1993 BUICK CENTURY recommended oil

Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out.
Of course, you’ll
find experienced and able service experts in Buick
dealerships
all across North America. They’ll be ready
and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before
a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
hel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all
Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free
trip.
Is the tread good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated to the recommended
pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along
your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to
avoid a major storm system?
levels?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
On the Road
Unless you
are the only driver, it is good to share the
driving task with others. Limit
turns behind the wheel to
about
100 miles (160 km) or two hours at a sitting. Then,
either change drivers or stop for some refreshment like
coffee, tea or
sol3 drinks and some limbering up. But do
stop and move around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier
meals tend
to make some people sleepy.
On two-lane highways or undivided multilane highways
that do not have controlled access, you’ll want to watch for some situations not usually found on freeways.
Examples are: stop signs and signals, shopping centers
with direct access to the highway, no passing zones and school zones, vehicles turning left and right
off the road,
pedestrians, cyclists, parked vehicles, and even animals.
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the .wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with the
same scenery, along with the hum
of the tires on the
road, the drone
of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it \
happen to you!
If it does, your vehicle can leave the road
in
less than a second, and you could crash and be
injured.
165
ProCarManuals.com

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.
ProCarManuals.com

Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials
You can get these from your Buick dealer .
DESCRIPTION USAGE PAFlT NUMBER
Magic Mirror Creme Wax ............. Exterior cleaner and polish ......... 12345343
Spray-A-Squeak
..................... Weatherstrips ..................... 1052277
Silicone Grease
..................... Stops squeaks ..................... 1052863
Tar and Road
Oil Remover ............ Also removes old waxes, polishes .... 1050172
Chrome Cleaner and Polish
........... Removes rust and corrosion .......... 1050173
White Sidewall Tire Cleaner
.......... Cleans white and black tires ......... 1050174
VinyULeather Cleaner
............... Spot and stain removal .............. 1050214
Fabric Cleaner
...................... Spot and stain removal .............. 1050244
Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner
........ Cleans vinyl and cloth, also. tires ...... 1050429
and
mats
latches
Glass Cleaner
....................... Also spot cleans vinyls ............. 1050427
Lubriplate
(Wh~te Grease) ............ For hood. trunk, door hinges and ..... 1052349
Preservatone
.................. .... Vinyl Top Dressing ................ 1051055
Washer Solvent
..................... Windshield-washing system .......... 1051515
Spot Lifter
........................ For cloth ........................ 105l398*
Wash-Wax (concentrate)
.............. Exterior Wash ..................... 1052870
SIZE
16 oz . (0.473L)
12 oz . (0.354L)
1
oz . (0.02Skg)
16 oz . (0.473L)
16
oz . (0.473L)
16
oz . (0.473L)
32
oz . (0.946L)
16
oz . (0.473L)
23
oz . (0.680L)
6 lb
. (2.72kg)
12 oz . (0.340kg)
16
oz . (0.473L)
8 oz . (0.237L)
32
oz . (0.946L)
16
oz . (0.473L)
* Not recommended .for pigskin suede leather .
See your General Motors dealers for these products .
See your Maintenance Schedule for other products .
264
I
ProCarManuals.com

I
I
Part 7 Maintenance Schedule
IMPORTANT
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
'LEVEL AND CHANGE
AS
RECOMMENDED
This part covers the maintenance
required for your Buick. Your vehicle
needs these services to retain
its safety,
dependability and emission control
performance.
Have you purchased the
GM Protection Plan?
The Plan supplements your
new vehicle warranties.
See your Buick dealer
for details.
part 7 includes:
Introduction
A Word About Maintenance ...................... .276
Your Vehicle and the Environment ................. ,276
How This Part is Organized ...................... .276
A.. Scheduled Maintenance Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedules ................ .278
Selecting the Right Schedule ...................... ,279
Schedule1 ..................................... 280
Schedule I1 ................................... .282
Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services .... -284
At Each Fuel Fill .............................. .287
B. Owner Checks and Services
At Least Once a Month ......................... .287
At Least Once a Year ........................... .288
C. Periodic Maintenance Inspections ................ .290
D. Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ............ .292
E. Maintenance Record. .......................... .295
ProCarManuals.com

Schedule I
Follow Schedule I if your vehicle is
MAINLY driven under one or more
of the following conditions:
When most trips are less than 4 miles
When most trips are less than
10 miles (16 km) and outside
temperatures remain below freezing.
When most trips include extended
idling and/or frequent low-speed
operation, as
in stop-and-go’ traffic.
(6 km).
When towing a trailer.
When operating in dusty areas.
Schedule I should also be followed if
the vehicle
is used for delivery
service, p?lice,
taxi or other
commercial applications.
* An Emission Control Service.
z2T The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
has.determined that the failure to perform this
maintenance item will not nullify the emission
wamty
or limit recall liability prior to the
completion of vehicle useful life. General
Motors, however, urges that all recommended
maintenance services
be performed at the
indicated intervals and the maintenance be
recorded in “Section E: Maintenance Record.”
ITEM
NO.
TO BE SERVICED WHEN TO PERFORM
See “Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Miles (kilometers) or Months
Services” following Schedules
I and D[. (whichever occurs first).
2 I Chassis Lubrication I Every other oil change.
Tire
and Wheel Rotation and Inspection At 6,000 Miles (10 000 km) and every 15,000
Miles (25 000 km) or as necessary. I
61
Cooling System Service* Every 30,000 Miles (50 O00 km) or 24
Months. I
8 I Spark
Plug Replacement* I Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km). I
EGR System Inspection** Every 30,000 miles (50 OOO km)
(2.2L LA Code 4 engine only)
12 I Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection** I Every 30,000 Miles (50 OOO km). I
280
ProCarManuals.com

Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services
Below are explanations of the services listed in Schedule
I and Schedule II.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Section
D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
1 Engine Oil and Filter Change-Always use
SG Energy Conserving 11 oils of proper viscosity.
The “SG” designation may be shown alone or in
combination with others, such as ‘‘SG/CC:’
“SG/CD” or “SF, SG, CC:’ etc.
To determine the preferred viscosity for your
vehicle’s engine (e.g., SAE
5W-30 or SAE
10W-30), see “Engine Oil” in the Index.
2 Chassis Lubrication-Lubricate the transaxle
shift linkage, parking brake cable guides,
underbody contact points and linkage. If your
vehicle is equipped with grease fittings, lubricate
the suspension and steering linkage. these. All parts should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else drives the vehicle.
NOTE: To determine your engine’s displacement and
code, see “Engine Identification” in the Index.
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
3 Throttle Body Mounting Bolt Torque (3300 V6
Code N Engine Only)*-Check the,torque of
the mounting bolts and/or nuts.
4 Tire and Wheel Rotation and Inspection-For
proper wear and maximum tire life, rotate your
tires following the instructions
in this manual.
See “Tires, Inspection & Rotation” in the Index.
Check the tires for uneven wear or damage. If
you see irregular or premature wear, check the
wheel alignment. Check for damaged wheels also.’
*An Emission Control Service.
~2 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify the.emission warranty
or limit recall liability prior
to the completion of vehicle useful life. General Motors, however, urges that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance be recorded in “Section E: Maintenance Record.”
284
ProCarManuals.com

Section D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
NOTE: Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part number or specification may be obtained from your GM dealer.
USAGE FWID/LUBRICANT
..
Engine Oil GM Goodwrench Motor Oil or equivalent for API service SG. Energy Conserving 11 oils of
the proper viscosity.
The “SG’ designation may be shown alone or in combination with
others, such as “SGICC,” “SG/CD” or “SF, SG, CC,” etc.
TO determine the preferred
viscosity for your vehicle’s engine,
see “Engine Oil” in the Index. -1
- ~~
Engine Coolant 50/50 mixture of water (preferably distdled) and good quality ethyle\
ne glycol base antifreeze
(GM Part
No. 1052753 or equivalent) conforming to GM Specification 1825M or approved
recycled coolant‘conforming to GM Specification
1825M. I
Hydraulic Brake I Delco Supreme 1P B,rake Fluid (GM Part No. 1052535). or equivalent DOT-3 brake fluid.
System
I
Parking. Brake Guides Chassis lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI Grade 2, Category LB or GC-LB
I (GM Part No. 1052497 or equivalent).
I Power Steering
System
I
GM Hydraulic Power Steering Fluid (GM Part No. 1052884) or equivalent.
,
I
~ Automatic Transaxle I DEXRON@-IIE Automatic Transmission Fluid (GM Part No. 12345881)
292
ProCarManuals.com

octane Requirements (see “Fuel Requirements”)
Odometer
........................................ 106
Oil. Engine ......................... .227. 270. 272. 292
Quality
........................................ 229
Thickness
..................................... 230
UsedOil
...................................... 232
When
to Change ................................ 232
Oil Warning Light
.................................. 107
OperationofLigh
ts ................................. 95
Outside Rearview Mirrors
............................ 99
Overheated Engine
................................ 195
Overheated Engine Coolant Warning Light
.............. 110
P (Park), Shifting Into .................... i ........ 81
Parking
OnHills
....................................... 168
Over Things That Burn
............................ 83
WithaTrailer
................................... 180
With
the Engine Running ........................... 82
ParkingBrake
...................................... 80
Passenger Belts (see “Safety Belts”)
Passing
.......................................... 152
Polishing and Waxing (see “Appearance Care”)
PowerAntenna
.................................... 131
Power Door
Locks ................................. 66
Power Seat Controls ................................ 15
Power Steering Fluid .................. .241. 271. 273. 292
Power Windows
.............................. .85. 268
Pregnancy, Use
of Safety Belts During .................. 40 Problems on the Road
... .......................... 183
Publications (see “Service Publications”)
Radiator Overheating (see “Overheated Engine”)
Radiator Pressure Cap
......................... .199. 241
Radio
(see “Audio Systems”)
Reading Lights
.................................... 97
Rear Seats. Folding ................................. 18
Rear Storage Security Cover
......................... 101
Rear Window Defogger
............................. 115
Rearview Mirrors .................................. 98
Reclining Seatbacks
................................. 15
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants .................. 292
Remote Lock Control
............................... 66
Replacement Bulbs ................................ 269
Replacement Fuses
................................ 266
Replacement
Parts ............................ .271. 273
Replacing Safety Belts
............................... 61
Replacing Tires
................................... 254
Replacing Wheels
............................. .256. 257
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 302
Restraints. Child
................................... 47
Restraints, Head
................................... 17
Reverse
.......................................... 77
Roadsigns
....................................... 134
Color
......................................... 134
Pavement Markings
.............................. 141
Shape
......................................... B7
Symbols ....................................... 139
313
ProCarManuals.com