1993 BUICK REGAL Owners Manual

Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher. It should meet specifications ASTM D4814 in
the
U.S. and CGSB 3.5-92 in Canada. These fuels
should have the proper additives,
so you should not have
to add anything to the fuel.
In the
U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to be sure you get the
right kind of gasoline (unleaded). You’ll see
“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.
What about gasoline with blending materials that
contain oxygen, such as MTBE or alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.” Fuel that is no
more than
15% MTBE is fine for your vehicle. Ethanol
is ethyl or
grain alcohol. Properly-blended fuel
that is no more than 10% ethanol is fine for your
vehicle.
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol.
NOTICE:
Fuel that is more than 5% methanol is bad for
your vehicle. Don’t use it. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty. And even at
5%
or less, there must be “cosolvents” and
corrosion preventers in this fuel to help avoid
these problems.
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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
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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.
Fuels 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.O. Box 828
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7N1, Canada
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Filling Your Tank The cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of your
vehicle.
11ne vapor IS nlghly Tlarnrnao
violently, and that can cause very Dad injuries.
Don’t smoke if you’re near gasoline or refuelin
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames, (rr4erials away
+rqm ga-line. ~~2;: LMk
While refueling, hang the cap inside the fuel door.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the kft
(counterclockwise).
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A CAUTION:
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.
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit
or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system might be damaged.
Checking Things Under the Hood
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the
vehicle. It is located on the
floor next to the driver’s
seat.
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,. ;, ., ,:,’:*< ,. j ;;.*g .;,;.a> -*:~:inh Then go to the front of the
vehicle and release the
secondary hood release.
Lift the hood.
4 CAUTION:
An electric fr ~- der the hood can start up and
. jure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric
fr-
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A 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
1 things that will burn onto a hot engine.
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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
If the “LOW OIL” light on the instrument panel comes
on, it means you need to check your engine oil level
right away.
You should check your engine oil level
regularly, the light
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
be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground.
The dipstick is located 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.
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L
A
A
A
Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper
r operating range, your engine could be damaged. I il
r
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. L
L
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.
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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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.
If you have the 3.8L engine use: SAE 1OW-30
As shown in the viscosity 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
O°F (-18OC), you should use SAE 5W-30.
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OllS
FOR BEST NE1 F””””7Y AND COW STARTING, SELECT RE LOWEST
SAE VlSCOSlTT
C ~. .- - JIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
-
HOT
WEATHER 7
“F
t 100
+ 80
t 60
+ 40
+ 20
0
COLD
WEATHER
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 6).
DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2 ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT REO IR 3ED
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