1994 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE Owners Manual

When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD mark,
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:
3100 V6: Adding Engine Oil What Kind of Oil to Use
3eginning midyear 1993, oils of the
)roper quality for your vehicle will be
dentified with this new “starburst”
iymbol. The “starburst” symbol
ndicates that the oil has been certified
)y the American Petroleum Institute
IAPI), and is preferred for use in your
;asoline engine.
(ou should
look for this on the front of
he oil container, and use only oils that
lisplay this new symbol.
(ou should also use the proper viscosity
)il for your vehicle, as shown in the
ollowing charts.
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.
I’
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.

3800 V6: Adding Engine Oil
191
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Service &Appearance Care
192
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.
LOOK FOR
HOT ONE OF THESE
WEATHER LABELS
t100 .
+80 -
+60 -
+40 -
+20 -
0-
“C
+38
+27
+16
+4
-7
-18
COLD
SAE 1OW-30 PREFERRED above 0°F
SAE 5W-30 (-18°C)
1 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 OTHER GRADE OIL HOT RECOMMENDED.
2300 V6: Oil Viscosity Chart
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 20W-50.
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.
‘-’ F
+loo
+80
+ 60
+40
+20
0
“C
+38
+ 27
+16
+4
-7
-18

LOOK FOR
LABELS
HOT ONE
OF THESE
- SAE I 1
OW-30
SAE 5W-30 PREFERRED
IF NEITHER SAE
5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30 GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE. SAE 30 COLD
WEATHER ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES c).
GRADE
MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES
DO NOT USE SAE
1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED.
3100 V6: Oil Viscosity Chart
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As shown in the chart, SAE 5W-30 is
best for your vehicle. However, you can
use SAE 1OW-30 if it’s going
to be 0°F
(-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 “SHKD,”
“SH,SG,CD,” “SG/CD,” etc. These
letters show American Petroleum
Institute (API) levels of quality.
SAE 1OW-30 (3800 engine)
SAE 5W-30 (3100 engine)
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. 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 ltm).
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 ltm) or 3
months - whichever comes first.
If none
of them is true, change the oil
every
7,500 miles (12 500 ltm) 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)
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. 193
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Service &Appearance Care
194
What to Do with 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
a real 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.
See
Scheduled Maintenance Services in
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.
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3100 V6: Replacing Air Cleaner Filter
2. Remove the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter,
replace the cover and tighten the
wing nut securely.
3800 V6 Checking Air Cleaner Filter
To Check or Replace: .
1. Loosen the four wing nuts.
3800 V6: Replacing Air Cleaner Filter
2. Pull the top of the air cleaner toward
the front of the vehicle and remove
the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter,
replace the cover and tighten the
wing nuts securely.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to 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
While pulling a trailer.
90°F (32°C).
weather.
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Service &Appearance Care
196
To get the right reading, the fluid
should be at normal operating
temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 ltm) when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If
it's colder than 50°F ( 10°C), you may
have to drive longer.
To Check the Fluid Level
Park your vehicle on a level place.
With the parking brake applied, place
With your foot on the brake pedal,
the
shift lever in
P (Park).
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three
seconds in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in
P (Park).
Let the engine run at idle for three to
five minutes.
Then, Without Shutting Off the
Engine, Follow these Steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three
seconds and then pull it back out
again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be in the cross-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable
range, push the dipstick back in all
the way.
3100 V6: Checking Automatic
rransaxle Fluid
3800 V6: Checking Automatic
rransaxle Fluid
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of transaxle fluid
to use. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper fluid to bring the level into
the cross-hatched area
on the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel: add
enough fluid at the dipstick hole to
bring it to the proper level.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less
than a pint
(OSL). Don’t overfill. We
recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRONo-I11 or DEXRON@-IIE,
because fluids with that label are made
especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRONo-I11 or DEXRONB-IIE is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid
level as described under
How to
Check.
obtained, push the dipstick back in all
the way.
When the correct fluid level is
3100 V6: Adding Automatic Transaxle
Fluid
3800 V6: Adding Automatic Transaxle
Fluid
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling
system and how to add coolant when it
is
low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, 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 against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
Let the warning lights work as they
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets
“GM Specification
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.
(-37°C).
( 12SoC).
temperature. should.
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Service &Appearance Cure
NOTICE:
198
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
COLD, or a little
higher. When your engine is warm, the
level should be up to
FULL HOT, or a
little higher.
3100 V6: Checking Coolant
3800 V6: Checking Coolant
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