PONTIAC GRAND-PRIX 1993 Owners Manual

Service & Appearance Care
Eagine 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 a few minutes to drain back into
the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
To Check 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 lower.
3.1 L V6: Checking Engine Oil
Twin Dual Cam
3.4L V6: Checking Engine
Oil
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
section explains what kind
of oil to use.
For crankcase capacity, see the
Index
under Capacities and Specifications.
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3.1 L V6: Adding Engine Oil
Twin
Dual Cam 3.4L V6: Adding Engine
Don’t add too much oil. If y
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.
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.
u use oils that don’t
have th
” designation, you can caus
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Service & Appearance Care
For best fuel economy and cold startin
select the lowest
SAE viscosity grade oil
for the expected temperature range.
..I
Wbat Kind of Oil to Use (CONT.)
SAE 5W-30
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.
222
IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30
GRADE
OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30
GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES
ABOVE
40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C).
DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR
RADE,OIL NOT RECOMMEN
Energy Conserving I1
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.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your
Pontiac dealer is ready to advise if you
think something should be added.
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When to Change Engine Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles
(6 la).
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 filter every 3,000 miles (5 000 km)
or 3 months-whichever comes first.
See the
Index under Oil Change
Indicator.
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.
If you have the STE, you have an oil
change indicator in the Driver
Information Center. See the
Index
under Driver Information Center.
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.
What to Do with Used Oil
CAUTION
* Used engine oil contains
L things that have caused skin
callcer 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.
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.
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Service & Appearance Care
i
Air Cleaner
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to replace the
air filter
and the
PCV filter. See the Index under
Scheduled Maintenance Services.
CAUTlON
A Operating the engine with
1 L the air cleaner off can cause
ywu 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 clearier off.
-
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
i
Always have the air cleaner
place when you’re driv
To Check or Replace:
1. Remove the four screws and pull off
the cover.
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2. Remove the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter
and replace the cover tightly.
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. 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.
NOTICE I
00 much or too little fluid
mage your transaxle.
Too
n mean that some of the flu
Id come out and fall on
ho
ine parts, starting a fi
I
225 . .
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Service & Appearance Care
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (CONT.)
Wait at least 30 minutes before
checking the transaxle fluid level
if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot
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 la) when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If
it's colder than
50°F ( 10°C), you may
have to drive longer.
weather.
To Check the Fluid Level:
Park
your vehicle on a level place.
Place the shift lever in P (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).
Let the engine run at idle for three to
five minutes.
Then, Without Shutting Off 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 lower level. The fluid level
must be in the cross-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is where it should be,
push the dipstick back in all the way.
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3.1 L V6: Checking Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Twin Dual Cam 3.4L V6: Checking
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
How to Add Transaxle Fluid:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of transaxle fluid
to use. See the
Index under Fluids G
Lubricants.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper fluid to bring the fluid
level into the cross-hatched area on the
dipstick. It doesn't take much fluid,
generally less than a pint
(0.5L). Don't
overfill. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRONQ-IIE, because
fluids with that label are made
especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRONB-IIE is not covered by your
new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the
fluid
level as described under How to Check.
When the correct fluid level is obtained,
push the dipstick back in all the
way.
3.1 L V6 Adding Automatic Transaxle
Fluid
Twin Dual Cam 3.4L V6: Adding
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
U
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Service & Appearance Care
Manual Pransaxle 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 does not
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 YQU could get a false reading on the
dipstick.
’. 22%
00 little fluid can
amage your transaxle.
Too much
an mean that some of the fluid
ould come out and fall on hot
ngine parts, starting a fire. Be
ure to get
an accurate reading if
ou check your transaxle fluid. The manual
transaxle dipstick is located
on the driver’s
side near the rear of the
transaxle case.
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
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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 is where it should be, push
the dipstick back in all the way.
How to Add Fluid:
Here’s how to add fluid. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of fluid
to use. See the Index
under Fluids G Lubricants.
1. Remove the dipstick by flipping the
handle
up and then pulling the
dipstick out.
2. Add fluid at the dipstick hole.
Add only enough fluid to bring the
fluid level
up to the FULL mark on
the dipstick
3. Push the dipstick back in all the way;
then flip the handle
down to lock the
dipstick in place.
Hydraulic Clutch Flujd
The hydraulic clutch in your vehicle is
self-adjusting.
When to Check and What to Use:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often you should check
the fluid level in your clutch master
cylinder reservoir and what
to add. See
the
Index under Owner Checks G
Services and Fluids G Lubricants.
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