engine coolant SATURN ION 2007 User Guide

Checking Coolant
The surge tank is located on the driver’s side of
the engine compartment. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 280for more
information on location.
{CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when
the engine and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to blow out
and burn you badly. Never turn the surge
tank pressure cap — even a little — when
the engine and radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be parked on a level surface.
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should
be near the cold ll line. When your engine is
warm, the level should be at the cold ll line or a
little higher.
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Checking Intercooler System Coolant
(2.0L L4 Engine Only)
Park your vehicle on a level surface and turn off
the engine. When your engine is cold, the coolant
level should be just visible within the horizontal
tube section of the ll neck. When your engine is
warm, the coolant level could be as high as
the FULL HOT line, or a little higher. The FULL
HOT line has an arrow pointing down at it.
Notice:This vehicle has a specic coolant ll
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure
could cause your engine to overheat and
be severely damaged.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture at the surge tank
and/or intercooler ll neck, but only when the
engine is cool. SeeCooling System on page 300
for instructions on how to add coolant to the
coolant surge tank and/or intercooler ll neck.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on
hot engine parts. Coolant contains
ethylene glycol, and it will burn if the
engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing a pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight and fully seated.
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Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and possible engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
If you replace your coolant surge tank pressure
cap, a Saturn cap is required.
Engine Overheating
You will nd a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 173for more
information.You also have a check gage message and a
transaxle uid hot message. SeeCheck Gage
Message on page 184andTransaxle Fluid
Hot Message on page 183.
Notice:Driving with the CHK GAGE message
displayed in the message center and the
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on your
instrument panel in the red zone could cause
your vehicle to overheat. Your vehicle could
be damaged and the damages might not
be covered by your warranty.
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If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can
burn you badly, even if you just open the
hood. Stay away from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming from it. Just
turn it off and get everyone away from the
vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant
before you open the hood.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch re.
You or others could be badly burned.
Stop your engine if it overheats, and get
out of the vehicle until the engine is cool.
Notice:If your engine catches re because
you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle
can be badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by your warranty.
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Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is
what you will see:
A. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
B. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the
hood can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
The coolant level should be at the cold ll line.
If it is not, you may have a leak at the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump,
or somewhere else in the cooling system.
2.2L L4 Engine shown, 2.4L L4 and
2.0L L4 Supercharged Engines similar
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{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.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on,
check to see if the electric engine cooling fan
is running. If the engine is overheating, the
fan should be running. If it is not, your vehicle
needs service. Turn off the engine.Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by
your warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL®
may 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 your warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in
your vehicle.
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How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see
if coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant
is visible but the coolant level is not at the cold ll
line, add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at the coolant
surge tank, but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant surge tank pressure cap, is
cool before you do it. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 293for more information.
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system can blow out and burn
you badly. They are under pressure, and if
you turn the coolant surge tank pressure
cap — even a little — they can come out at
high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the coolant
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
surge tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and coolant surge
tank pressure cap to cool if you ever have
to turn the pressure cap.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
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Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and
crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts. Use the recommended coolant and
the proper coolant mixture.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on
hot engine parts. Coolant contains
ethylene glycol and it will burn if the
engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
1. You can remove the coolant surge tank
pressure cap when the cooling system,
including the upper radiator hose, is no longer
hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about one-quarter of a turn.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop.
This will allow any pressure still left to be
vented out the discharge hose.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly,
and remove it.
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3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture, to the cold
ll line.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off,
start the engine and let it run until you can
feel the upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch
out for the engine cooling fan.By this time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be lower. If the level
is lower, add more of the proper DEX-COOL
®
coolant mixture to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches the cold ll line.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
Check the level in the surge tank when the cooling
system has cooled down. If the coolant is not at
the proper level, repeat Steps 1 through 3
and reinstall the pressure cap. If the coolant is not
at the proper level when the system cools down
again, see your retailer.
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How to Add Coolant to the
Intercooler System Fill Neck
(2.0L L4 Supercharged Engine Only)
If you have not found a problem yet, turn the
engine off and allow it to cool down, then check to
see if coolant is visible within the horizontal
tube section of the ll neck. If coolant is not visible,
add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and DEX-COOL
®coolant to the ll neck. Be sure
the Intercooler System, including the Intercooler
System pressure cap, is cool before doing so. See
Engine Coolant on page 293for more information.
{CAUTION:
Turning the Intercooler System pressure
cap when the engine and intercooler are
hot can allow steam and scalding liquids
to blow out and burn you badly. Never
turn the Intercooler System pressure cap,
even a little, when the engine and
intercooler are hot.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and
crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts. Use the recommended coolant and
the proper coolant mixture.
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