
Feutuves & Conlrok 
78 
To Turn the Wipers Off Slide the 
upper  control  to  the 
OFF position. 
Remember  that damaged wiper blades 
may  prevent  you from seeing  well 
enough  to drive  safely. 
To avoid 
damage,  be  sure  to  clear ice and snow 
from  the wiper blades before using 
them.  If they’re frozen  to  the 
windshield,  carefully loosen or thaw 
them. 
If your blades  do become 
damaged,  get  new blades or blade 
inserts. 
Heavy  snow or ice  can  overload your 
wipers. 
A circuit  breaker  will stop  them 
until  the motor cools. Clear  away snow 
or  ice 
to prevent  an overload. 
Windshield Washer 
ro wash your windshield,  press and 
Told  the windshield washer  switch. The 
washers  and wipers  will operate.  When 
JOU release the switch,  the  washers  will 
;top,  and  the  wipers will continue  to 
lperate  for two  cycles, unless your 
wipers  had already been  on. In that 
case,  the wipers  will resume  the wiper 
speed  you  had selected earlier. 
Driving  without  washer  fluid can be 
dangerous. 
A bad  mud  splash  can block 
your  vision. 
You could hit  another 
vehicle  or go  off  the road.  Check your 
washer  fluid  level  often. 
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NOTICE: 
When using  concentrated  washer 
fluid,  follow  the manufacturer’s 
instructions  for adding  water. 
Don’t  mix water  with  ready-to- 
use  washer  fluid. Water  can  cause 
the  solution  to freeze  and damage 
your  washer  fluid tank  and  other 
parts  of the  washer  system. Also, 
water  doesn’t  clean as well  as 
washer  fluid. 
Fill your  washer  fluid tank  only 
3/4 full when  it’s very  cold.  This 
allows  for  expansion,  which  could 
damage  the  tank 
if it is 
completely  full. 
Don’t  use  radiator  antifreeze  in 
your  windshield  washer.  It  can 
damage your  paint. 
Rear Window  Wiper  and  Washer 
To Use Your Rear  Wiper: Slide the 
lower  control  to 
Ql . 
For a Delayed  Wiper  Cycle: Slide the 
lower  control  to 
DELAY. 
To Wash the Rear  Window: Slide the 
lower  control  to 
a and hold  it. The 
washer  and  wiper will operate  only as 
long as the control  is  held in that 
position.  Then  the wiper  will return  to 
DELAY. 
4 Overhead Console 
The  optional  front  overhead console has 
reading lights, 
two switches for  the 
optional  power  sliding  door, storage 
compartments,  including one for your 
garage  door  opener  and  one  for 
sunglasses,  a  compass and  an outside 
temperature  display. The features  of the 
optional  overhead console  are explained 
on  the  following  pages. 
79 
ProCarManuals.com 

Your Driving and the Road 
146 
flow.  Try to merge  into  the  gap at close 
to  the  prevailing  speed. Switch on your 
turn  signal, check your mirrors  and 
glance  over your  shoulder  as often  as 
necessary.  Try to blend smoothly  with 
the  traffic  flow. 
Once 
you are  on  the  freeway, adjust 
your speed  to  the posted limit  or to  the 
prevailing  rate 
if it’s slower. Stay in  the 
right lane unless  you want  to pass. 
Before  changing  lanes, check your 
mirrors.  Then  use  your turn signal. 
Just  before  you  leave  the  lane, glance 
quickly  over  your shoulder  to make  sure 
there  isn’t another  vehicle in your 
“blind”  spot. 
Once  you are moving 
on the  freeway, 
make  certain  you allow  a reasonable 
following  distance. Expect to move 
slightly  slower at night. 
When  you  want to leave  the freeway, 
move  to  the  proper  lane well  in 
advance.  If you 
miss your exit  do  not, 
under  any circumstances,  stop  and back 
up.  Drive  on to  the  next exit. 
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes  quite  sharply.  The exit 
speed 
is usually posted. 
Reduce  your speed according  to your 
speedometer,  not  to  your sense  of 
motion. After  driving  for any distance  at 
higher speeds,  you  may tend to think 
you  are going  slower  than you actually 
are. 
I Before Leaving on a Long 
Trip 
Make  sure you’re ready.  Try to be  well 
rested.  If you  must  start when  you‘re 
not  fresh 
- such  as  after a day’s work 
- don’t plan  to make  too many  miles 
that  first part  of the  journey.  Wear 
comfortable clothing  and  shoes you can 
easily  drive in. 
Is your vehicle  ready  for  a long  trip?  If 
you  keep  it serviced  and  maintained,  it’s 
ready  to go.  If 
it needs service, have  it 
done  before  starting  out. Of course, 
you’ll  find  experienced  and able  service 
experts  in Oldsmobile dealerships  all 
across  North America.  They‘ll  be  ready 
and  willing  to help 
if you  need  it. 
Here  are  some things  you can check 
before  a trip: 
Windshield  Washer  Fluid: Is the 
reservoir  full? Are 
all windows clean 
inside  and  outside? 
shape? 
you  checked  all  levels? 
lenses clean? 
safe, trouble-free  trip. 
Is the tread 
good  enough  for long-distance 
driving? Are  the tires  all inflated  to 
the  recommended pressure? 
weather  outlook along your  route? 
Should  you  delay  your trip  a  short 
time  to avoid  a major  storm system? 
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps? 
Wiper  Blades: Are they in  good 
Fuel,  Engine  Oil,  Other  Fluids: Have 
Lights: Are they all working? Are  the 
Tires: They are vitally  important  to a 
Weather  Forecasts: What’s  the 
Highway  Hypnosis 
Is tbere actually  such  a condition  as 
“highway  hypnosis”?  Or is  it  just  plain 
falling  asleep at  the wheel?  Call it 
highway  hypnosis,  lack of awareness,  or 
whatever. 
ProCarManuals.com 

Your Driving and the Road 
148 
Ihow how to go  uphill. You may 
want  to  shift down  to a lower  gear. 
The  lower  gears help cool your engine 
and  transaxle,  and  you can climb  the 
hill  better. 
Stay in your own lane  when  driving 
on  two-lane  roads  in hills or 
mountains.  Don’t  swing wide or cut 
across  the  center 
of the  road.  Drive  at 
speeds  that let you  stay  in your  own 
lane. 
As you go over  the top of a hill,  be 
alert.  There  could be something  in 
your  lane,  like a stalled car or  an 
accident. 
You  may  see highway  signs  on 
mountains  that warn  of special 
problems.  Examples are long  grades, 
passing or no-passing  zones,  a falling 
rocks  area,  or  winding  roads. Be alert 
to  these  and  take  appropriate  action. 
Winter  Driving 
Here  are  some tips for winter  driving: 
Have your Oldsmobile  in  good shape 
for  winter.  Be sure  your  engine 
coolant  mix  is correct. 
You may want  to put  winter 
emergency  supplies  in your vehicle. 
Include  an ice  scraper,  a  small brush  or 
broom,  a  supply 
of windshield washer 
fluid, 
a rag, some  winter  outer  clothing, 
a  small  shovel,  a flashlight,  a red  cloth, 
and  a  couple  of reflective  warning 
triangles.  And, if you  will  be  driving 
under  severe  conditions,  include a small 
bag  of sand,  a  piece of old  carpet  or a 
couple  of burlap  bags to help  provide 
traction.  Be sure  you properly  secure 
these  items  in your vehicle. 
Driving  on Snow or Ice 
Most of the  time,  those  places where 
your  tires meet  the road  probably  have 
good  traction. 
However, 
if there  is  snow or ice 
between  your tires  and  the road,  you 
can  have  a very  slippery  situation. 
You’ll  have a lot  less  traction 
or “grip” 
and  will  need  to be  very  careful. 
What’s  the worst  time  for this?  “Wet 
ice.”  Very  cold  snow or ice  can  be  slick 
and  hard  to drive 
on. But  wet  ice can  be 
even  more  trouble  because it may  offer 
the  least  traction  of all.  You  can get 
“wet  ice” when  it’s  about freezing 
(32°F; O’C) and freezing  rain begins  to 
fall.  Try  to avoid  driving  on wet  ice  until 
salt  and  sand  crews can get there. 
ProCarManuals.com 

Here you will  find  information  about 
the  care  of 
your Oldsmobile . This 
part  begins  with  service  and fuel 
information.  and  then  it  shows how 
to check  important  fluid  and 
lubricant  levels 
. There is  also 
technical  information  about 
your 
vehicle.  and  a section devoted to its 
appearance  care 
. 
Part 6 
Service & Appearance  Care 
Service ........................................................................\
............................................. 182 
Fuel 
........................................................................\
.................................................. 183 
Hood  Release ........................................................................\
................................... 186 
Engine Oil ........................................................................\
........................................ 190 
Air  Cleaner 
........................................................................\
...................................... 194 
Transaxle  Fluid 
........................................................................\
................................ 195 
Engine Coolant 
........................................................................\
................................ 197 
Power  Steering  Fluid 
........................................................................\
....................... 199 
Windshield Washer  Fluid 
........................................................................\
................ 200 
Brakes 
........................................................................\
.............................................. 201 
Battery 
........................................................................\
............................................. 203 
Bulb Replacement 
........................................................................\
........................... 203 
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement 
................................................................... 205 
Loading  Your Vehicle 
........................................................................\
..................... 206 
Tires 
........................................................................\
................................................. 207 
Appearance  Care ........................................................................\
............................. 212 
Vehicle Identification Number  (VIN) 
.................................................................... 218 
Add-on  Electrical Equipment 
........................................................................\
........ 219 
Fuses & Circuit Breakers ........................................................................\
................ 219 
Capacities  and Specifications 
........................................................................\
......... 224 
Normal  Maintenance  Replacement Parts 
............................................................... 226 
Fluids 
& Lubricants ........................................................................\
........................ 227 
Replacement 
Bulbs ........................................................................\
.......................... 228 
181 
ProCarManuals.com 

Service &Appearance  Care 
3100 V6 Engine 
1. Engine  Coolant  Reservoir 
2. Power  Steering  Fluid  Reservoir 
3. Air  Cleaner 
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir 
5. Windshield  Washer  Fluid  Reservoi 
6. Battery  r 
7. Automatic 
Transaxle  Fluid  Dipstick 
8. Engine  Oil  Dipstick 
9. Engine  Oil  Fill Cap 
10. Radiator Cap 
ProCarManuals.com 

P 
3800 V6 Engine 
1. Engine Coolant Reservoir 
2. Power Steering  Fluid Reservoir 
3. Automatic  Transaxle  Fluid Dipstick 
4. Brake  Fluid  Reservoir 
5. Windshield Washer  Fluid Reservoir 
6. Battery 
7. Air Cleaner 
8. Engine Oil Dipstick 
9. Engine  Oil  Fill Cap 
10. Radiator Cap 
189 
ProCarManuals.com 

Service &Appearance  Care 
What to Add 
Refer to the  Maintenance  Schedule  to 
determine  what kind of fluid  to use.  See 
Recommended  Fluids  and Lubricants 
in the Index. 
200 
3100 V6: Checking  Power  Steering 
Fluid 
NOTICE: 
When  adding  power steering  fluid 
or  malting  a  complete  fluid  change, 
always  use the proper fluid.  Failure 
to use the proper  fluid can cause 
leaks  and damage  hoses  and seals. 
Windshield  Washer Fluid 
To Add 
Open  the cap  labeled WASHER 
FLUID ONLY. Add  washer  fluid until 
the  bottle 
is full. 
3800 V6: Checking  Power  Steering 
Fluid 
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