1993 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE service

Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher. It should meet
specifications
ASTM D4814 in the U.S.
and
CGSB 3.5-92 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.
Fuel Capacity: 20 U.S. Gallons (76L).
Use unleaded fuel only.
227
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Service & Appearance Care
218
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.
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.
”z
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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Service & Appearance Care
220
* If you get gasoline on you and
- then something ignites it, yor
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
noise
to stop. Then unscrew the
cap all the way.
ap slowly and wait
for any "hiss'
type. Your dealer can
If you get
the
your fuel tank
not fit or have
I
Checking Things Under
the
Hood
The following sections tell you how to
check fluids, lubricants
and important
parts underhood.
When
you put the cap back on, turn it to
the right until you hear a clicking noise.
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Service & Appearance Care
1 Hood Release (CONT.) I
I. CAUT'aN
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.
Things that burn can get on
hot engine parts and start a
~e. 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
cmh1 nut to drop or spill things
that wiU burn onto a hot engine.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the
filler caps are
on properly. 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.
*** I -- I
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Service & Appearance Cure
224
P P
3800 V6 Engine (CODE L)
1 . Engine Coolant Reservoir
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Battery
7. Air Cleaner
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Engine Oil Fill Cap
10. Radiator Cap
(3 U6085
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Service & Appearance Care
226
Engine Oil (CONT:)
When to Add Oil:
If the oil is at or below the ADD mark,
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 & Specljications.
UOTIC
I 3.1L V6: Adding Engine Oil
engine has so much oil that the oi
level gets above the crosshatched
area that
shows the proper
operating range,
your engine could
I
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.
3800 V6: Adding Engine Oil
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Service & Appearance Care
necommenueu ~AC vlsr;osny
Grade Engine Oils
228
What Kind of Oil to Use (CONI)
SAE 1OW-30 (3800 V6 Engine)
As shown in the 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°F
(16°C) before your next oil change.
When it's very cold, below
0°F
(-18" C), you should use SAE 5W-30.
These numbers on an oil container
show its viscosity, or thickness.
Do
not use other viscosity oils such as
SAE 1OW-40 or SAE 20W-50.
For best fuel economy and cold starting,
select the
lowest SAE viscosity grade oil
for the expected temperature range. I
HOT
YEATHER
COLD
N EATHER
. _._
SAE 5W-30
GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, S
GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMP
ABOVE
40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREE
DO NOT
USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 20W-
Energy Conserving II
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.
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Service & Appearance Care
230
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.
Air Cleaner
Used oil can be a real threat to the Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
environment. determine when to replace the air filter.
If you change your own oil, be sure to See the Index under Scheduled
drain all free-flowing oil from the filter services*
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 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.
CAUTION I
Operating the engine with the I
I. air cleaner off can cause you
or others
to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it
stops flame if the engine backfires
If it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires, you could be burned
Don’t drive with
it off, and be
careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner off.
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