PONTIAC G8 2009 Owners Manual

A.Engine Compartment Fuse Block
on page 9-38 .
B. Coolant Reservoir and Dipstick. See Cooling System on
page 9-13 .
C. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 9-8 .
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Oil” under Engine Oil on
page 9-8 .
E. Power Steering Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid
on page 9-21 .
F. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under Brakes
on page 9-25 .
G. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 9-11 .
H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Windshield
Washer Fluid on page 9-23 .
I. Radiator Pressure Cap. See Cooling System on page 9-13 .
V8 Engine
Vehicle Service and Care 9-7

Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the
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 handle
is a yellow loop. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 9-6
for the location of the engine oil
dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the
oil several minutes to drain back
into the oil pan. If you do not
do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull 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.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the MIN (minimum)
mark, add at least one quart/liter
of the recommended oil. This
section explains what kind of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, seeCapacities and
Specifications on page 10-2.
Notice:Do not add too much oil.
If the engine has so much oil
that the oil level gets above the
upper mark that shows the proper
operating range, the engine
could be damaged.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6for the location of
the engine oil ll cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the
way back in when you are through.
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Look for three things:
9-8 Vehicle Service and Care

GM6094M
Use only an oil that meets
GM Standard GM6094M.
SAE 5W-30
SAE 5W-30 is best for the
vehicle. If you are in an area
of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below
−20°F (−29°C), use either an
SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil or
an SAE 0W-30 oil. Both provide
easier cold starting and better
protection for the engine at
extremely low temperatures.
These numbers on an oil
container show its viscosity, or
thickness. Do not use other
viscosity oils such as
SAE 20W-50.
American Petroleum Institute
(API) starburst symbol
Oils meeting these requirements
should have the starburst symbol
on the container. This symbol
indicates that the oil has been
certied by the American
Petroleum Institute (API).
Notice:Use only engine oil
identied as meeting GM Standard
GM6094M and showing the
American Petroleum Institute
Certied For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use
the recommended oil can result in
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.Engine Oil Additives / Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil.
The recommended oils with
the starburst symbol that meet
GM Standard GM6094M are all you
need for good performance and
engine protection.
Engine oil system ushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-9

Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that lets you know when to change
the engine oil and lter. 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. The Service Engine
Oil message will be displayed.Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 600 miles (1 000 km).
It is possible that, if you are driving
under the best conditions, the oil life
system might not indicate that an oil
change is necessary for over a year.
However, the engine oil and lter
must be changed at least once a
year and at this time the system must
be reset. Your dealer/retailer has
trained service people who will
perform this work using genuine
parts and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, you must change
the oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km)
since the last oil change. Remember
to reset the oil life system whenever
the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
The Engine Oil Life System
calculates when to change the
engine oil and lter based on vehicle
use. Whenever the oil is changed,
reset the system so it can calculate
when the next oil change is required.
If a situation occurs where you
change the oil prior to the Service
Engine Oil message being displayed,
reset the system.
After changing the engine oil, reset
the system:
1. Turn the ignition key to ON/RUN
with the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the
accelerator pedal three times
within ve seconds.
If the Service Engine Oil
message does not appear,
the system is reset.
If the Service Engine Oil message
displays, reset the system again.
9-10 Vehicle Service and Care

What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good 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 own
oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
lter before disposal. Never dispose
of oil by putting it in the trash, pouring
it on the ground, into sewers, or into
streams or bodies of water. Recycle
it by taking it to a place that collects
used oil.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6for the location of the
engine air cleaner/lter.
When to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/lter at the
MaintenanceIIintervals and replace
it at the rst oil change after each
50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval.
See “Schedule Maintenance”
in Service and Maintenance for
more information. If you are driving
in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect
the lter at each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/lter,
remove the lter from the vehicle
and lightly shake the lter to release
loose dust and dirt. If the lter
remains caked with dirt, a new lter
is required.
To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/lter:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood
Release on page 9-5.
2. Locate the air lter housing on
the front of the driver side of
the engine compartment.
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 9-6.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-11

3. On the V8 engine, remove the
airow sensor connector by
pushing in the tab and pulling
straight back.4. Remove the ve retaining clips
on the air lter housing.
5. Pull straight up on cover, while
holding the cover remove the
air lter.
6. Install the air lter.
7. Close the air lter housing cover
and clip the ve retaining clips.
8. On the V8 engine push in the
airow sensor connector.
{CAUTION
Operating the engine with the
air cleaner/lter off can cause
you or others to be burned.
The air cleaner not only cleans
the air; it helps to stop ames if
the engine backres. If it is not
there and the engine backres,
you could be burned. Do not
drive with it off, and be careful
working on the engine with the
air cleaner/lter off.
Notice:If the air cleaner/lter
is off, a backre can cause a
damaging engine re. And, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which will damage it. Always have
the air cleaner/lter in place
when you are driving.
9-12 Vehicle Service and Care

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, this is what you see:
A. Engine Coolant Reservoir
B. Radiator CapV6 Engine
Vehicle Service and Care 9-13

A. Engine Coolant Reservoir
B. Radiator Cap
{CAUTION
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running and
can cause injury. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
V8 Engine
9-14 Vehicle Service and Care

{CAUTION
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is
a leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine re, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
xed before you drive the vehicle.Notice:Using coolant other
than DEX-COOL
®can cause
premature engine, heater core, or
radiator corrosion. In addition,
the engine coolant could require
changing sooner, at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free)
coolant in the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
lled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km),
whichever occurs rst.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
seeEngine Overheating on
page 9-20.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-15

What to Use
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to the
cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water
or the wrong mixture, the engine
could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. The
engine could catch re and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
Gives freezing protection down
to−34°F (−37°C), outside
temperature.
Gives boiling protection up to
265°F (129°C), engine
temperature.
Protects against rust and
corrosion.
Will not damage aluminum parts.
Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.Notice:If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and
other parts.
Notice:If extra inhibitors and/or
additives are used in the vehicle’s
cooling system, the vehicle
could be damaged. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine
coolant listed in this manual
for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-12for
more information.
9-16 Vehicle Service and Care