1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Owner's Manuals

Twin Dual Cam (DOHC) 3.4L V6
Engine (CODE x)
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
1. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
2. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
3. Brake Fluid Reservoir
4. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
5. Battery
6. Air Cleaner
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Radiator Pressure Cap
IO. Engine Coolant Reservoir
183

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.

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

1
Service & Appearance Care
186
(-18°C) or above. 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.
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:
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 5W-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.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your
Oldsmobile dealer is ready to advise if
you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles
(6 km)
.
It’s below freezing outside and most
trips are less than 10 miles (16 ltm).
The engine is at low speed most of the
time (as in door-to-door delivery, or in
stop-and-go traffic).
You tow a trailer often.
Most trips are through dusty places.
If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your
oil and filter every 3,000 miles (5 000
km) or 3 months - whichever comes
-first.
If none of them is true, change the oil
every
7,500 miles (12 500 lm) or 12
months -whichever comes first.
Change the filter at the first
oil change
and at every other oil change after that.
Engine Coolant Heater (Engine
Block Heater) (omoN)
An engine coolant heater can be a big
help if you have to
park outside in very

cold weather, 0°F (-18°C) or colder. If
your vehicle has this option, see
Engine
Coolant Heater
in the Index.
What to Do wifh Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil
contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even
cause cancer? 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.. (See the manufacturer’s
warnings about the use and disposal of
oil products.)
Used oil can be areal threat to the
environment. If you change your own
oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t
ever dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash, 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.
Air Cleaner
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to replace the air filter
and the crankcase ventilation filter.
See
Scheduled Maintenance Services i3
the
Index.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire
can cause a damaging engine fire.
And, dirt can easily get into your
engine, which will damage
it.
Always have the air cleaner in place
when you’re driving.
To Check or Replace the Air Filter:
1. Remove the four screws and pull off
the cover.
187

Service & Appearance Care
2. Remove the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter
and replace the cover tightly.
Automatic Transaxk Fluid
When fo Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic
transaxle fluid level is when the engine
oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See
Scheduled Maintenance
Services
in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at an Oldsmobile dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow
all the instructions here, or
you could
get
a false reading on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too.little fluid can
damage your transaxle.
Too much
can mean that some of the fluid
could come out and fall
on hot
engine parts
or exhaust system,
starting a
fire. Be sure to get an
accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
Wait at least
30 minutes before
checking the transaxle fluid level
if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic - especially in hot
90°F (32°C).
weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid
should be at
normal operating
temperature, which is 18O"F-to
2OOpF
(82°C to 93T).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 lun) 'when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If

3100 V6: Checking Auto'matic
Transaxle Flmulid
Twin Dual Cam
3.4L V6: Checking
Automatic Tmnsaxle Fluid

Twin Dual Cam 3.4L V6: Ad,ding
Automatic
Transaxle Fluid
I Engine .Coolant
The follciwing explains your cooling
system and how to add coolant when it
is low. If
you have a problem with
engine overheating or
if y0.u need to add
coolant to your radiator,
see Engine
Overheating in the Index.
The proper coolant for your Oldsmobile
will:
Give freezing protection down to-34”F
Give boiling protection up to 262°F
Protect againstrust and corrosion.
(-37°C).
(128°C).
Help keep the proper engine
Let the warning lights work as they
What to Use
temperature.
should.
Use
a mixture of one-half dean-water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets
“GM Specificatkm
1825-M,” which won’t damage
aluminum parts.
You can also use a
recycled coolant conforming
to GM
Specification 1825-M with
a complete coolant
flush and refill.
If you use this
mixture, you don’t need to add
anything
else.