
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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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. 
197 
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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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To Add Coolant 
If you  need  more  coolant, add  the proper 
mix 
at  the  coolant  recovery  tank. 
Add  coolant  mix at  the  recovery  tank, 
but  be  careful  not  to spill it. 
Radiator  Pressure  Cap 
NOTICE: 
Your radiator  cap  is a 15 psi (105 
kPa)  pressure-type  cap and  must  be 
tightly  installed  to prevent  coolant 
loss  and possible engine damage 
from  overheating.  Be sure  the 
arrows  on  the  cap  line up  with  the 
overflow  tube  on  the  radiator  filler 
neck. 
When  you replace  your radiator 
pressure  cap,  an  AC8 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. 
Power  Steering  Fluid 
How To Check  Power  Steering 
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 (Hot) 
mark. 
When  the engine  compartment  is 
cool,  the level  should  be  at  the 
C 
(Cold) mark. 
199 
ProCarManuals.com 

Fluids & Lubricants 
ITEM 
Antifreeze Coolant ............................... 
(Ethylene Glycol Base) ...................... 
Chassis  Lubricant ................................ 
(Grease  Gun  Insert) 
Delco Supreme 
ll@ Brake Fluid ......... 
Automatic  Transmission  Fluid ............ 
DEXRONO-I11 ................................... 
DEXRONO-IIE ................................... 
Engine Oil ............................................. 
GM Engine  Oil Supplement ................ 
Lubriplate  (White  Grease) ................... 
Engine Oil ............................................. 
Windshield Washer Solvent ................. 
Power Steering Fluid ........................... 
(E.O.S.) 
(Normal) 
(Cold Climate) 
Power 
Steering  Fluid 
........................... 
APPLICATION  GM PART  NUMBER 
Year-round antifreeze for ......................... 1052753 
General  chassis  lube,  etc. 
........................ 12346003  or 
coolant  mixtures 
1052497 
Brake System 
........................................... 1052535 
Automatic  Transaxle 
................................................................... 12346143  32 oz. (1.0  L) 
................................................................... 12345881  32 oz. (1 .O L) 
Engine  lubrication ................................... See Engine Oil in this  section. 
See your dealer for advice 
....................... 1052367  16 oz. (0.5 L) 
Sliding  door  tracks 
.................................. 1052349  (aerosol)  12 oz. (340.2 g) 
Hood,  liftgate  and  door  hinges 
................ 
Windshield  washer fluid .......................... 
Power Steering  System ........................... 1050017 
1052884 
Power  Steering  System 
........................... 12345867 
SIZE 
1 gal. (3.8 L) 
14 oz. (397 g) 
16 
02. (0.5 L) 
32  oz.  (1.0 
L) 
16  oz. (0.5 L) 
32 oz. (1 .O L) 
(System must  'be drained  and  refilled.) ................................................................. 12345866 
Silicone  Grease  Weatherstrips  12345579 
Lubricant  1052277 
.................................... ........................................... 
......... Spray-A-Squeak Silicone .................... General purpose  silicone lubricant  1052276 (aerosol)  16 
oz. (0.5 L) 
1 oz. (28 g) 
4.5 
oz. (127  g) 
12 
oz. (0.35 L) 
22 7 
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Maintenance  Schedule 
238 
Explanation of Scheduled 
Maintenance  Services 
Following  are explanations  of the 
services  listed  in Schedule I and 
Schedule  11. 
The  proper  fluids  and lubricants  to use 
are  listed  in Section  D.  Make sure 
whoever  services  your  vehicle  uses 
these.  All parts should  be  replaced and 
all  necessary  repairs done before  you or 
anyone  else  drives  the vehicle. 
ITEM 
NO. SERVICE 
1. Engine  Oil  and  Filter  Change* - 
Always  use SH or SG  Energy 
Conserving 
I1 oils  of proper  viscosity. 
The 
“SH” or “SG” designation  may 
be  shown alone 
or in combination 
with others, such  as “SH/CD,” 
“SH, 
SG, CD,” “SG/CD,”  etc.  To 
determine  the preferred  viscosity  for 
your  vehicle’s  engine (e.g., 
SAE 5W- 
30 or  SAE 10W-30),  see 
Engine  Oil 
in the Index. 
2. Chassis  Lubrication - Lubricate 
suspension and steering  linkage. 
Lubricate  the transaxle  shift  linkage, 
and  parking  brake cable  guides, 
underbody  contact points and 
linkage. 
3. Tire  and  Wheel  Rotation  and 
Inspection 
- For  proper  wear and 
maximum  tire life,  rotate  your tires 
following  the instructions  in this 
manual.  See 
Tires,  Inspection E. 
Rotation in  the Index. Check the 
tires  for uneven  wear 
or damage.  If 
you  see  irregular  or premature  wear, 
check  the wheel  alignment.  Check  for 
damaged  wheels  also. 
Engine  Accessory  Drive  Inspection 
- Inspect the drive  belt  for cracks, 
fraying,  wear  and proper tension. 
Replace  as needed. 
I 
Cooling  System Servicee - Drain, 
flush  and refill  the system  with new 
or  approved  recycled  coolant 
conforming  to GM  Specification 
I 
1825M.  Keep  coolant  at the  proper 1 
mixture  as specified.  See  Coolant in 
the 
Index. This  provides  proper 
freeze  and boil  protection, corrosion 
I 
inhibitor  level and maintains proper ’ 
engine operating temperature. 
Inspect  hoses 
and replace if they are 
cracked,  swollen  or  deteriorated. 
Tighten  screw-type  hose clamps. 
Clean  the outside  of the  radiator and 
air  conditioning  condenser. Wash  tht 
pressure cap and  neck. 
To help ensure  proper  operation,  we 
recommend 
a pressure  test of both the 
cooling  system  and the pressure  cap. 
ProCarManuals.com 

240 
Section B: Owner  Checks  and  Services Be sure  any necessary repairs  are completed at once. 
Whenever  any  fluids  or  lubricants  are  added to your vehicle, 
Listed  below are  owner  checks and services which  should  be malte  Sure they  are the  proper  ones,  as  shown in Section 
D. 
performed  at  the intervals  specified to help ensure  the  safety, 
dependability  and emission  control performance  of your 
vehicle. 
Each Fuel Fill (It is  important 
for you or a service  station  attendant  to  perform 
these underhood 
checks at each fuel  fill.) 
I 
Check  the engine coolant  level and add the proper  coolant mix if necessary. See Coolant in  the 
Engine Index for  further  details. 
CHECK 
OR SERVICE 
I 
WHAT TO DO 
Check the engine  oil  level  and  add  the proper  oil  if necessary. See Engine  Oil in the Index for 
further  details. 
Engine 
Oil  Level 
Windshield Washer  Check  the windshield washer  fluid  level in the  windshield  washer  tank  and  add the proper fluid  if 
Fluid  Level  necessary. See 
Windshield Washer  Fluid in the Index for  further  details. I 
It Leasf Once a Month 
CHECK 
OR SERVICE 
I 
WHAT  TO DO I 
Tire Inflation I 
Check tire inflation.  Make sure they  are inflated  to  the pressures  specified on the  Certification/ 
Tire  label  located 
on the rear  edge  of the  driver’s door. See Tires in  the Index for further  details. 
Cassette Deck 
I 
Clean  cassette  deck.  Cleaning should be  done every 15 hours  of tape  play.  See Audio  Systems in 
the 
Index for  further  details. 
ProCarManuals.com 

Maintenance Schedule 
244 
Section D: Recommended  Fluids  and  Lubricants 
NOTE: Fluids and  lubricants  identified below by name,  part number or  specification  may  be obtained  from  your  GM 
dealer. 
USAGE FLUID/LUBRICANT 
Engine Oil  API  service 
SH or SG  Energy  Conserving  I1 
oils of the  proper  viscosity.  The “SH”or  “SG”  designation 
may  be  shown  alone  or  in combination with  others,  such  as  “SH/CD,”  “SH,SG,CD,”  “SG/CD,”\
 
etc.  To  determine  the preferred  viscosity  for  your vehicle’s engine, see 
Engine OiZ in the Index. 
Engine Coolant 
50/50 mixture  of water  (preferably distilled)  and good  quality ethylene  glycol base antifreeze 
(GM  Part No. 1052753  or  equivalent)  conforming 
to GM Specification 1825M or approved 
recycled  coolant conforming  to GM  Specification 1825M. 
Hydraulic Brake  Svstem 
I Delco  Supreme 1 lo Brake Fluid (GM Part No.  1052535 or equivalent DOT-3 brake  fluid). 
Chassis  lubricant  (GM Part 
No. 1052497  or equivalent)  or  lubricant  meeting requirements  of 
NLGI  Grade  2, Category  LB  or GC-LB. Guides 
Power Steering 
System I 
I GM  Hydraulic Power Steering  Fluid (GM  Part  No.  1052884 or equivalent) 
Automatic  Transaxle  DEXRONo-I11  or DEXRONo-IIE  Automatic Transmission Fluid. 
ICey oil or silicone lubricant  (GM  Part No.  1052276  or  1052277). 
Lubricate with  Multi-Purpose Lubricant  (GM Part  No. 
12345120),  synthetic SAE  5W-30 engine 
Automatic  Transaxle 
Shift Linkage 
Engine oil. 
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