
lower control to
DELAY.
To Wash the Rear Window: Slide the
lower control to
a and hold it. The
washer and wiper will operate only as
long as the control is held in that
position. Then the wiper will return to
DELAY.
4 Overhead Console
The optional front overhead console has
reading lights,
two switches for the
optional power sliding door, storage
compartments, including one for your
garage door opener and one for
sunglasses, a compass and an outside
temperature display. The features of the
optional overhead console are explained
on the following pages.
79
ProCarManuals.com

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the
hood, here’s what you’ll see:
(A) Coolant recovery tank
(B) Radiator pressure cap
(C) Electric engine fan, or fans if you
have the
3800 V6 engine.
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
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.
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
1..
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant isn’t
covered by your warranty. If
there seems to be
no leak, check to
see if the electric engine fan is running.
If the engine is overheating, the fan
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
Engine Coolant in
the
Index for more information about
the proper coolant mix.)
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator,
heater core and other parts. Use the
recommended coolant.
ProCarManuals.com

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.
Yow to Add Coolant to the Radiator
I. You can remove the radiator pressure
cap when the cooling system, including
the radiator pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is
no longer hot. Turn
the pressure cap slowly to the left
until it first stops. (Don't press down
while turning the pressure cap.)
I69
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
1 70
A
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to
stop.
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
E. Then keep turning the pressure cap,
but now push down as you turn it.
Remove the pressure cap.
I. Fill the radiator with the proper mix,
up to the base of the filler neck. 4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to
the
FULL HOT mark.
ProCarManuals.com

5. Put the cap back on the coolant
recovery tank, but leave the radiator
pressure cap off. 6. Start the engine and let it run until you
can feel the upper radiator hose getting
hot. Watch out for the engine fan(s).
7. 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.
8. 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.
171
ProCarManuals.com

Service &Appearance Care
3100 V6 Engine
1. Engine Coolant Reservoir
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Air Cleaner
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoi
6. Battery r
7. Automatic
Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Engine Oil Fill Cap
10. Radiator Cap
ProCarManuals.com

P
3800 V6 Engine
1. Engine Coolant Reservoir
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Battery
7. Air Cleaner
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Engine Oil Fill Cap
10. Radiator Cap
189
ProCarManuals.com

Service &Appearance Cure
NOTICE:
198
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
COLD, or a little
higher. When your engine is warm, the
level should be up to
FULL HOT, or a
little higher.
3100 V6: Checking Coolant
3800 V6: Checking Coolant
ProCarManuals.com

To Add Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper
mix
at the coolant recovery tank.
Add coolant mix at the recovery tank,
but be careful not to spill it.
Radiator Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105
kPa) pressure-type cap and must be
tightly installed to prevent 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 AC8 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.
When the engine compartment is
cool, the level should be at the
C
(Cold) mark.
199
ProCarManuals.com