check oil OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 2003 User Guide

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half
DEX-COOL@ coolant which won’t damage
aluminum parts.
If you use this coolant mixture,
you don’t need
to add anything else.
Adding on
, plain wa ~ ~ * to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as 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,
drinkable water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
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 dealer 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.
Checking Coolant
The engine coolant
reservoir is located on the
driver’s side
of the vehicle,
above the engine air
cleanedfilter. See
Engine
Compartment Overview
on page
5- 12 for more
information on location.
5-24

Cleaning Exterior LarnpdLenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a
car washing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses.
Follow instructions under “Washing Your Vehicle”
previously.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the
paint finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. See
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance
Materials on page
5-93.
If your vehicle has a “basecoaflclearcoat” paint finish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoaflclearcoat
paint finish.
Notice: Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may
dl!!! the finish nr !!%!
e rwIr! marks-
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc.,
can damage your vehicle’s finish
if they remain
on painted surfaces. Wash the vehicte as soon as possible.
If necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that
are marked safe for painted surfaces to remove
foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a
period of years. You can help to keep the paint finish
looking new by keeping your vehicle garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Windshield, Backglass and Wiper
Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or
if the wiper blade chatters when running,
wax, sap or other material may be on the blade or
windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with a full-strength
glass cleaning liquid. The windshield is clean
if beads
do not form when you rinse
it with water.
Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper blades
and affect their performance. Clean the blade by
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the blade
with water.
?l‘i(3!b&g l/klrlm~!y yjth 3 ++h svhcd +I!! sbr,gt,G;
Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;
replace blades that look worn.
5-9 1

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
I
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
-EVEL AND CHANGE
AS I
RECOMMENDED ~
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can
even affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper
fluid levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase
the level of emissions from your vehicle.
To help protect
our environment, and to keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections and
recommended fluids and lubricants as prescribed in this
manual are necessary to keep your vehicle in good
working condition. Any damage caused by failure
to follow recommended maintenance may not be
covered by warranty.
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet or your dealer
for details.
6-2

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
This part contains engine oil and chassis lubrication
scheduled maintenance which explains the engine oil
life system and how
it indicates when to change
the engine oil and filter. Lubricate chassis components
with each
oil change. Also, listed are scheduled
maintenance services which are to be performed at the
mileage intervals specified.
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you to keep your
vehicle in good working condition. But we don’t know
exactly how you’ll drive it. You may drive short distances
only a few times a week. Or you may drive long distances
all the time in very hot, dusty weather. You may use your
vehicle in making deliveries. Or you may drive it to work,
to do errands or in many other ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may need more
frequent checks and replacements.
So please read
the following and note how you drive. If you have any
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition,
see your dealer. This part tells
you the maintenance services you
should have done and when you should schedule them.
When you go to your dealer for your service needs,
you’ll know that GM-trained and supported service
people will perform the work using GM parts.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Part
D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses
them.
All parts should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else drives the
vehicle.
This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these limits on your vehicle’s
Certificationflire label. See
Loading Your Vehicle
on page 4-34.
driving limits.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within
use the recommended fuel. See Gasoline Octane
on page
5-5.
6-4

Scheduled Maintenance
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(1 66 000 km) should be repeated after 100,000 miles
(1 66 000 km) at the same intervals for the life of
this vehicle. The services shown at
150,000 miles
(240 000 km) should be repeated at the same interval
after
150,000 miles (240 000 km) for the life of this
vehicle.
See
Part 5: Owner Checks and Services on page 6-10
and Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections on
page
6- 14.
Footnotes
t The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify
the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to
the completion of the vehicle
's useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the
mainienance
be recoraea.
+ A good time to check your brakes is during tire
rotation. See Brake System Inspection
on page 6-15.
Engine Oil and Chassis Lubrication
Scheduled Maintenance
Change engine oil and filter as indicated by the GM
Oil Life System (or every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). Reset the system.
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on
engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not on
mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at
which an oil change will be indicated can vary
considerably. For the oil life system to work properly,
you must reset the system every time the
oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary.
A change engine oil message will come on.
Change your oil as soon
as possible within the next
two times you stop for fuel. It
is possible that, if you are
driving under the best conditions, the oil life system may not indicate that an oil change is necessary for over
a year. However, your engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and at this time the system
must be reset. It is also important to check your oil
regularly and keep it at the proper level.
6-5

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed in this part are owner checks and services
which should be performed at the intervals specified to
help ensure the safety, dependability and emission
control performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See Engine Oil on page 5-14 for further
details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture
if necessary. See Engine Coolant
on page 5-23
for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the proper fluid
if necessary. See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-38 for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tries are inflated to the correct pressures.
Don’t forget to check your spare tire. See
Tires on
page 5-60
for further details.
Cassette Tape Player Service
Clean cassette tape player. Cleaning should be done
every
50 hours of tape play. See Audio Systern(s)
on page 3-63 for further details.
At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
:s , Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your bell
buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts.
If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its
job, have it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
6-1 0

Throttle System Inspection
Inspect the throttle system for interference or binding,
and for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts
as needed. Replace any components that have high
effort or excessive wear.
Do not lubricate accelerator
and cruise control cables.
Transfer Case (Power Transfer Unit)
and Carrier Assembly-Differential
(Rear Drive Module) All-Wheel Drive
Inspection
Every 12 months or at engine oil change intervals,
check rear differential and transfer case and add
lubricant when necessary.
A fluid loss could indicate
a problem; check and have it repaired,
if needed.
Check vent hoses at transfer case and differential for
kinks and proper installation.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition.
Also inspect drum brake linings
for wear and cracks. Inspect other brake parts, including
drums, wheel cylinders, calipers, parking brake, etc.
Check parking brake adjustment.
You may need to
have your brakes inspected more often
if your driving
habits or conditions result in frequent braking.
6-1 5

Capacities and Specifications .......................... 5-1 03
Captain Chairs. Rear
....................................... 1-13
Carbon Monoxide
................... 4-26, 4-36, 2-22, 2-43
Care of
Safety Belts
................................................ 5-90
Care of Your
Cassette Tape Player
................................. 3-103
CD and DVD Player
................................... 3-104
CDs and DVDs ......................................... 3-104
Cargo Lamp
................................................... 3-20
Carrier Assembly-Differential
(Rear Drive Module)
.................................... 5-51
Cassette Tape Messages
................................. 3-77
Cassette Tape Player Service
........................... 6-10
CD Adapter Kits
............................................. 3-78
Chains, Tires
.................................................. 5-67
Change Engine Oil Message
............................ 3-56
Charging System Indicator Message
.................. 3-54
Check
Checking Coolant
............................................ 5-24
Checking or Replacing the Engine Air CleanedFilter
......................................... 5-1 9
Checking Things Under the Hood
...................... 5-10
Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts ............. 1-37
Engine Light
............................................... 3-47
PhneLinm Enm;nn A:I VI l~ur\iIly Li lyll IG VI1 4- I y. 4A ........................................
Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................... 1-77
Chemical Paint Spotting
................................... 5-93 Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems
............................... 1-51
Infants and Young Children
........................... 1-48
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)
.......................... 1-58
Older Children
.......................................... 1-45
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System
................................ 1-60
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position
........................................... 1-64
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position
............................... 1-60
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
................................... 1-66
Top Strap
................................................... 1-55
Where to Put the Restraint
........................... 1-54
Inside of Your Vehicle
.................................. 5-87
Outside of Your Vehicle
................................ 5-90
Underbody Maintenance
............................... 5-93
Video Screen
............................................ 3-105
VVedll IelsLI Ips 5-YU
Your DVD Player ....................................... 3-105
Cleaning Exterior LampsILenses
....................... 5-91
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment
................. 3-37
Dual
.......................................................... 3-28
-I--- iup S+m clap Anchor L~atio~~ 1-56 ............................
Cleaning
I A r- -11- - .._I .. I .. 1- ..............................................
Climate Control System ................................... 3-25
3

Door Ajar Warning Message
................................. 3-57
Last Door Closed Locking
............................. 2-1 1
Power Door Locks ....................................... 2-10
Power Sliding Door
...................................... 2-1 6
Power Sliding Warning Message
.................... 3-56
Programmable Automatic Door Locks
............. 2-1 2
Position, Safety Belt
..................................... 1-28
Dual Sliding
Doors
....................................... 2-13
Locks
.......................................................... 2-9
Driver
Driver Information Center (DIC)
......................... 3-60
Driving
At Night
.................................................. 4-17
City
........................................................ 4-21
Defensive ..................................................... 4-2
Drunken ....................................................... 4-3
Freeway
..................................................... 4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads
.............................. 4-24
In Rain and on Wet Roads
........................... 4-1 8
Winter
........................................................ 4-26
Driving On Grades
.......................................... 4-42
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
............... 4-20
Driving with a Trailer
....................................... 4-40
Dual Trip Odometers
....................................... 3-41
ZrkiGCJ Gfi Sncjiiv Gi- kl3 4-a
Driving Through Flowing Water ......................... 4-20
Dual Climate Control System
............................ 3-28
n ,. ....................................
DVD
Care of Your
.......................................... 3-104
Care
of Your DVD Player ............................ 3-104
Cleaning the Video Screen
.......................... 3-105
Cleaning Your DVD Player .......................... 3-105
Distortion
.................................................. 3-1 03
Entertainment System
.................................. 3-91
DVD Player
.................................................... 3-94
E
Eight-Way Power Seats ..................................... 1-3
Electrical System
Add-on Equipment
...................................... 5-96
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
........................... 5-96
Headlamp Wiring
......................................... 5-96
Power Windows and Other Power Options
...... 5-96
Windshield Wiper Fuses
............................... 5-96
Maintenance Programs
............................. 3-50
Air CleanedFilter
...................... ........ 5-19
Battery ....................................................... 5-43
Change Oil Message
................................... 3-56
Coolant
...................................................... 5-23
Coolant Heater
............................................ 2-35
Emissions Inspection and
Engine
Check and Service Engine Soon Light
............ 3-47
Cnn!ant Temperature G2ge ........................... 3-47
5

Engine (cont.)
Coolant Temperature Warning Message
.......... 3-53
Cooling System Inspection
............................ 6-1 4
Engine Compartment Overview
.... ........... 5-12
Exhaust
..................................................... 2-43
Low Oil Level Message
................................ 3-55
Oil
............................................................. 5-14
Overheating
................................................ 5-26
Starting
...................................................... 2-34
Engine Coolant Level Check
............................. 6-10
Engine Oil Additives
......................... ....... 5-17
Engine Oil and Chassis Lubrication Scheduled Maintenance
................................. 6-5
Engine Oil Level Check
................................... 6-10
Engine Specifications
..................................... 5-1 04
Entering Programming Mode
............................ 2-63
Entertainment System
...................................... 3-91
Cleaning the Video Screen
.......................... 3-105
Cleaning Your DVD Player
.......................... 3-105
DVD Distortion
.......................................... 3-103
Entry Lighting
................................................. 3-18
Erasing HomeLink@ Buttons
.............................. 2-52
Exit Lighting
................................................... 3-19
Exiting Programming Mode
............................... 2-71
Express-Down Window
.................................... 2-25
Extender, Safety Belt
....................................... 1-44
Exterior Lamps
............................................... 3-1 4
F
FabricKarpet ................................................. 5-87
Engine Air Cleaner
...................................... 5-19
Filter
Finding
a PTY Station
..................... 3.67. 3.74. 3-83
Finding a Station
............................ 3-65, 3-72, 3-81
Finish Care
.................................................... 5-91
Finish Damage
............................................... 5-92
Fixed Mast Antenna
....................................... 3-105
Flash-to-Pass
................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire
........................................................ 5-69
Flat Tire, Changing
......................................... 5-70
Flip and Fold Rear Seats
.................................. 1-7
Fluid Automatic Transaxle
..................................... 5-20
Power Steering
........................................... 5-37
Windshield Washer
...................................... 5-38
FM
.............................................................. 3-103
Fog Lamps
.................................................... 3-16
Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks
............. 1-8, 1-14
Folding the Seatback
....................................... 1-18
Following Distance
.......................................... 4-41
Footnotes
........................................................ 6-5
Front Reading Lamps
...... ........................ 3-19
Front Seat Storage Net
................................ 2-55
Fuel
............................................................... 5-5
Additives
................. .......................... 5-6
California Fuel
....................................... 5-6