fuel PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1998 Owner's Manual

You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you
try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
0
0
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and ‘5netric”
fasteners can be easily confused.
If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off. You could be hurt.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the
airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your dealer before adding equipment to the outside
of
your vehicle.
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.)
If you have the 3800 engine (VIN Code K), use regular
unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher.
If you have the
5.7L engine (VIN Code G), use
premium unleaded gasoline rated at
91 octane or
higher for best performance. You may use middle
grade or regular unleaded gasolines, but your vehicle
may not accelerate as well.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use should meet specifications ASTM
D48 14 in the United States
and CGSB
3.5-M93 in Canada. Improved gasoline
specifications have been developed by the American
Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) for
better vehicle performance and engine protection.
Gasolines meeting the AAMA specification could
provide improved driveability
and emission control
system protection compared to other gasolines.
6-3

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 the recommended octane or
higher and you 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.
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood emission control
label),
it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specifications. If such fuels are not available
in states adopting California emissions standards, your
vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp on your instrument panel may turn on and/or
your vehicle may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs,
return to
your authorized Pontiac dealer for diagnosis
to determine the cause of failure. In the event it is
determined that
the cause of the condition is the type of
fuels used, repairs may not be covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for
low
emissions contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT);
ask your service station operator whether or not his fuel
contains
MMT. General Motors does not recommend the
use of such gasolines.
If fuels containing "'I' are used,
spark plug life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel
may
turn on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
Pontiac dealer for service.
6-4

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.
1 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
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
6-5

Filling Your Tank
The cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of
your vehicle.
I
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very
bad injuries.
Don’t smoke
if you’re near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from gasoline.
While refueling, hang the cap by the tether from the pin
on the fuel door.

To remove the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The cap has a spring in it; if you let
go of the cap too soon, it will spring back to the right.
L
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites
it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you
if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces
as soon as possible. See “Cleaning
the Outside of Your Vehicle” in the Index. When you put the
cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear
a clicking sound. Make
sure
you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has been left
off or
improperly installed. This would allow fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere. See “Malfunction
Indicator Lamp” in the Index.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit properly. This may
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light
and your fuel tank and emissions system may be
damaged. See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index.
6-7

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
Checking Things Under the Hood
A CAUTION:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged
if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:
0 Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
0 Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.
inside
of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.
0 Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
0 Don’t smoke while pumping gasoline.
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 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.

Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on.
Then just pull the hood down and close it firmly.
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. The engine
oil dipstick is the yellow loop near
the
back of the engine.
Note: Do not check the
5.7L engine oil level after the
engine has sat overnight.
A higher than normal reading
might be obtained. Check oil level with the oil warm.
Shut
off the engine, wait a few minutes, and then
check the oil.
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.
6-12

RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VlSCOSlTV GRADE OIL
FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER
LOOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
SAE iw-30 PREFERRED
WEATHER
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
5.7L V8 Engine
As shown in the chart, if you have the 5.7L engine,
SAE 5W-30 is best for your vehicle. However, you can
use SAE 1OW-30 if it’s going to be 0°F (-18°C) or
above. These numbers on an oil container show its
viscosity, or thickness.
Do not use other viscosity oils,
such as
SAE 20W-50.
6-15

RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE EH61NE OILS
HWI BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTIWB, SELECT THE LOWEST
S4€ YISCBSITT 8RllM OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERANURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER
COLD
111 SAE I low-30
PREFERRED mbovs OOF (-16’C)
WEATHER
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR AMY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
3800 V6 Engine
As shown in the chart, if you have the 3800 engine,
SAE low-30 is best 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’s
very cold,
you should use SAE 5W-30. These numbers
on
an oil container show its viscosity, or thickness. Do
not use other viscosity oils, such as SAE 20W-50.
I NOTICE:
Use only engine oil with the American Petroleum
Institute Certiaed 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 where the temperature falls below
-20°F (-29”C), consider using either an SAE SW-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.
6-16

Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the
driver’s door, shows the correct inflation pressures
for
your tires when they’re cold. “Cold” means your vehicle\
has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no
more than
I mile (1.6 km).
If you’ll be driving at high speeds (e.g., speeds of
100 mph (160 km/h or higher), where it is legal, set
the cold inflation pressure to the maximum inflation
pressure shown on the tire sidewall, or to
38 psi
(265 Wa), whichever is lower. See the example below.
When you end this high-speed driving, return to the cold inflation pressures shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label.
Example: You’ll find maximum load and inflation pressure
molded on the tire’s sidewall, in small letters, near the
rim flange. It will read something like this: Maximum
load
690 kg (1521 lbs.) 0 300 kPa (44 psi) Max. Press.
For this example, you would set the inflation pressure
for high-speed driving at
38 psi (265 Wa).
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right.
It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
0 Too much flexing
0 Too much heat
0 Tire overloading
0 Bad wear
0 Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
0 Bad handling
0 Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
6-45