PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1996 Owners Manual

3.1L (CODE M) Engine
When you open the hood, ou’ll see:
A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap
D. Engine Oil Dipstick
E. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
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E Brake Fluid Reservoir
G. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
H. Air Cleaner
I. Battery
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Engine Oil
CHECK
OIL
If the CHECK OIL light on
the instrument
panel comes
on,
it means you need to
check your engine oil level
right away. For more
information,
see “Check 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 2.4L Engine
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
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3.1L Engine
The engine oil dipstick handle is yellow. The dipstick on
the 2.4L engine is located at the rear of the engine. The
dipstick on
the 3.1L engine is located on the front of the
engine, behind the fan.
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.
Checking Engine Oil
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.
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When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD line, then you’ll need
to add some oil. But you must use the right’kind, This
part explains what kind of oil to use. For crankcase
capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications” in the
Index.
NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil, If your engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above ‘the upper
mark that shows the proper operating range,
your engine could be damaged, 2,4L Engine
The 2.4L engine oil fill cap is located on the passenger
side of the engine compartment on the engine block,
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What Kind of’Oil to Use
3.1L Engine
The 3.1L engine oil fill cap is on the front of the engine,
behind the radiator.
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.
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.
If you change your own oil,
be sure you use oil that 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 Petroleum
Institute certified
for
gasoline engines.
You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your
vehicle, as shown
in the following chart:
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' RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE gNOINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAL llscosnrr GRADE OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RAW6E.
HOT
WEATHER
/
SAE iw-# PREFERRED
LOOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
GOLD
WEATHER
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
As shown in the 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 ~il
container show its viscosity, or thickness. Do not use
other viscosity oils, such as SAE 2OW-50.
T
t
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.
Engine Oil Additives
Don't add anything to your oil. Your Pontiac dealer is
ready to advise if you tW ssmethin~ should be added.
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When to Change Engine Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
0 Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures
are below freezing.
0 Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
0 You frequently tQw a trailer or use a carrier on top of
your vehicle.
or other commercial application.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
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, change the oil and filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months -- whichever
occurs first. Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed
engine under highway conditions causes engine
oil to
break down slower.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that 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 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. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal
of
oil products.)
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 putting it 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.
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Air Cleaner
The air cleaner is located on the driver’s side of the
engine compartment.
1. Remove the screws that hold the cover on.
2. Lift off the cover.
3. Reinstall the air cleaner fi
tightly. lter
and replace
the cover Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
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.
I NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
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Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
0 In heavy ,city traffic where the outside, temperature
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such zp found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and
filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may choose to have this done at your 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.
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C)
or higher.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level
if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
To 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 krn) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it’s colder than 50°F (lO°C), you may have
to drive longer.
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Checking the Fluid Level
' Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in
PARK (P). I
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each
gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK (P).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes. Then,
without shutting
off the engine, follow these
steps:
1. The automatic transaxle dipstick handle is red. Pull
out the dipstick
and wipe it with a clean rag or paper
towel.
2. hsh it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
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