Page 218 of 306

Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher. It should meet specifications ASTM D48
14 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.
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
217
Page 221 of 306
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.
m Y, When you put the cay ----I on, turn it to the right until a- .~ : _, .. . I. ’
YOU hear a clicking noise.
While refueling, hang the cap inside the fuel
door. .
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
4 Y
pe. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
e wrong type,
it may not fit or have prope
enting, and your fuel tank and emissions
220
Page 224 of 306
Engine Oil
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.
1
I
The engine oil dipstick is located directly behind the
engine fan.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to get
back down into the oil pan.
If you don't, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
223
Page 226 of 306

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.
I
0 SAE low-30 (V6 3.3L LG7 Engine)
As shown in this 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 OF ( 16 C)
before your next oil change. When it’s very cold,
below
O°F (-18 C), you should use SAE 5W-30.
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOW AND COLD 16, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL
FOR THE El.. -_ .-J TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATMER
r
“F
k100
+ 80
+ 60
+ 40
+ 20
0
f
r
“C
. +38
.+27
- +16
.+4
.-7
. -18
WEATHER LOOK
LABEL
FOR THIS IOW-30
1
-
-
above WF
SAE 5W-30
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 C).
ANY OTHER GRADE
OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40,
SAE 2OW-50 OR
Page 227 of 306

RECOMMENDED SAE VlSCOSlTY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE
OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER
COLD
FOR LOOK THIS @
LABEL
5W-30
"t'LcoNse94'
IE 1OW-30
SAE 5W-30 PREFERRED
IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE low-30
GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30 GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES
ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C). WEATHER
DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR
ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
SAE 5W-30 (L4 2.3L L40 Engine)
As shown in this viscosity chart, SAE
5W-30 is best
for your vehicle. However, you can use
SAE low-30
if it's going to be
0 OF (- 18 C) or above.
These numbers on an oil container show its viscosity, or
thickness.
Energy Conserving I1
Oils with these words on the container will help you
save fuel.
This doughnut-shaped logo (symbol) is used on most oil
containers to help you select the correct oil.
You should look for this on the oil container, and use
only those oils that display the logo.
GM Goodwrench@ oil (in Canada,
GM Engine Oil)
meets all the requirements for your vehicle.
Engine Oil Additives: Don't add anything to your oil.
Your Buick dealer is ready to advise if you think
something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil: See if any one of these
is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km).
226
I
1
Page 241 of 306

Loading Your Vehicle
TIRE-LOADI',NG INFORMATION
OCCUPANTS
, VEHICLE CAP. WT.
FRT. CTR.
RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX
... LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY WEIGHT- XXX COLD 'TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE .R.TG PSI/KPa
FRT.
,., : 3. ~
RR.
SPA.
IF TlRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PSI28KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL
FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
11)mp .$$##,::
.. ~ c . ., . 'Lj . - .,.
,::.,,: - -i, y- . e,; 2-.,- .- .
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found
on the rear edge of the driver's door tells you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number of people that
can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight
and includes the weight of all occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
,~,,
- -
:.I.
' I
F >
MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
:.r .~,. a. DATE GVWR' GAWR FRT GAWR RR (1 . -. i < .
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI-
CA5LE US. FED.ERAL MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION
STANDARDS IN EFFECT
ON THE DATE OF
MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE..
The other label is the Certification label, found on the
rear edge of the driver's door.
It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle,
or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear
axle.
Page 243 of 306
Inflation - Tire Pressure I
I
I
The Tire-Loading Information label which is located on
the rear edge
of the driver’s door shows the correct
inflation pressures
for your tires, when they’re cold,
“Cold” means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than
a mile.
overinflation is all right. it’s not. If your tires d
have enough air (underinflation) you can get:
0 Too much flexin
0 Too much heat
Tire overloadi
0 Bad wear
0 Bad handlin
0 Bad fuel ec
If your tires have too
242
Page 256 of 306

Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these are not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the
underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and
exhaust system even though they have corrosion
protection.
x
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody vehicle washing system
can
do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage
can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into
the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Buick
will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever comes first.
255