PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1993 Owners Manual

Service & Appearance Care
Engine Oil (CONTI
Just fill it enough to put the level
somewhere
in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick
all the way
back
in when you’re through.
2.3L Quad OHC and Quad 4: Adding
Engine Oil
3300 V6: Adding Engine 011
What Kind of Oil to Use
Look for Three Things:
SG
“SG” must be on the oil container,
either by itself or combined with other
quality designations, such as “SG/CC,” “SG/CD,”
“SF, SG, CC,”
etc. These letters show American
Petroleum Institute
(API) levels of
quality.
mm. 210
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SAE 5W-30 (2.3L Quad OHC and
Quad 4 Engines)
As shown in the viscosity chart,
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 1OW-40 or SAE 20W-50.
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Service & Appearance Care
What Kind of Oil to Use (CONT.)
SAE low-30 (3300 V6 Engine)
As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE
1OW-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, below
0°F
(-18"C), 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 1OW-40 or SAE 2OW-50.
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Energy Conserving II
Oils with these words on the container
will help you save fuel.
This doughnut-shaped logo (symbol) is
used on most
oil containers to help you
select the correct oil.
You should look for this on the oil
container, and use only those oils that
display the logo.
GM Goodwrench@ Oil (in Canada, GM
Engine Oil) meets all the requirements
for your vehicle.
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Engine Oil Additives
Don't add anything to your oil. Your
Pontiac dealer is ready to advise
if you
think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km).
It's below freezing outside and most
trips are less than
10 miles (16 km).
The engine is at low speed most of the
time
(as in door-to-door delivery, or in
stop-and-go traffic).
You tow a trailer often.
Most trips are through dusty places.
If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your
oil and fdter every 3,000 miles
(5 0oO km) or 3 months-whichever
comes first. (See the
Index under Check
Oil Light.)
If none of them is true, change the oil
every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12
months-whichever comes first. Change
the filter at the first oil change and at
every other
oil change after that.
Engine Block Heater
An engine block heater can be a big
help if you have to park outside
in very
cold weather,
0" F (-18°C) or colder. If
your vehicle has this option, see the
Index under Engine Block Heater.
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Service & Appearance Care
What to Do with Used Oil
A
Used engine oil contains
things that have caused skin
cancer in laboratory animals. Don’t
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 throw away clothing or
rags containing used engine oil.
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Used oil can be a real threat to the
environment.
If you change your own oil, be sure to
drain
all free-flowing oil from the filter
before disposal.
Don’t ever dispose of oil by 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.
Air Cleaner
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to replace the air filter.
See the
Index under Scheduled
Maintenance Sewices
.
CAUTION
A
Operating the engine with the
air cleaner off can cause you
or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it
stops flame if the engine backfires.
If it isn’t there,
and the engine
backfires, you could be burned.
Don’t drive with
it off, and be
careful working on the engine
with
the air cleaner off.
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2.3L Quad OHC and Quad 4: Air
Filter Replacement
1. Unsnap the clip on the housing cover
and
pull the cover back.
2. Remove the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter
and replace the cover tightly.
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Service & Appearance Care
Air Cleaner (CONI)
3300 V6: Air Filter Replacement
1. Unscrew the two wing nuts, then
slide
the cover forward and up.
216
2. Remove the air cleaner.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter
and replace the cover.
Automatic Tmnsax/e Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic
transaxle fluid level is when the engine
oil is changed. Refer
to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See the
Index under
Scheduled Maintenance Services.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Pontiac dealership Service
Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow
all the instructions here, or you could
get a false reading on the dipstick.
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the transaxle fluid level if you have been
driving:
When outside temperatures are abve
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot
While pulling a trailer.
Ta get the right reading, the fluid should
be at normal operating temperature,
which
is 180°F to 200°F (82°C to
93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about 15 miles (24 km) when outside
temperatures are above 50°F (10°C). If
it’s colder
than 50°F (lO°C), you may
have to drive longer.
90°F (32°C).
weather.
0 Park your vehicle an a level place.
Place the shift lever in F (Park) with
With your foot on the brake pedal,
the parking brake applied.
move the shift lever through each gear
range,
pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever
in P (Park).
five minutes.
Let the engine run at idle for three to
Then, Without Shutting OMF the
Engine, Follow These Steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three
seconds and then pull
it back out
again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the luwer level. The fluid level
must be
in the crass-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is where it should
be, push the dipstick back in all the
way.
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Service & Appearance Care
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (CONT.)
How To Add Fluid:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of transaxle fluid to
use. See the
Index under Fluids &
Lubricants.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper fluid to bring the level into
the cross-hatched area on the dipstick.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less
than a pint. Don’t overfill. We
recommend you use only fluid
labeled DEXRON@-IIE, because fluids
with that label are made especially for
your automatic transaxle. Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRON@-IIE is not covered by your
new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid
level as described under
How tu Check.
When the correct fluid level is obtained,
push the dipstick back in all the way.
Manual Transaxle Fluid
When to Check:
A good time to have it checked is when
the engine oil is changed. However, the
fluid in your manual transaxle doesn’t
require changing.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Pontiac dealership Service
Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow
all the instructions here, or you could
get a false reading on the dipstick.
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Check the fluid level only when your
engine is
off, the vehicle is parked on a
level place and the transaxle is cool
enough for you to rest your fingers on
the transaxle case.
Then, Follow These Steps:
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out
the dipstick and clean it with a rag or
paper towel.
remove it.
2. Push it back in all the way and
3. Check both sides of the dipstick and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be between the
ADD and
FULL marks. (Note: Fluid may
appear at the bottom
of the dipstick
even when the fluid level is several
pints low.)
4. If the fluid level is where it should
be, push the dipstick back in all the
way.
5. Be sure to push the handle down
fully.
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