1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE engine

Engine Overheating
You will find a warning light about a hot engine on your
Buick instrument panel and if you have the optional
gage cluster, a coolant temperature gage. You will also
find a low coolant warning light.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
If NO Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 Tow a trailer.
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If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to “N” (Neutral).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about ten minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see
if
the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning, TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND GET
EVERYONE OUT OF THE VEHICLE until it cools
down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away. When you
decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
Coolant recovery tank
Radiator pressure cap
0 Electric engine fans
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If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else
until it cools down.
P
The coolant level should be at or above “FULL COLD.”
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 NOTICE:
I
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, check to see if the electric
engine fans are running.
If the engine is overheating,
both
fans should be running. If they aren’t, your vehicle
needs service.
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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 the
“FULL COLD” mark, add a 50/50
mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and a
proper antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See
“Engine Coolant’’
in the Index for more information
about the proper coolant mix.)
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts. Use
the recommended coolant.
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4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to “FULL COLD.”
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.
6. Start the engine and
let it run
until you
can feel the upper
radiator hose
getting hot. Watch
out for the engine
fans.
7. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower. If the level
is lower, add
more of the proper mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches the base of the filler neck.
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Part 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Buick . This part begins with service and fuel information. and
then
it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels . There is also technical information about your
vehicle. and a section devoted to its appearance care
.
Part 6 includes:
Service ........................................................................\
.. 228
Fuel
........................................................................\
..... 229
HoodRelease
..................................................................... 234
Engineoil
....................................................................... \
238
Aircleaner
....................................................................... \
243
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
........................................................... 244
Enginecoolant
.................................................................... 247
PowerSteeringFluid ............................................................... 250
Windshield Washer Fluid
............................................................ 251
Brakes
........................................................................\
... 252
Battery
........................................................................\
.. 255
BulbReplacement
................................................................. 256
Loading Your Vehicle
............................................................... 258
Tires
........................................................................\
.... 260
Appearancecare
.................................................................. 268
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) .................................................. 276
FusesandCircuitBreakers
........................................................... 277
Capacities and Specifications
......................................................... 282
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Fuel
3800 (L27) Engine
The 8th digit of your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) shows the code letter for
your engine. You will
find the VIN at the top left of your instrument panel.
(See “Vehicle Identification Number’’ in the Index.)
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher. It should meet specifications ASTM D48
14 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 (oxygenates), 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.
NOTICE:
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.
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Gasolines for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with deposit control 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 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 deposit control additives and
oxygenates, and if they have been reformulated to
reduce vehicle emissions.
Fuel
3800 Supercharged (L67) Engine
The 8th digit of your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) shows the code letter for your engine. You will
find the VIN at the top left of your instrument panel.
(See “Vehicle Identification Number”
in the Index.)
Use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher.
You may use middle grade or regular unleaded
gasolines, but your vehicle may not accelerate as well.
The gasoline you use should meet specifications ASTM
D48 14 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 for premium is at least 91 (at
least 89 for middle grade and 87 for regular). 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 91 octane or higher and you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
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