1994 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Owners Manual

Service & Appearance Care
What Kind of Oil to Use
‘CONT.)
NOTICE:
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 fc
your vehicle.
Engine Oil Additives
I Don‘t add anything to your oil. Your
Pontiac dealer is ready
to advise if you
[hink something should be added.
When to Change Engine
Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
0 Most trips are less than 4 miles
(6 km).
0 It’s below freezing outside and most
trips are less than
10 miles (16 km).
0 The engine is at low speed most of the
time (as
in door-to-door delivery, or
in stop-and-go traffic).
0 You tow a trailer often.
0 Most trips are through dusty places.
If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need
to change your giJ
and filter every 3,000 miles (5 000 km) or
3 months -- whichever comes first. (See
“Change Oil Indicator”
in the Index.)
If none of them is true, change the oil
every
7,500 miles ( 12 500 km) 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 (-ISOC) or colder. If
your vehicle has this option, see “Engine
Coolant Heater”
in the Index.
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.)
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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 proplem
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.
To Check or Replace (3800 Engine):
1. Unscrew the three wing screws in the
housing cover and pull back.
t
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Service & Appearance Care
Air Cleaner (CONT.)
2. Unscrew the clamp on the air intake
hose where the hose attaches to the
throttle body near the top
of the
engine. Detach the hose from the
throttle body, then pull back the rear
of the housing cover.
3. Remove the air filter.
4. Be sure to install the air filter and
replace the cover tightly.
5. Reattach the air intake hose and
tighten the clamp.
To Check or Replace (3800
Supercharged Engine):
1. Unsnap the three clips in the housing
cover and pull back.
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2. Unscrew the clamp on the air intake
hose where the hose attaches to the
throttle body near the top
of the
engine. Detach the hose from the
throttle body, then pull back the rear
of the housing cover.
3. Remove the air filter,
4. Be sure to install the air filter and
replace the cover tightly.
5. Reattach the air intake hose and
tighten the clamp.
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
,- , .. : : j! ? !i
Because this operation can be a little
difficult,
you may choose to have this
done at a Pontiac Dealership Service
Department.
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Service & Appearance Care
How to Check (cow.)
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
parts, 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:
0 When outside temperatures are above
90°F (32°C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot
weather.
I
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 km) 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.
Keep the engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place
the shift lever
in "P" (Park).
With your
foot on the brake pedal,
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.
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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.
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 DEXR0N’-I11
or
DEXRON@-IIE, because fluids with
that label are made especially for your
automatic transaxle. Damage caused
by fluid other than DEXRON@-I11 or
DEXR0N’-IIE is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
0 After adding fluid, recheck the fluid
level as described under “How to
Check.”
0 When the correct fluid level is
obtained, push the dipstick back in all
the way. ..
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling
system and how to add coolant when
it is
1.0~. If
you have a problem with engine
overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
The proper coolant for your Pontiac will:
0
0
0
0
0
Give freezing protection down to
-34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to
,262”F
( 128 “C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
temperature.
Let the warning lights work as they should.
r
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Service & Appearance Care
Engine Coolant (CONT.)
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.
NOTICE:
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
“FULL COLD” or a
little higher. When your engine is warm,
‘.he level should be up to “FULL HOT” or
1 little higher.
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If this light comes on, it means you're lo
on coolant.
L
LOW COOLANT
I'o Add C,oolant
[f 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
I 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 AC@ cap
is recommended.
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