
How to Use this Manual 
These  symbols  are on some of your 
controls: 
Windshield  Wipers 
Windshield  Washer 
w 
Windshield  Defroster 
Rear  Window  Defogger 
Rear  Window  Wiper 
Rear  Window  Washer  Ventilating  Fan 
Power  Window 
10 
3f 
These  symbols  are  used on warning 
and indicator  lights: 
Engine  Coolant  Temperature 
Battery  Charging 
System 
Fuel 
Engine 
Oil Pressure 
Brake 
AntXock  Brakes 
p3 
Here  are  some  other symbols you 
may  see: 
Fuse 
Lighter 
Horn 
Speaker 
Hood  Release 
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Features & Controls 
102 
NOTICE: 
Damage to your engine from 
neglected  oil  problems can be  costly 
and 
is not  covered  by your 
warranty. 
I I 
3il Pressure Gage (3800 v6 ENGINE) 
four  oil pressure  gage shows  the oil 
x-essure 
in psi  (pounds  per square 
nch)  when  the engine  is running. 
Zanadian  vehicles  indicate pressure in 
vith engine  speed,  outside  temperature 
md  oil  viscosity. In  fact, while  the 
mgine  is  warming  up,  the oil pressure 
vi11  be higher  than  at  the  normal 
Iperating  temperature.  Readings above 
.he red warning  zone indicate  the 
lormal operating range. 
.f the  gage  reads  in the  red warning 
:one, your engine's  oil  level  may  be 
langerously  low or  there  may  be 
mother  problem causing  low  oil 
xessure.  Driving 
your vehicle  with low  oil 
pressure  can  cause  extensive engine 
damage. Have your  vehicle serviced 
immediately. 
NOTICE: 
Damage  to your engine  from 
neglected  oil problems can be costly 
and  is not  covered  by your 
warranty. 
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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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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. 
195 
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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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226 
Service & Appearance  Care 
Engine  Specifications 
VIN Engine Code ........................................... 
Type ................................................................ 
Displacement .................................................. 
Compression Ratio .......... ....... .. .. .. ..... ............. 
Firing  Order ...................... .. ....................... ... .. 
Thermostat  Temperature  Specification . . . . . . . . . 
31 00 V6 Engine 
D 
V6 
3.1 Liters 
8.5:1 
1-2-3-4-5-6 
195°F  (91°C) 
3800 V6 Engine 
1 
V6 
3.8 Liters 
9.0: 
1 
1-6-5-4-3-2 
195°F  (91°C) 
Normal  Maintenance  Replacement Parts 
Air Cleaner Element ....................................... AC Type  A-773C  AC Type  A-974C 
Engine 
Oil Filter ............................................. AC  Type  PF-51  AC Type  PF-47 
PCV  Valve 
................. .. ................... .... ... . . . ...... AC  Type  CV-789C  AC  Type  CV-892C 
Spark  Plugs 
...... . , . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AC Type  oR43TS  AC  Type  41-600 
Remote  Lock Control Batteries  (2) 
............... DL 2016  DL 2016 
Gap:  0.045 
inch (1.14 
mm) Gap:  0.060 inch  (1.52 mm) 
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Muintenunce Schedule 
234 
Schedule I 
Follow  Schedule I if  your vehicle  is 
MAINLY driven  under  one or  more  of 
the  following  conditions: 
When  most trips  are less  than 4 miles 
When most trips  are  less than  10 
(6 
ltm) 
. 
miles  (16 ltrn) and  outside 
temperatures  remain below freezing. 
When most trips include extended 
idling  and/or  frequent  low-speed 
operation,  as in stop-and-go  traffic. 
When towing a trailer. 
When  operating in dusty  areas. 
Schedule I should  also be  followed if 
the  vehicle  is  used  for  delivery  service, 
police,  taxi 
or other  commercial 
applications. 
::: = An Emission  Control Service. 
j- = The U.S. Emiyonmental  Protection  Agency 
or  the  California Air Resources  Board has 
determined  that the  failure 
to pelform  this 
maintenance  item  will 
not nullify the 
emission warranty or limit recall liability 
prior 
to the  completion  of vehicle  useful  life. 
General  Motors, however,  urges that all 
recommended  maintenance services be 
pelformed  at  the indicated  intervals and  the 
maintenance  be  recorded in “Section 
E: 
Maintenance  Record.” 
ITEM TO BE SERVICED WHEN TO PERFORM 
No* See Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance  Miles (Kilometers) or Months 
Services 
following Schedules I and 11. (whichever  occurs firsl). 
1 Engine  Oil Change & Oil Filter Change* Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km) or 3 Montl~s.. 
2 Chassis Lubrication Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 lm) or 12 Months. 
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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. 
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