1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme overheating

How to Use this Manual
MANY PEOPLE READ THEIR OWNJ3R’S
manual from beginning to end when
they first receive their new vehicle.
This
will help you learn about the
features and controls for your vehicle.
In
this manual, you’ll find that
pictures and words work together
to explainthings quickly.
There
are nine parts with thumb-
tabbed pages in
this manual.
Each part begins
with a brief list of
contents,.
so you can usually tell at a
glance if that part contains the
information you want.
You can bend the manuaI slightly to
reveal the tabs that help you
find a
part.
Part 1: Seats & Restraint Systems
This part tells you how to use your
seats and safety belts properly.
Part 2: Features & Controls
Ths part explains how to start and
operate your Oldsmobile.
Part 3: Comfort Controls & Audio Systems
This part tells you how to adjust the
ventilation and comfort controls and
how to operate your audio system.
Part 4: Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information
and. tips about the road and how to
drive under different conditions.
Part 5: Problems on the Road
This part tells you what to do if you
have
a problem while driving, such as
a flat tire or engine overheating.

Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage tells you about how
much fuel you have left, when the
ignition is on. When the indicator nears
E (Empty), you still have a little fuel left,
but yonshould get more soon.
Here arethree things that some owners
ask about. None of these show a
problem
with your fuel gage:
At the gas station, with your ignition
on, the gas pump shuts
off before the
gage reads
F (Full).
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill
up than the gage indicated. For
example, the gage may have indicated
the tank was half full, but it actually
took a little more or less than half the
tank’s capacity to fill the tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn
a corner or speed up.
For your fuel tank capacity, see
Service
Station Information
on the last page of
this manual.
qBAG
1..
PES \/
Engine Coolant Temperafure
Gage
You have a gage that shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the gage pointer
moves into the red area, your engine is
too hot!
That reading means the same thing as
the warning light. It means that your
engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle under
normal driving conditions you should
pull
off the road, stop your vehicle and
turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU
BADLY!
In
Problems on the Road,. this manual
shows what to
do. See the Index under
Engine Overheating.
93

Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has
to have a different turn signal flasher
and extra wiring. The green arrows on
your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer
lights will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change
lanes or stop.
When towing
a trailer, the green arrows
on your instrument panel will flash for
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your
signal when they are not. It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the
trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade.
If you don’t shift down, you
might have to use your brakes so much
that they would get hot and no longer
work well. On
a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed to around
45 mph
(70 ltm/h) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer and you have
an automatic transaxle with Overdrive,
you may want to drive in
3 instead of D
(or, as you need to, a lower gear).
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill.
If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on
a hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t
shift into
P (Park) yet.
2. Have someone place choclts under
the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel choclts are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
choclts absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then
apply your parking brake, and then
shift to
P (Park).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave
After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold
the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
store the chocks.
147

Here you’ll find what to do about
some problems that can occur on the
road
.
Part 5
Problems on the Road
Hazard Warning Flashers ........................................................................\
............... 150
Jump Starting ........................................................................\
.................................. 150
Towing
Your Oldsmobile ........................................................................\
............... 154
Engine Overheating ........................................................................\
........................ 158
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................................................\
........................... 165
Changing a Flat Tire
........................................................................\
....................... 166
Compact Spare Tire
........................................................................\
........................ 172
If You’re Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow ......................................................... 173
c
149

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.

NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix,
your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost
wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the
mix can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Adding Coolant
To Check Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at the
COLD mark or a
little higher. When your engine is warm,
the level should be up to the
HOT mark
or a little higher.
1 SECURITY I
P
w OIL LOW
EVEL COOLANT I
If this light comes on, it means you’re
low on engine coolant.
To Add Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the
proper mix
at the coolant recovery
tank.
If the coolant recovery tank is
completely empty, add coolant to the
radiator. (See
Engine Overheating in
the
Index.)
191

Service & Appearance Care
Radiator Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi
(105kPa) pressure-type cap and
must be tightly. installed
io prevent
coolant loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be sure
the arrows on the cap line up with
192
Add coolant mix at the recovery tank,
but be careful not to spill it.
L I
the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
I Power Steering Fluid
How To Check Power Steering
When you replace your radiator premre
cap, an
AC@ cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is
controlled by a thermostat in the engine
coolant system. The thermostat stops
the flow of coolant through the radiator
until the coolant reaches a preset
temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat is recommended.
Fluid
-
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick
with a clean rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten it. Then remove the
cap again and look at the fluid level on
the dipstick.
When the engine compartment is hot,
the level should be at the
H mark.
When the engine compartment is
cool, the level 'should be at the
C
mark.
What to Add
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of fluid to use. See

Passing ........................................... 132
Winter Driving
............................... 140
With a Trailer
................................ 146
Drunken Driving
.............................. 126
Electric Outside Mirror Control
..... 82
Electrical Center, Underhood
.......... 220
Electrical Equipment.
Adding
............................. 60. 111. 220
Electronic Climate Control
.............. 107
Emergencies on the Road
................. 149
Emergency Starting
.......................... 150
Emergency Towing .......................... 154
Engine Block Heater
.......................... 61
Engine Coolant
................................ 190
Checking &Adding
.............. 160, 161
Heater
...................................... 61, 186
Low Coolant Warning Light ........... 94
Proper Mixture to Use
.................. 161
Safety Warnings About
.................. 159, 160, 181, 190
Temperature Gage
........................... 93
Engine Exhaust
.................................. 69
Engine Identification
....................... 219
Engine Oil
........................................ 184
Additives
........................................ 186
1 Capacity ......................................... 227
Through Deep Standing Water
....... 60
Emergencies. Braking in
.................. 130
Emergencies. Steering in
................. 131
Checking & Adding ....................... 184
Disposing of Used Oil
................... 187
Energy Conserving
........................ 186
Filter
.............................................. 186
Pressure Gage .................................. 95
Starburst
........................................ 185
Warning Light
.................................. 94
When to Change
............................ 186
Engine Overheating ......................... 158
Engine Specifications
....................... 232
Engine Starting
.................................. 59
Ethanol in Gasoline
......................... 177
Exhaust Dangerous Gas in
............. 57. 69. 142
Parking with the Engine
Running
.................................. 68. 70
Expectant Mothers. Use
of Safety
Belts
................................................. 27
Expressway Driving
......................... 137
Extender. Safety Belt
......................... 46
Exterior Appearance (see
Appearance
Fabric Cleaning (see Appearance Care)
Fan Warnings ........................... 152. 181
Filling the Fuel Tank ........................ 179
Filter Air
.................................................. 187
Fuel
................................................ 233
Oil
.......................................... 186. 233
Care)
Finish Care ....................................... 217
Finish Damage
................................. 217
Flash-to-Pass
...................................... 79
Flashers. Hazard Warning
............... 150
Flat Tire ............................................ 165
Flooded Engine
.................................. 60
Fluid Automatic Transaxle
..................... 188
Bralte .............................................. 194
Capacities
...................................... 227
Power Steering
.............................. 192
Windshield Washer
....................... 193
Fluids
& Lubricants ................. 229. 248
Fog Lights
.................................. 80. 204
Fold-Down Storage Compartment
.... 83
Foreign Material ................................ 217
Freeway Driving
............................... 137
French Language Manual
.................... 2
Fuel ................................................... 177
Alcohol in Fuel
.............................. 177
Capacity
................................. 179. 272
Exhaust Warnings
................... 57. 142
Filling Your Tank
.......................... 179
Fuels with Alcohol
........................ 177
Gage
................................................. 93
In Foreign Countries
..................... 178
Low Fuel Warning Light
................. 98
Requirements
................................ 177
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ................ 220
L
265