check oil OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1996 Owners Manual

Oil Pressure Indicator
Your vehicle is equipped with an oil pressure indicator.
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
area 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.
' A CA"T1ON:
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Don't keep driving if the oil 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.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems
can be costly and is not covered by your warranty.
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Low OilLi -
LOW
OIL
If this light comes on, it
means your engine is low
on oil.
Power Sliding Door Warning Light
With the optional power
sliding door, the sliding
door ajar symbol on your
instrument panel will come
on
if your sliding door is
not completely closed.
You need to check the
oil level right away. Driving your
vehicle without enough oil can cause extensive engine
damage. Have your vehicle serviced immediately. If you shift the transaxle out of PARK (P) while the
sliding door is open or
in the process of closing, and the
power sliding door
ON/OFF switch is in the ON
position, the power sliding door warning light will flash
and a buzzer will sound. This is
a warning that the
sliding door is not completely closed.
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The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your
sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well 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 retail facilities 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:
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Windshield Welsher 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?
Lamps: 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 Forecasts: What’s the 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?
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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;
0 Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and 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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A CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
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 could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
1 parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
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NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see
if the electric engine fan(s) are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fan(s) should be running.
If they
aren’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 501.50
mixture of den72 water (preferably distilled) and
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored, silicate-free) antifreeze
at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in
the Index for more information.)
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
DEX-COOL TM antifreeze.
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In Canada, some gasolines contain an octane-enhancing
additive called MMT. If you use such fuels, your
emission control system performance may deteriorate
and the malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may turn on. If this happens, return to your
authorized Oldsmobile retailer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help prevent
deposits from forming in your engine and
fuel system,
allowing your emission control system to function
properly. Therefore,
you should not have to add anything
to
the fuel. In addition, gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines
may be available in your area
to help clean the air. General
Motors recommends that you use these gasolines
if they
comply with the specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts
in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
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 Overseas Distribution Corporation,
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
Ll H 8P7
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NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your retailer can get one for you.
If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system
might be damaged.
Checkhg Things Under the Hood
/I CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
Hood Release
A CAUTION:,,
I
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto
a hot engine.
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Pull forward on the hood prop to release it from its
storage clip.
Put the end of the hood prop into the slot in
the underside of the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on
properly. Lift the hood to relieve the pressure on
the
hood prop. Remove the hood prop from the slot in the
hood and return the prop to its retainer. Let the hood
down and close
it firmly.
Underhood Lamp
Your underhood lamp will go on when you open
the hood.
Engine Oil
LOW
OIL
If the LOW OIL light on the
instrument panel comes
on,
it means you need to check
your engine oil level right
away.
For more information,
see "LOW
OIL Light" in the
Index. You should check
your engine oil level
regularly; this is
an
added reminder. 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.
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The engine oil dipstick is located at the front of the
engine compartment, near the center. The dipstick
handle has
a bright, yellow loop design for
easier identification.
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.
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Checking 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 down, and check the level.
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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
part explains what kind
of oil to use. For crankcase
capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications’’
in
the Index.
NOTICE:
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.
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Checking or Replacing the Air Cleaner
1. Loosen the four wing nuts.
2. Pull the top of the air cleaner toward the fro t of the
vehicle and remove the air cleaner filter.
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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.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 krn) if the vehicle is mainly dnven under one or
more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90 OF (3 2 O C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any
of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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