1993 BUICK CENTURY Owners Manual

Fuel
Use redar unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or What about gasoline with blending materials that contain
oxygen, such as MTBE or alcohol?
higher.-It should meet-specifications ASTM
D4814 in the mE is 66methyl kfliq+.bu@l Fuel that is no
U.S. and CGSB 3.5-92 in Canada. These fuels should more than 15% MTBE is fine for your vehicle.
have the proper additives, so you should not have to add
an-g
to the fuel. Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol. Properly-blended fuel
that
is no more than 10% ethanol is fine for your vehicle. In the U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to be sure you get the
right kind of gasoline (unleaded). You’ll see
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol.
“UNLEADED” right on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s filler neck.
Be sure the posted octane is at least
87. If the octane is
less than 87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive.
If it’s bad enough, it can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane or higher and .you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service. But
don’t worry
if you hear a little pinging noise when you’re
accelerating or driving up a
hill. That’s normal, and you
don’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid of
pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means you
have a problem.
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Gasolines for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with detergent additives will help
prevent deposits
from forming in your engine and fuel
system. That helps keep your engine in tune and your
emission control system working properly. It’s good for
your vehicle, and you’ll be doing your part for cleaner
air.
Many gasolines
are now blended with materials called
oxygenates. General Motors recommends that you use gasolines
with these blending materials, such as MTBE
and ethanol.
By doing so, you can help clean the air,
especially
in those parts of the country that have high
carbon monoxide levels.
In addition, some gasoline suppliers are now producing
reformulated gasolines. These gasolines are specially
designed to reduce vehicle emissions. General Motors recommends that you use reformulated gasoline. By
doing
so, you can help clean the air, especially in those
parts of the country that have high ozone levels.
You should ask your service station operators if their
gasolines contain detergents and oxygenates, and if they
have been reformulated to reduce vehicle emissions.
F’uels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the U.S.
or Canada, unleaded fuel may be hard to find.
Do not use leaded gasoline. If you use even one tankful,
your emission controls won’t work well or at
all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get fouled, the exhaust
system can corrode, and your engine oil can deteriorate
quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor will be damaged.
All of that
means costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or contact
a major oil company that does business in the country
where
you’ll be driving.
You
can also write us at the following address for advice.
Just tell us where you’re going and give your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) .
General Motors of Canada Ltd.
International Export Sales
P. 0. Box 828
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7N1, Canada
I
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Filling Your Tank
1
A CAUTION:
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very
bad injuries.
Don’t smoke
if you’re near gasoline or
refueling your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames,
and smoking materials away from gasoline.
The cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of your
vehicle.
To take
off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
If you get gasoline on you and then something
ignites
it, you could be badly burned. Gasoline
can spray out on you if you open the fuel filler
cap too quickly. This spray can happen if your
tank is nearly full, and is more likely
in hot
weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then
unscrew the cap
all the way.
When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right until
you hear a clicking
noise.
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Checking Things Under the Hood
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the
vehicle.
It is located on the
lower
left side of the
instrument panel.
Then
go to the front of the
vehicle and release the
secondary
hood release.
Lift the hood.
1
..
4 A
,,,/
c
In ! CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can atart up
and hjure you even when the englne is not
running.
Keep hands, elothlng and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
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/i CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start
a fire. These include liquids like
gasoline, oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield
washer and other fluids, and plastic or rubber.
You or others could be burned. Be careful not
to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot
engine.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on
properly. Then just pull the hood down and close it
firmly.
Engine Oil
I‘
I
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. The
3300 V6 engine oil dipstick is located near the front and
center
of the engine compartment.
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The 2.2L LA engine oil dipstick is located in the fill cap
near the front and center of the engine compartment.
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 dean it
with a paper towel or cloth, then push it back in
all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the tip lower.
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 “Capacities and Specifications”
in the Index.
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Just fd 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.
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i
I ':
I 1
ISCOS E ENGINE OILS I '"'
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
I SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
LOOK
LABEL
HOT FOR THIS WEATHER (
SAL 10W-3-
PREFERREl
AE 5W-30
COLD IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30
GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30
ABOVE
40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C).
ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED WEATHER GRADE MAY BE USE0 AT TEMPERATURES
00 NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR
If you have the 3300 V6 engine use:
SAE 1OW-30
As shown in this 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 20W-50.
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