1993 BUICK RIVIERA heater

Engine Block Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0 F (- 18 C) or colder, the engine
block heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
j To use the block heater: I
I. Turn off the engine.
L. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
1 3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt outlet.
A CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured.
Plug the cord into
a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt outlet.
If the cord won’t
reach, use
a heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least
15 amps.
How long should you keep the block heater-plugged in?
The answer depends on the weather, the kind
of oil you
have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list
everything here, we ask that you contact
a Buick dealer
in the area where you’ll be parking your vehicle. The
dealer
can give you the best advice for that particular
area.
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To rid the system of stale air in warm weather, air will
come out of the floor outlets for a short time.
Fan Speed
Bi-Level
H
The speed of the blower fan is controlled automancally'
if you have the fan on AUTO.
However, if you want the blower fan to run at a lower
speed, push
v.
If you want to raise the
blower speed, push
A.
The blower speed will go
lower or higher with
every
push of the button until
the lowest or highest
speed is reached.
This setting is designed for
use on sunny days where
the-air is only moderately
warm or cool. On days like
these, the sun may
adequately
warm your
upper body, but your lower
body may not be warm enough.
The Bi-level setting directs outside air into your vehicle
in two ways. Cool air is directed toward your upper
body through the front instrument panel outlets,
while
slightly warmed air is directed through the heater outlet
at your feet.
The air conditioner compressor operates in all Air Conditioned positions, and the Defrost position when
the outside temperature is above 40 OF (8 C)
121

Econ Heater
You can use this when JT~~E' To warm the air, press HTR
don't need to cool the and adjust the temperature
outside air. The system
and fan speeds for your
will work as-in the
AUTO comfort. Most of the air
mode without cooling. will come
from the floor
The air will come from
the j outlets.
ingxument panel outlets
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bags, rags, floor mats -- anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You can’t see
it or
smell it,
so you might not know it was in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the ba
!
of your vehicle, especially any that is blocking
your exhaust pipe- And check ar
from time to time to be sure snow
collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that’s away from the wind. This
will heir
keep CO out.
I CAUTION: (Continued)
Run your engine only
as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make
it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly.
This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlights. Let the heater run for awhile.
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Engine Overheating
You willi find a coolant temperature gage and the
warning light about a hot engine on your Buick
instrument panel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine:
I
A 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
opening the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You
or others could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle
until the engine is cool.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine:
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Id.le for long periods in traffic.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
3. Try to keep your engine under load (in a drive gear
speed and open the window as necessary.
where the engine runs slower).

When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll
see:
Coolant recovery tank
Radiator pressure cap
Electric engine fan
An electric 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.
I
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it coals down. The coolant level should be at or above
“FULL COLD.”
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else
in
the cooling system.
198

I
A CAUTION:
' ~ Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
--# parts, can be very hot. Don't touch them. If you I 1
.': do, you can be burned.
Don't
run the engine if there is a leak. If you run
the engine,
it could lose all coolant. That could
..~ cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
I_ '1 Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle. /I
,
A CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix
will. Your vehicle's coolant warning
system
is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn't get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you
or others could be burned. Use a
5060 mix of
clean water and a proper antifreeze.

When to Change Engine Oil: See if any one of these is
true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km).
a It’s below freezing outside and most trips are less
than
10 miles (16 km).
0 The engine is at low speed most of the time (as in
door-to-door delivery, or in stop-and-go traffic).
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.
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.
Engine Block Heater: An engine block heater can be a
big help if you have to park outside in very cold
weather, -20
OF (-29 C) or colder. If your vehicle has
this option, see ?Engine Block Heater”
in the Index.
What to Do with Used Oil:
1
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 2
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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