PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 2003 Owners Manual

Checking Things Under
the Hood
I
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. Things that
b n can get on hot engine parts
and start a fire. These include liquids like fuel,
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.
5-1 2

Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the hood release
handle inside the
vehicle. It is located
next to the parking
brake pedal near
the floor.
2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and push up on
the secondary hood release.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
on properly. Then pull the hood down and close it firmly.
5-1 3

Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 3800 (L36) engine (3800 Supercharged (L67) engine similar), here’s
what you
will see:
5-1 4

A. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
D. Radiator Pressure Cap
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
F. Engine Oil Dipstick
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap
H. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
I. Brake Master Cylinder
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Engine Oil
WCHECK
OIL LEVEL
If the OIL LEVEL LOW
message appears
on the
DIC, or the CHECK
OIL LEVEL light appears
on the instrument cluster, it
means
YOU need to
check your engine oil level
right away.
For more information, see
Check Oil Level Light on
page
3-50 or DIG Warnings and Messages on
page 3-60.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
5-1 5

Checking Engine Oil
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. Turn
off the engine
and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
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.
The engine oil dipstick is located behind the engine
cooling fans and in front of the engine
oil fill cap. The top
of the dipstick is a round yellow loop. See
Engine
Comparfment Overview on page 5-74 for more
information on location.
I I
5-1 6

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the cross-hatched area at the tip
of the dipstick, then you’ll need to add at least one
quart
of oil. But you must use the right kind. This part
explains what kind
of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications on
page 5- 100.
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.
1
7
The engine oil fill cap is
located near the engine oil
dipstick. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on
page
5-14 for more
information on location.
Be sure to
fill it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range in the cross-hatched
area. Push the dipstick
all the way back in when
you’re through.
5-1 7

What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Oils recommended for your vehicle can be identified by
looking for the starburst symbol.
This symbol indicates that the oil has been certified by
the American Petroleum Institute (API).
Do not use
any oil which does not carry this starburst symbol.
II If you choose to perform
the engine oil change
service yourself, be sure
the oil you use has
the starburst symbol on
the front of the oil
container.
If you have your
oil changed for you, be
sure the oil put into
your engine is American You
should also use the proper viscosity oil for your
vehicle, as shown in the viscosity chart.
SAE 1OW-30 is the viscosity grade recommended for
your vehicle. However, you can use SAE 5W-30
if
it’s going to be colder than 60°F (16°C) before your next
oil change. When it is very cold, colder than
0°F
(-18°C) you should use an SAE 5W-30 oil. These
numbers on an oil container show its viscosity,
or thickness.
Do not use other viscosity grade oils, such
as SAE 1OW-40 or SAE 20W-50 under any conditions.
I I Petroleum Institute certified
for gasoline engines.
5-1
8

RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE
OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER
+ 80 ~
+ 60
."I
7 "C
t 38
f 21
t 16
+4
-7
18
COLD
WEATHER
~ 1'
/.
SAE~W-XI
LOOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
.- SAE 1OW-30 PREFERRED above 0°F (-1WC)
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT REGOMMEMBED
Notice: Use only engine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use the recommended
oil can result in engine damage not covered by
your warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below -20°F (-29°C) it is
recommended that you use either an
SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an SAE OW-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely
low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Don't add anything to your oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol are
all you will need for
good performance and engine protection.
5-1 9

When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles
Without the
GM Oil Life SystemTM)
If any one of these is true for you, use the short trip/city
maintenance schedule:
e
e
e
e
Most trips are less than 5 miles (8 km). This is
particularly important when outside temperatures
are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier
on top
of your vehicle.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, tax1
or other commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine oil
to
break down sooner. If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your oil and filter
every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months - whichever
occurs first.
If none of them is true, use the long trip/highway
maintenance schedule. Change the oil and filter every
7,500 miles (1 2 500 km) or 12 months - whichever
occurs first. Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine
under highway conditions will cause engine oil
to
break down slower.
When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles
With the
GM Oil Life SystemrM)
If so equipped, 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. An ENGINE
OIL CHANGE SOON 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.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at
3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your
last oil change. Remember
to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
5-20

How to Reset the Oil Life System
The GM Oil Life SystemTM calculates when to change
your engine oil and filter based on vehicle use. Anytime
your oil is changed, reset the system
so it can
calculate when the next oil change is required.
If a
situation occurs where you change your oil prior to an
ENGINE
OIL CHANGE SOON message being
turned on, reset the system.
Always reset the engine oil life to
100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself.
To reset the Oil Life
System, do the following:
1. Display OIL LIFE on the DIC.
2. Press and hold the RESET button for more than
five seconds. The oil life will change to
100%.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Don't let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
hand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing or
rags containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer's
warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment.
If you
change your QW~ oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
filter before disposal. Never dispose
of oil by putting it
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in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or
into streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it
by taking it to a place that collects used oil.
If you have
a problem properly disposing
of your used oil, ask
your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center
for help.
Supercharger Oil
Unless you are technically
qualified and have the
proper tools, you should let
your dealer or a qualified
service center perform
this maintenance.
When to Check
Check oil level every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or every
36 months, whichever occurs first.
5-21