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Service
Your General Motors dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to\
be
happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your dealer for all your service needs.
You’ll get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and supported ser\
vice people.
We hope you’ll want to keep your GM vehicle all GM. Genuine GM parts
have one of these marks:
Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll want to get the
proper General Motors Service Manual. It tells you much more a\
bout how to
service your vehicle than this manual can.
To order the proper service
manual, see “Service Publications” in the Index.
You should keep
a record with all parts receipts and list the mileage and the
date
of any service work you perform. See “Maintenance Record” in \
the
Index.
CAUTION
I A You can be injured if you try to do service work on a vehicle without
L knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge, experience, and the
proper replacement parts and tools before
you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
9 Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and other fasteners.
“English” and “metric” fasteners can be easily confused.
If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later break or fall off. You
could be hurt.
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If you try to do your own service work without knowing enough about it,
your vehicle could be damaged.
I
Maintenance Schedule
Section 7 of this manual, “Scheduled Maintenance Services”, explains \
the
maintenance your new vehicle needs, and when
it should be done. It also
has a
form that you can use to record the maintenance work done on your
vehicle. Be sure to read this information.
Fuel
I K228
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
US. 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.
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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 th\
an 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 vehicfe. Don’t use ‘A
It can corrode metal parts in your fuel system and also damage plastic
and rubber
parts. That damage wouldn’t be covered under your warri ’y.
And even at 5% or less, there must be “cosolvents” and corrosion
eventers
in this fuel to help avoid these problems.
Gasolines for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with detergent additives will help prevent depo\
sits from
forming in your engine and fuel system. That helps keep your engine in t\
une
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 that called oxyge\
nates.
General Motors recommends that you use gasolines with these ble\
nding
materials, such as MTBE and ethanol. By doing
so, you can help clean the
air, especially in those parts of the country that have higher 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 g\
asoline.
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 co\
ntain
detergents and oxygenates, and if they have been reformulated to reduce
vehicle emissions.
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Service & Appearance Care
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the US. or Canada,
unleaded fuel may be hard
to find. Do not use leaded gasoline. If you use
even one tank full, 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 three-way catalytic
converter and 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
Post Office Box 828
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7N1, Canada
Fi/ling Your Tank
I PO444
The fuel 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).
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Service & Appearance Care
Checking Things Under the Hood
a&
.. .. .
~
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the handle inside the vehicle. Then go to the
front of the vehicle and pull
up on the secondary hood release. Lift the hood.
PO21 7
.. .
CAUTION
A
If your vehicle h;- air conditioning, the auxiliary fan under the hood
,can
start up and injure you even when the engine is not runninc
*y,?*& 8gKeep your hands, clothing and tools awav from anv underhoo
Wk%selectric fan,
you have one
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Service & Appearance Cam
r
K2543
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 WCC, SG/CD, SF, SG, CC, etc. These
letters show American Petroleum Institute (API) levels
of quality.
I NOTICE
f you use oils that don’t have the “SG” designa..-.., , - J can cause
mgine damage not covered by your warranty.
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Service & Appearance Care
SAE IOW-30
Vehicles with Heavy Duty Emissions (8501 GWR or more).
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.
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Service & Appearance Care
oil. If time determines when you change your oil, change the filter ea\
ch time
you change your oil.
Engine Block Heater:
An engine block heater can be a big help if you have to park outside in very
cold weather,
0°F (-18°C) or colder. If your vehicle has this option, see
“Engine Block Heater” in the Index.
What to Do with Used Oil:
Used engine oil contains things that have caused skin cancer in
laboratory animals. Don’t let
used oil stay on your skin for very long.
Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good hand ,,:: :‘:-;
cleaner. Wash or properly throw away clothing or rags containing-:’-:;$ ~
used engine oil.
. ,A:<< --.
L. .. . .. ,-. f .- , L ., -J ’,: ._ - -
..:.: ;,i, j I -.. : j ,!
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 putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers,
or into streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by taking it to a 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.
Air Cleaner
c
PO21 6
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to replace the air
cleaner filter and crankcase ventilation filter. See “Schedule\
d Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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