octane PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1994 Owners Manual

Fuel
The 8th digit of your Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) shows the
code letter for your engine.
You will find
the
VIN at the top left of your instrument
panel. (See “Vehicle Identification
Number”
in the Index.)
3800 Engine (Code L):
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87
octane or higher. It should meet
specifications ASTM D48 14
in the U.S.
and CGSB 3.5-92 in Canada. These fuels
should have the proper additives,
so you
should not have to add anything to the
fuel. In
the
U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to be
sure you get the right kind
of gasoline
(unleaded). You’ll see
“UNLEADED”
right on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s filler
neck.
Be sure the posted octane is at least 87. If
the octane is less than 87, you may get a
heavy knocking noise when you drive. If
it’s bad enough, it can damage your
mgine.
[f you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane
or
higher and you still hear heavy knocking,
your engine needs service. But don’t
worry if you hear a little pinging noise
when you’re accelerating or driving up a
hill. That’s normal, and you don’t have to
buy a higher octane fuel to get rid of
pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock
that means you have a problem.
3800 Supercharged Engine (Code 1):
Use premium unleaded gasoline rated at
91 octane or higher.
You may use middle
grade or regular unleaded gasolines, but
your vehicle may not accelerate as well.
The gasoline you use should meet
specifications ASTM D4814
in the U.S.
and CGSB 3.5-92
in Canada. These fuels should
have the proper additives,
so you
should not have to add anything to the
fuel.
In the U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to be
sure you get the right kind of gasoline
(unleaded). You’ll see
“UNLEADED”
right on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s filler
neck.
Be sure the posted octane for premium is
at least 91 (at least 89 for middle grade
and 87 for regular). If the octane is.less
than
87, you may get a heavy knocking
noise when you drive. If it’s bad enough,
it can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at 9
1 octane or
higher and you still hear heavy knacking,
your engine needs service. But don’t
worry
if you hear a little pinging noise
when you’re accelerating
or driving up a
hill. That’s normal and you don’t have to
buy a higher octane fuel
to get rid of
pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock
that means you have a problem.
What about gasoline with blending
materials that contain oxygen
(oxygenates), such as MTBE or alcohol?
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Long Distance Driving ........... 152
Low Battery
................... 167
Low Coolant Warning Light
....... 93
Low Fuel Warning
.............. 100
Low Oil Pressure Warning ......... 94
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light ... 97
Lubricants
& Fluids ............. 261
Maintenance Record
........... 263
Maintenance Schedule
........... 247
Maintenance Services. Scheduled
. . 249
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
....... 96
Manual Front Seat ................ 8
Manual Reclining Seatback
......... 9
Manual Remote Control Mirror ..... 79
Maxifuse/Relay Center .......... 24 1
Methanol in Gasoline ............ 196
Mileage Indicator (see “Odometer &
Mirrors Speedometer”)
Convex Outside
.............. 79
Electrochromic Day/Night
...... 78
Inside Manual Daymight
....... 78
Manual Remote Control
........ 79
Power Remote Control
......... 79
Visor Vanity
................. 80
Mountain Driving
............... 153
New Vehicle “Break;In”
Requirements
.............. 52. 159
Night Driving
.................. 148
Octane Requirements (see “Fuel
Odometer
& Speedometer ......... 90
Requirements”)
Oil. Engine
.................... 205
Capacity
................... 242
Quality
.................... 206
Pressure
Gage
............... 10 1
Thickness .................. 207
Used Oil
................... 208
Warning Lights
............ 94. 95
When
‘to Change ............. 208
Oil Level Warning
............... 95
Operation of Lights
.............. 75
Outside Rearview Mirrors
......... 79
Overdrive. Automatic
............ 59
Overheated Engine Coolant Warning
..... 176. 178. 200. 214. 21.5
Overheated Engine
Owner Checks
& Services ........ 256
Warnings
.... 176. 178.
200. 2 14. 2 15
Park
......................... 56
Park. Shifting Into
............... 62
Park. Shifting
Out of ............. 64
Parking On Hills.
.................... 163
Over Things That Burn
......... 65
With the Engine Running
.... 64. 66
Parking Brake
................... 61
PASS-Key II@ .................. 48
Passing
....................... 146
Passenger
Belts (see “Safety Belts”) Performance Shifting
............. 60
Power Antenna ................. 135
Power Door Locks ............... 44
Power Mirrors .................. 79
Power Seat ...................... 8
Power Steering ................. 144
Polishing and
Waxing (see “Appearance
Care and Materials”)
Power Steering Fluid
.... 216. 242. 262
Power Windows
............. 67. 241
Pregnancy. Use
of Safety
Publications (see “Service Publications”)
Belts During
.................. 24
Radiator Overheating (see “Overheated
Radiator Pressure Cap
....... 180. 215
Radio (see “Audio Systems”)
Reading Lights
............... 77. 78
Rear Window Defogger
....... I 14. 117
Rearview Mirror
.............. 78. 79
Reclining Seatbacks
............... 9
Recommended Fluids &
Lubricants ................... 261
Remote Fuel Door Lock
.......... 197
Remote Keyless Entry
............ 44
Remote Trunk Release ............ 51
Replacement Bulbs ............. 244
Replacement. Windshield Wiper
... 222
Replacing Brake System Parts
..... 219
Replacing Safety Belts
............ 39
Engine”)
Replacement Parts
.............. 243
283 a 0 a
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Service Station Information
Hood Release
See Page 199
Engine Oil
See Page 205
Windshield Washer Fluid
See Page 217
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
See Page 211
Cold Tire Pressure
See Tire-Loading Information label
on inside edge of driver’s door.
See Page 224
Fuel
Capacity 18 U.S. Gal. (68 L) Use
unleaded gas only,
87 octane or
higher. (Code L Engine)
or 91
octane (Code 1 Engine).
See Page 195
Battery
The Delco Freedom@ battery
needs no water.
See Page 220
Cooling System
Check and add coolant only at
the coolant recovery tank. The
fluid should be at or a little above
the “FULL HOT” mark
when the
engine is warm.
If the engine is
cool, the level should be between
the “FULL COLD” and “FULL
HOT” marks.
See Page 213
Spare Tire Pressure
Compact Spare: 60 psi (420 kPa)
See Page 191
. , . .288
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