1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE engine

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.
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.
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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 Overseas Distribution Corporation, North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L 1 H 8P7
Filling Your Tank
The cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of your
vehicle.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
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Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on
properly. Then pull the hood down and close it firmly.
Engine Accessory Belt
A
D
The 3800 (L27) engine uses an engine accessory belt.
This diagram shows the features connected by the belt
routing. See “Maintenance Schedule” in the Index for
when to check
the belt.
A. Power Steering
B. Crank
C. Coolant Pump
D. Air Conditioning
E. Alternator
E Tensioner
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3800 Supercharged (L67) Engine
(Option)
Your Park Avenue Ultra has a 3800 Supercharged
engine. Buick chose supercharging rather than
turbocharging because Buick emphasizes smooth,
refined power.
The Supercharger is a device which is designed to pump
more air into the engine than it would normally use.
This air mixed with fuel, creates increased engine
power. Since
the Supercharger is a pump and is driven
from an engine accessory drive belt, increased pressure
is available at all driving conditions.
The powertrain control module (PCM), works with a
vacuum control to regulate the increased pressure
required during specific driving conditions. When this
increased pressure or boost is not desired, such as during
idling and light throttle cruising, the excess air that the
Supercharger is pumping
is routed through a bypass. All
of these controls, working together provide high
performance character and
fuel efficiency in the 3800
V6 Supercharged Buick engine.
The power steering pump uses a remote reservoir
mounted on the throttle and cruise control cable bracket.
See “Maintenance Schedule’’ in
the Index for when you
should check the fluid.
Engine Accessory Belt
The Supercharged 3800 engine uses two accessory drive
belts. One belt drives the generator and the power
steering pump. The second belt drives the supercharger,
coolant pump and air conditioning compressor. Each
belt has its own tensioner and idler pulley.
1. Front Belt
C. Crank
2. Back belt D. Supercharger
A. Generator
E. Coolant Pump
B. Power Steering Pump E Air Conditioning
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Supercharger Oil
Unless you are technically qualified and have the proper
tools, you should
let your dealer or a qualified service
center perform this maintenance.
When to Check: Check oil level every 30,000 miles
(50,000 km) or every 36 months.
What Kind of Oil to Use: See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index. Use only the recommended oil.
How to Check and Add Oil: Check oil only when the
engine is cold. Allow the engine to cool
2 to 3 hours after
running.
1. Remove the wiring harness shield.
2. Clean the area around the oil fill plug before
removing
it.
3. Remove the oil fill plug using a 3/16 allen wrench.
4. The oil level is correct when it just reaches the
bottom
of the threads of the inspection hole.
5. Replace the oil plug with the O-ring in place. Torque
to 10 Nom (88 lb. in.).
6. Replace the wiring harness shield.
Engine Oil
CHECK
OIL LEVEL
If the “CHECK OIL
LEVEL” light on the
instrument panel
comes on,
it means
you need to check
your engine oil level
right away.
For more information, see “CHECK
OIL LEVEL” light
in the Index. You should check your engine oil level
regularly; this is an added reminder.
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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.
To Check Engine Oil
The engine oil dipstick is
directly behind the engine
fan.
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.
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 “Capacities and Specifications” in the Index.
NOTICE:
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.
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, and check the
level. 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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What Kind of Oil to Use
Beginning midyear 1993, oils of the proper quality for
your vehicle
will be identified with this new “starburst”
symbol. The “starburst” symbol indicates that the
oil has
been certified by the American Petroleum Institute
(API), and is preferred for use in your gasoline engine.
You should look for this on the front of the oil container,
and
use only oils that display this new symbol.
You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your
vehicle, as shown
in the following chart:
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL
FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER
LOOK FOR
ONE OF THESE
LABELS / ‘F %‘ -
+lo0 - - +38
+80--+27
+60--+I6 -
+40--+4
+20 ---7
SAE 1 OW-30 PREFERRED above 0°F (-18°C) SAE 5W-30
a
COLD
WEATHER
IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30 GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30 GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES
ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C).
ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
DO NOT USE
SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR
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As shown in the 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, 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 2OW-50.
If you cannot find oils
with the new “starburst” symbol
on the front
of the container, you should look for and
use
oils containing the following three things:
0
0
0
SH or SG
“SH” or “SG” must be on the oil container, either by
itself or combined with other quality designations,
such as “SH/CD,” “SH,SG,CD,”
“SG/CD” etc.
These letters show American Petroleum Institute
(API) levels of quality.
SAE 1OW-30
Energy Conserving I1
Oils
with these words on the container will help you
save fuel. These
three things are usually included
in a doughnut
shaped logo (symbol) on most containers. If you cannot
find oils
with the “starburst” symbol, you should look
for oils
with the doughnut shaped symbol, containing
the three things noted above.
NOTICE:
If you use oils that do not have either the
“starburst” symbol or an
API SH or SG
designation, you can cause engine damage not
covered by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil (in Canada, GM Engine Oil)
meets all the requirements for your vehicle.
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