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Service & Appearance Care
:#el (CONTI
Fuel that is more than 5 %
methanol is bad for your vehicle.
Don’t use it. It can corrode metal
parts
in your fuel system and also
damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage wouldn’t be covered
under your warranty. And even at
5% or less, there must be
“cosolvents” and corrosion
preventers
in this fuel to help avoid
these problems.
bel Capacity: 18 U.S. Gallons (68 L).
Ise unleaded fuel only.
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 pa@ 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.
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Fuels in Foreign Countries
tf 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 Ltd.
International
Export Sales
P. 0. Box 828
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7N1, Canada
Fuel Door Lock (omoN)
On SSE and SSEi models equipped with
the Theft-Deterrent System option,
the
fuel door is locked and unlocked
together with the power door locks.
Therefore, to unlock the fuel filler door,
you may use the outside door key lock,
the inside power door lock button, or
the Remote Keyless Entry key chain
transmitter.
To unlock the fuel door, just
unlock the driver’s door.
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Page 227 of 322

Service & Appearance Care
Filling Your Tank
The cap is behind a hinged door on the
left side of your vehicle.
Gasoline vapor is highly
flammable. It burns violently,
and that can cause very bad
I injuries. Don’t smoke if you’re
ar gasoline or refueling your
vehicle. Keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away from
gasoline.
I
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the
left (counterclockwise), While refueling, hang
the cap inside the
fuel door.
I
A If you get gasoline on you and
L then something ignites it, you
L.udd 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.
m.. 226
If you need a new cap, be sure to
get the right type. Your dealer
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
might be
damaged.
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Fuel Door Manual Release
[f your vehicle has a fuel door lock, the
Fuel door can be opened manually
in
;ase of an electrical power failure. To
io so, first open the trunk. The release
mechanism is
on the driver's side of the
vehicle, at the top
of the trunk
2ompartment. Pull the tab to release the
fuel door.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
The following sections tell you how to
check fluids, lubricants and important
parts underhood.
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the hood
release handle inside the vehicle.
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Service & Appearance Care
Hood Release (CONT.)
Then go to the front of the vehicle and
pull up on the underhood release.
Lift the hood.
Dm. 228
I
I GAUTION I I 11
Qr
An electric fim 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.
lefore closing the hood, be sure all the
Her caps are on properly. Then
just
ull the hood down and close it firmly.
hderhood light
bur parking lights or headlights must
le on for the underhood light to
unction when you open the hood.
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3800 Engine (CODE L)
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
1. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Air Cleaner
7. Engine Oil Dipstick
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap
9. Radiator Pressure Cap
1 0. Battery
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Service & Appearance Care
. ... .. . 3800 SC Engine (CODE I)
When you open the hood, you'll see:
1. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
2. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
3. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Air Cleaner
7. Engine Oil Dipstick
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap
9. Radiator Pressure Cap
1 0. Battery
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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. 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.
When to Add Oil:
If the oil is at or below the ADD 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
Zr.z&x
under Capacities & Specijicatiow.
Don’t add too much oil. If your
engine has
so much oil that the oil
level gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, your engine could
be damaged.
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.
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