1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme oil level

Your Driving and the Road
Driving a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are
made on freeways, there are still many
made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and
regular highways is the same
in some
ways. The trip has to be planned and
the vehicle prepared, you drive at
higher-than-city speeds, and there
are
longer turns behind the wheel. You’ll
enjoy your trip more if you and your
vehicle are in good shape. Here are
some tips for a successful long trip.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well
rested. If you must start when you’re
not fresh-such as after a day’s work
don’t plan to make too many miles that
first part of the journey. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes you can
easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If
you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s
ready to go. If it needs service, have it
done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service
experts in Oldsmobile dealerships all
across North America. They’ll be ready
and willing to help if you need it. Here are
some things you can check
before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the
reservoir
full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
shape? Have you checked
all levels?
the lenses clean?
safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving?
Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:
Lights: Are they all working? Are
Tires: They are vitally important to a

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the
hood, here’s what you’ll see:
(A) Coolant recovery tank
(B) Radiator pressure cap
(C) Electric engine fan
If the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank is boiling, don’t do
anything else until it cools down. The
coolant level should be at or above
the
COLD mark.
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.
I
- 1
CAUTION I
Heater and radiator hoses,
and other engine parts, can
1;, ;cry hot. Don’t touch them. If
you 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. Get any leak fixed before
I
you drive the vehicle.
I
If there seems to be no leak, check to
see
if the electric engine fan is running.
If the engine is overheating, the fan
should be running.
If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery
Tank:
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but
the coolant level isn’t at or above
COLD, add a
50/50 mixture of clean
water (preferably distilled) and a proper
antifreeze at the coolant recovery
tank.
(See the Index under Engine Coolant
for more information abaut the proper
coolant
mix.)
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Sewice & Appeurunce Care
220
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 Beep 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. 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.

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Sewice & Appearance Care
Retractable Underhood Light
(OPTION)
To Use:
Pull the light away from the base and
attach it to the area
of the vehicle where
you
may be working. A magnet on the
back will hold it in place.
To Retract:
1. Turn the crank clockwise.
2. Slide the light back into its base.
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.
3.1 L V6: Checking Engine Oil
Twin
Dual Cam 3.4L V6 : Checking
Engine
Oil

When to Add Oil:
I If the oil is at or below the A OD 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 the
Index
under Capacities and Specifications.
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.
3.1 L V6: Adding Engine Oil
Twin
Dual Cam 3.4L V6: Adding Engine
Oil
What Mnd 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.
G designation, you can cause
engine damage not covered by your
1 227

ITEM
NO. SERVICE
5
6
7
Engine Accessory Drive Belt (s) Inspection
(California
3.1L Code T engine”)-Inspect the
belt for cracks, fraying, wear and proper tension.
Replace as needed.
Camshaft Timing Belt Inspection
(3.4L Code X
engine only)*-Inspect for cracks, wear or oiliness.
Check tensioner for proper operation. See the
service manual. (To purchase a service manual,
see the
Index under Publications.) Replace parts
as needed.
Cooling System Service*-Drain, flush, and refill
the system with new or approved recycled coolant
conforming to
GM Specification 1825M. Keep
coolant at the proper mixture as specified. See the
Index under Coolant. This provides proper freeze
protection, corrosion inhibitor level, and engine
operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace if they are cracked,
swollen or deteriorated. Tighten screw-type hose
clamps. Clean the outside of the radiator and air
conditioning condenser. Wash the pressure cap
and neck.
To help ensure proper operation, we recommend a
pressure test of both the cooling system and the
pressure cap.
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
8 Transaxle Service-Change both the fluid and
filter every 15,000 miles (25 000 ltm) if the vehicle
is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or
higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing. (With some
models, you shouldn’t ever tow a trailer. See the
Index under Towing a Trailer.)
Uses such as found in taxi, police car, or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any
of these
conditions, change both the fluid and filter every
100,000 miles (160 000 lun) .
Spark Plug Replacement*-Replace spark plugs
with the proper type. See the
Index under
Replacement Parts.
burns, cracks or other damage. Check the boot fit
at the coils and at the spark plugs. Replace wires
as needed.
10 Spark Plug Wire Inspection**-Inspect for
9
297

Section B: Owner Checks & Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which should be Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
made at the intervals specified to help ensure the safety, Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your vehicle,
dependability and emission control performance of your make sure they are the proper ones, as
shown in Section D.
vehicle.
At Each Fuel Fill (/t is important for you or a service station attendant to perform these underhood check\
s at each fuel fill.)
CHECK
OR SERVICE I WHAT TO DO
Engine Oil Level Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if necessary. See the Index under Engine Oil for
further details.
Engine Coolant Level
See the
Index under Windshield Washer Fluid for further details.
Fluid Level Check the
windshield washer fluid level in the windshield washer
tank and add fluid if necessary. Windshield Washer
Check the engine coolant
level in the coolant recovery tank and add the proper coolant mix if
~~ ~ ~~
necessary. See the Index under Coolant for further details.
At Least Once a Month
CHECK
I OR SERVICE I WHAT TO DO
Tire Inflation
Check tire inflation. Make sure they are inflated to the pressures specified on the Tire-Loading
~~ ~
Information label located on the rear edge of the driver’s door. See the Index under Tires for
further details.
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