engine overheat OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1998 User Guide

If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
0 Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D)
or THIRD (3).
If you no longer have the overheat warning,
you can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning doesn’t come back on, you
can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see
if
the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning,
turn off the engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle
until it cools down. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode” listed previously in
this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
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The coolant level should be at or above the
FULL COLD 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.
’ A CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be
very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
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.
~
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 cooling fans are running.
If the
engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If
they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
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IN:
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 COLD mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and
DEX-COOL@ engine coolant 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 mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
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 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
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You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it
will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or
above the
FULL COLD mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there's one more
thing you can try.
You can add the proper coolant
mixture directly to the radiator but be sure the cooling
system is cool before you do it.
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~~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ NOTICE:
When
the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on
the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts
of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice
or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels too fast. The method
known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
A CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured. And,
the transaxle
or other parts of the vehicle can
overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don’t
spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
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Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 lunb whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL extended life coolant.
J
The following explains your cooling system and how
to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 OF (1 29 O C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs
first. Damage caused by the
use of coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
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What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum parts. If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
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 mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
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 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
J
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can
freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core
and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your retailer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
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1 Add coolant mixture at the recovery tank, but be careful
~ not to spill it.
~
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and
it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on
a hot engine.
_- -
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, a GM cap
is recommended.
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.
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, a
GM thermostat
is recommended.
1 6-24
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Driving (Continued)
On Curves
.................................. 4- 11
On Grades While Towing a Trailer ............... 4-39
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-24
On Snow and Ice
............................. 4-26
Throughwater
............................... 4-20
WetRoads
.................................. 4-18
Winter
...................................... 4-26
With a Trailer
................................ 4-37
Dump and
Stow Feature ........................... 1-7
Electrical Equipment. Adding .................... 2-28
Electrical System
............................... 6-56
Electronic Level Control
......................... 4-32
Engine
....................................... 6-10
Coolant ..................................... 6-21
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-29
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-29
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-92
Cooling System
.............................. 6-64
Exhaust
..................................... 2-38
Identification
................................ 6-55
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-29
Overheated Protection Operating Mode
........... 5- 13
Overheating
................................. 5-13
Specifications
................................ 6-64
StartingYour
................................ 2-27
Temperature Warning Light
..................... 2-92
Additives
................................... 6-14
Checking
................................... 6-12
Running
While Parked
......................... 2-39
Engine Oil
............................... 2-96. 6-11 Used
....................................... 6-15
What Kind to Use
............................. 6-13
WhentoAdd
................................ 6-12
Equipment. Adding to the Outside
Of Your Vehicle ..... 6-3
When
to Change
.............................. 6-14
Exhaust. Engine ................................ 2-38
Exit Lighting
.................................. 2-62
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-48
Fan Knob. Climate Control System
.................. 3-2
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
.................... 6-7
Filling Your Tank
................................ 6-5
Filter. Air
..................................... 6-15
Filter. Passenger Compartment Air
................. 6-16
Finishcare
.................................... 6-51
Finish Damage
................................. 6-53
FirstGear
..................................... 2-33
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-24
Fluid Capacities
................................ 6-64
FogLmps
.................................... 2-60
Folding Driver’s Seatback
......................... 1-3
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-5
FrenchLanguage Manual
11
FrontDoor ..................................... 2-4
Front Parking/Turn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement
.... 6-34
Front Seat Storage Bin
........................... 2-71
Front Seat Storage Net
........................... 2-71
Front Sidemarker Lamp Bulb Replacement
........... 6-36
FrontTowing
.................................. 5-10
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-34
.. ...........................
9-4
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Luggagecarrier ................................ 2-74
Lumbar Control
................................. 1-6
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts
........... 6-65
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-36
Maintenance Schedule
............................ 7- 1
Long Tripmighway Definition
................... 7-6
Long Tripmighway Intervals
..................... 7-6
Owner Checks and Services
...................... 7-29
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-33
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-34
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-4
Short Trip/City Definition
....................... 7-5
Short TripKity Intervals
........................ 7-5
Your Vehicle and the Environment
................ 7-2
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-53
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-40
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-93
Matching Transmitters
to Your Vehicle .............. 2- 11
Mirrors
....................................... 2-64
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-65
Illuminated Visor Vanity
....................... 2-78
Inside Daymight Rearview
..................... 2-64
Power Remote Controls
........................ 2-64
Visorvanity
................................. 2-78
Mode Knob. Climate Control System
................ 3-2
MountainRoads
................................ 4-24
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-52
How
This Section is Organized
................... 7-3
Mode Buttons. Climate Control System
.............. 3-3 Net.
Convenience
.............................. 2-72
Neutral
....................................... 2-31
New Vehicle “Break-In”
......................... 2-25
Nightvision
................................... 4-17
Odometer
.................................... 2-85
Odometer.
Trip ................................. 2-85
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4-13
Oil. Engine
............................... 2-96. 6-11
Oil Pressure Light
.............................. 2-96
Overhead Console
.............................. 2-66
Driver Information Center
...................... 2-99
Garage Door Opener Compartment
............... 2-67
Sunglasses Compartment
....................... 2-68
Switchbank
.................................. 2-13
Overheated Engine Protection
..................... 5-13
Overheating Engine
............................. 5-13
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-29
Owner Publications. Ordering
..................... 8-10
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-53
Park Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2-30
Shifting Into
................................. 2-35
Shifting Out
of ............................... 2-37
AtNight
.................................... 2-22
Brake
...................................... 2-34
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-32
Lots
....................................... 2-22
Over Things That Burn ........................ 2-38
With a Trailer
................................ 4-40
Parking
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