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Comfort Controls &Audio Systems
104
I. I
I/ * /I CLIMATE CONTROL
[El
I Climate Control
The air conditioner and heater work
)est if you keep your windows closed
vhile using them. Your vehicle also has
:he flow-through ventilation system
iescribed later in this section.
3FF: Press to turn the blower off. Air
vi11 still come from the outlets at the
loor. Press any function button to turn
.he system on.
remperature Control Lever: This lever
:hanges the temperature of the air
:oming through the system. The higher
.he lever setting, the warmer the air.
8: Selects the force of air you want.
Press
LO to lower the fan speed, HI to
raise it.
Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows
long enough to let hot inside air escape.
This reduces the time it takes for your
vehicle to cool down, which should help
fuel economy.
There are three
air conditioning settings:
MAX: Provides maximum cooling or
quick cool-down on very hot days. This
setting also helps prevent outside odors
from entering your vehicle.
This setting recirculates much of the air
inside your vehicle, and it should not be
used for long periods because the air
may become too cold and dry. This
setting is not recommended if an
occupant is smoking.
NORM: Use for normal cooling on hot
days. This setting brings in outside air, cools
it and directs it through the
instrument panel outlets.
BI-LEV (Bi-Level): Use on cool, but
sunny days. This setting brings in
outside air, but directs it in two ways.
The cool air is directed to the upper
portion of your body through the
instrument panel outlets, but most
warmed air is directed through the
heater ducts and a little to the defrost
and side window vents. At times this
temperature difference may be more
apparent than others.
Heating and Ventilation
When you don’t need to cool the
outside air, use these next settings. You
can leave the air as it is or heat it.
The air conditioner compressor doesn’t
run in these settings. This reduces the
engine load, resulting in improved fuel
economy (gas mileage).
VENT: For mild outside temperatures,
when little heating or cooling is needed,
push
VENT. Air flow is through the
instrument panel outlets. Slide the
temperature control lever to a
comfortable level.
Page 140 of 276

Your Driving and the Road
The exit sp leed is usu.alll J posted.
Reduce your speed according to your
speedometer, not to your sense
of
motion. After driving for any distance at
higher speeds, you may tend to think
you are going slower than you actually
are.
4 Before Leaving on a Long
Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well
rested.
If you must start when you’re
not
fr&- 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:
a
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the
reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have
Lights: Are they all working? Are the
shape?
you checked all levels?
lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally impartant to a
safe, trouble-free trip.
Is the tread
good enough far long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated
to
the recommended pressure?
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?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
I Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as
“highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain
falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of~awareness, or
whatever.
Page 179 of 276
Fuel
Be sure the posted.octane is at least 87.
I€ 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.
I
I77 ,
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Page 180 of 276

1 78
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 he€p 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.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Page 181 of 276
llou can also write us at the following
iddress for advice. Just tell us where
{ou’re going and give your Vehicle
Identification Number
(VIN) .
General Motors Overseas Distribution
North American
Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
LIH 8P7
Corporation
Filling Your Tank
Fuel Capacity:
16.5 U.S. Gallons (62 L). Use unleaded
fuel
only.
The cap is behind a hinged door on the
left side
of your vehicle. While
refueling; hang the cap. inside the
fuel door.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the
left (countercloclwise)
.
1 79
Page 182 of 276
Service &Appearance Care
180
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean
gasoline
from painted surfaces as soon
as possible. See Cleaning the Outside
of Your Oldsmobile in the Index.
When you put the cap back on, turn it
to the right until
you hear at least .three
cliclcs .
If you need a new cap, be sure to
get the right type. Your dealer can
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.
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 handle
inside the vehicle. Then
go
to the front of the vehicle and
release
the^ secondary hood release.
Lift the hood.
I
Page 186 of 276

Service & Appearance Care
Engine Oil
If the LOW 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
Low Oil Level Light in the Index. You
should check your engine oil level
regularly; this is an added reminder.
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 0il.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 bzck
in all the way. Remove it again, keeping
the tip lower, and check the level.
3100 V6: Checking Engine Oil
Twin
Dual Cam 3.4L V6: Checking
Engine Oil
’
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.
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.
Page 187 of 276

3100 V6: Adding Engine Oil
c
’TwitEDual .Cam 3.4L V6: Adding
Engine
Oil
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 viscosit:
oil for your vehicle, as shown in the
following chart.
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGlNE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING,
SELECT THE LOWEST SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL
FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
COLD
LOOK FOR
WEATHER LABELS
HOT ONE OF THESE
1
SAE 5W-30
PREFERRED
IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30
GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30 GRADE MAY. BE USED AT TEMPERATURES WEATHER ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C).
DO NOT USE
SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OMER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED.
4s shown in the chart, SAE 5W-30 is
3est for your vehicle. However, you can
Ise SAE
1OW-30 if it’s going to be 0°F
L
185