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I NOTICE
r
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-M92 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?
c
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Service & Appearance Care
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 I
than 10% ethanol is fine for your
vehicle.
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol. I
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I
I
methanol is bad for your vehicle.
on’t use it.
It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and
also
damage plastic and rubber pr
That damage wouldn’t be covered
under your warranty. And
e-? at
5% or less, there must be
“cosolvents” and corrosion
,:eventers in this fuel
+n hpll
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
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.
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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 Limited
International Export Sales
P.O. Box 828
Oshawa, Ontario LIH 7N1
Canada
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Service & Appearance Care
Filling Your Tank
bA u 1 lU/V
1 Gasoline vapor is highly
and that can cause very bad
injuries. Don’t smoke if you’re
near gasoline
or refueling your
vehicle. Keep sparks,
flames, and
smoking materials away
from
gasoline. flammable.
It bums violently,
The cap is behind a hinged door on the
right side of your vehicle.
To take off the cap, turn
it slowly to the
left (counterclockwise).
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I
I
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.
NU I ILt
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 IT ‘It be
damal ‘ ~
‘
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H Checking l7tings under
the Hood
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the release
handle inside
the glove box.
Then go to the front of the vehicle, push
down lightly on
the hood, and push the
hood release lever to your left.
Lift the hood, release the hood prop
from its retainer and put the hood prop
into the slot
in the hood.
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Service & Appearance Care
l-
a
I LUU I lV1V
An electric fan under the
hood can start up and injure
you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing and
tools away from any underhood
electric
fan. Don't reach through
the grille to release the underhood
lever.
I
7."
When you open the hood, you'll see:
1. Battery
2. Automatic Transmission Dipstick
(Option)
3. Oil Fill Cap
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Air Cleaner
6. Power Steering Reservoir (Option)
7. Engine Coolant Reservoir
8. Radiator Cap
9. Electric Fan
10. Engine Oil Dipstick
11. Windshield Washer Reservoir
12. Main Fuse Box
CAUTION
A
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 things
that will burn onto a hot engine.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the
filler caps are on.
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Then lift the hood to relieve pressure on
the hood prop. Remove the hood prop
from the slot in the hood and return the
prop to its retainer. Then just let the
hood down and close it firmly.
Engine Oil
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil
level 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.
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.
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.
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Service & Appearance Care
I
When to Add Oil: If the oil is at or
below the
ADD mark, 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. Don’t add
too much oil. If your
engine has
so much oil that the oil
level gets above
the upper mark
that shows the proper operating
range, your engine could be
damaged. 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.
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