
Service  &Appearance  Care 
184 
MTBE and  ethanol.  By doing so, you 
can  help  clean the  air,  especially  in 
those  parts 
of the  country  that  have 
high  carbon monoxide  levels. 
In  addition,  some gasoline  suppliers  are 
now  producing reformulated gasolines. 
These  gasolines  are specially  designed 
to  reduce  vehicle  emissions.  General 
Motors recommends  that you use 
reformulated gasoline.  By doing 
so, you 
can  help  clean the  air,  especially  in 
those  parts 
of the  country  that have 
high  ozone  levels. 
You should  ask your service  station 
operators  if their  gasolines  contain 
deposit  control  additives and 
oxygenates,  and if they have been 
reformulated  to reduce  vehicle 
emissions. 
Fuels  in  Forei’ Countries 
If you plan  on driving  in  another 
country  outside  the 
U.S. or  Canada, 
unleaded 
fuel may  be  hard to find. Do 
not  use leaded gasoline. If you  use  even 
one  tankful,  your emission  controls 
won’t  work well or at all.  With 
continuous  use, spark  plugs can get 
fouled,  the  exhaust  system can  corrode, 
and  your engine 
oil can  deteriorate 
quicltly.  Your  vehicle’s  oxygen  sensor 
will  be damaged. 
All of that  means 
costly  repairs  that  wouldn’t be  covered 
by  your  warranty. 
To check  on fuel  availability,  ask  an 
auto  club,  or  contact  a  major  oil 
company  that does  business  in  the 
country  where  you’ll be driving. 
You can  also  write us at  the  following 
address  for advice.  Just tell 
us where 
you’re  going and give  your  Vehicle 
Identification  Number (VIN). 
General  Motors Overseas 
Distribution  Corporation 
North American Export Sales (NAES) 
1908 Colonel  Sam  Drive 
Oshawa,  Ontario 
L1H 8P7 
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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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Drunken Driving .............................. 132 
Electric  Outside Mirror Control 
...... 87 
Electrical  Equipment. 
Adding 
............................. 60.  117. 219 
Electronic  Level Control 
............ 94. 206 
Emergencies.  Braking  in 
.................. 138 
Emergencies  on the  Road 
................ 157 
Emergencies.  Steering in 
.................. 139 
Emergency  Starting 
.......................... 158 
Emergency  Towing ........................... 162 
Engine  Coolant 
................ 197,  224,  227 
Engine  Coolant  Heater 
....................... 61 
Engine  Coolant Temperature 
Gage 
............................................... 103 
Engine  Exhaust 
............ 57. 68,  150,  154 
Engine  Identification 
........................ 218 
Engine  Oil 
......................................... 190 
Additives 
........................................ 193 
Checking 
& Adding ............... 190. 191 
Disposing  of Used  Oil 
................... 194 
Energy  Conserving 
......................... 193 
Pressure  Gage 
................................ 102 
Pressure Indicator 
......................... 101 
Warning 
.......................................... 193 
When  to Change 
............................ 193 
Engine  Overheating 
......................... 165 
Engine  Specifications 
....................... 226 
Engine.  Starting 
.................................. 58 
Ethanol  in Gasoline .......................... 183 
Exhaust 
Dangerous  Gas 
Parking with  the Engine 
in 
............................. 57. 
68. 150. 154 
Running 
................................... 67.  68 
Expectant Mothers.  Use 
of Safety 
Belts 
................................................. 30 
Expressway  Driving 
......................... 145 
Extender.  Safety  Belt 
......................... 41 
Exterior Appearance 
Fabric  Cleaning 
Fan  Warnings 
............ 159. 160. 167. 187 
Filling  the Fuel  Tank ................ 185. 272 
Filter  Air  Cleaner 
............................ 194. 226 
Oil 
.......................................... 193. 226 
Finish Care 
....................................... 216 
Flat  Tire 
............................................ 172 
Flooded  Engine 
................................... 59 
Fluid  (see 
Appearance 
Care ) 
(see Appearance Care ) 
Flashers. Hazard Warning ............... 158 
Flow-Through Ventilation 
............... 116 
Brake 
...................................... 200. 227 
Capacities 
....................................... 224 
Power  Steering 
.............. 199. 225. 227 
Transaxle 
....................... 195.  224.  227 
Windshield  Washer 
................ 200.  227 Fluids 
& Lubricants ......................... 227 
Fog  Lights 
............................................ 76 
Freeway  Driving 
............................... 145 
Fuel 
................................................... 183 
Alcohol  in  Fuel 
.............................. 183 
Capacity 
......................................... 185 
Exhaust Warnings ..... 57. 68. 150. 154 
Filling 
Your Tank .......................... 185 
Fuels  with Alcohol 
......................... 183 
Gage 
............................................... 100 
In  Foreign  Countries ..................... 184 
Low.  Warning 
................................ 101 
Methanol  in  Fuel 
........................... 183 
Requirements ................................. 183 
Fuse Panel  and Usage .............. 220.  221 
Fuses 
& Circuit Breakers ................. 219 
Anti-Lock  Brakes Fuse 
.................. 222 
Injector Fuse 
.................................. 223 
Gages  Coolant Temperature 
.................... 103 
Fuel 
................................................ 100 
Oil  Pressure ................................... 102 
Oil  Pressure Indicator 
................... 101 
Tachometer 
...................................... 99 
Voltmeter 
....................................... 103 
Garage Door  Opener Compartment 
.. 80 
Gasoline 
............................................ 183 
Gasoline  Tank, Filling  Your 
............ 185 
Gas Station  Information .................. 272 265 
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