1994 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE Owners Manual

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the
hood, here’s what you’ll see:
(A) Coolant recovery tank
(B) Radiator pressure cap
(C) Electric engine fan, or fans if you
have the
3800 V6 engine.
If the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank is boiling, don’t do
anything else until it cools down. The coolant
level should be at or above
the
FULL HOT mark. 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.
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
1..
NOTICE:
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 fan is running.
If the engine is overheating, the fan
should be running. If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
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 HOT 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.
ProCarManuals.com

When the coolant in the coolant
recovery tank is
at or above the FULL
HOT mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues,
there's one more thing you can try.
You
can add the proper coolant mix directly
to the radiator, but be sure the cooling
system is cool before you
do it.
Yow to Add Coolant to the Radiator
I. You can remove the radiator pressure
cap when the cooling system, including
the radiator pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is
no longer hot. Turn
the pressure cap slowly to the left
until it first stops. (Don't press down
while turning the pressure cap.)
I69
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
1 70
A
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to
stop.
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
E. Then keep turning the pressure cap,
but now push down as you turn it.
Remove the pressure cap.
I. Fill the radiator with the proper mix,
up to the base of the filler neck. 4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to
the
FULL HOT mark.
ProCarManuals.com

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 fan(s).
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.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any
time during this procedure if coolant
begins to
flow out of the filler neck,
reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure the
arrows
on the pressure cap line up
like this.
171
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
1 72
Ifa Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out”
while you’re driving, especially if
you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But
if you should ever
have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will
create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel firmly. Steer
to maintain lane
position, then gently brake to a stop
well
out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like a skid and may require
the same correction you’d use in a skid.
In any rear blowout, remove your foot
from the accelerator pedal. Get the
vehicle under control by steering the
way
you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well
off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next section shows
how to
use your jacking equipment to
change a flat tire safely.
Air Inflator
Your vehicle may have an air inflator
for use in bringing tires up to the proper
pressure.
To learn about it, see the
Index under Air Inflator System.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and
wheel damage by driving slowly to a
level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
ProCarManuals.com

The following steps will tell you how to
use the jack and change
a tire.
The equipment you’ll need is in the
storage compartment
at the rear of the
vehicle.
1. Open the jack storage compartment
by sliding the latch down and
removing the compartment cover.
2. Remove the jack and jacking tools by
loosening the wing nut and retainer
bar.
3. Separate the plastic pouch from the
jack and remove the jacking tools
(folding wrench and shaft) from the
pouch.
I 73
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
I 74
4. The compact spare tire is located
under the vehicle, behind the rear
bumper. Insert the narrow end of the
shaft into the hole above the rear
bumper. Then attach the folding
wrench to the shaft.
counterclockwise to lower the
compact spare tire until
it can be
pulled from under the vehicle.
5. Rotate the folding wrench
I
6. Slide the cable retainer through the
center of the spare, then place the
compact spare tire near the flat tire.
I
7. Each wheel nut is covered with a
nylon cap. Use the folding wrench to
remove the nylon caps from the
wheel nuts before
you loosen the
nuts.
ProCarManuals.com