1995 OLDSMOBILE AURORA service

The coolant level
should be at or above
FULL COLD. If it
isn’t and the LOW
ENGINE COOLANT
message appears on
the Driver Inforn~ation
Center, you may have
a leak
in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water
pump
or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
I NOTICE:
Engine damage if you keep running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
See “Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode” in the Index.
I
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fan(sj are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fan(sj should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
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@ Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your
Aurora. This section 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 part devoted to its
appearance care.
Service
Your Aurora retailer knows your vehicle best and wants
you
to be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your
retailer for
all your service needs. You‘ll get genuine
GM parts and GM-trained and supported service people. We
hope you’ll want
to keep your GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine
GM parts have one of these marks:
Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll
want to get the proper Aurora Service Manual. It tells
you much more about how to service your Aurora than
this manual can.
To order the proper service manual, see
“Service Publications’‘
in the Index.
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Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Aurora” in the Index.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in the Index.
I NOTICE: 1
If you try to do your own service work without
knowing enough about it, your vehicle could be
damaged.
Fuel
Use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher. It should meet specifications ASTM D48 14 in
the United States and CGSB 3.5-92 in Canada. These
fuels should have the proper additives,
so you should not
have to add anything to the fuel.
In the United States and Canada, it’s easy
to be sure you
get the right kind of gasoline (unleaded). You’ll see
UNLEADED right on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s filler neck.
Be sure the posted octane is at least 91. If the octane is
less than
91, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. (In an emergency, you may be able to use
lower octane
-- as low as 87 -- if heavy knocking does
not occur.) If you’re using 91 or higher octane unleaded
gas and
you still get heavy knocking, your engine needs
service.
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What about gasoline with blending materials that
contain oxygen (oxygenates), such
as MTBE or alcohol‘?
MTRE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.” Fuel that is no
more than
15% MTBE is fine for your vehicle.
Ethcrnol is ethyl or grain alcohol. Properly-blended fuel
that
is no more than 10% erhd is fine for your
vehicle.
Metlmzol is methyl or wood alcohol.
NOTICE:
Fuel that is more than 5% methanol is bad for
your vehicle. Don’t use it. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t be
covered under your warranty. And even at
5% or
less, there must be “cosolvents” and corrosion
preventers in this fuel to help avoid these
problems.
Gasolines for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with deposit control additives will
help prevent deposits from forming in your engine and
fuel system. That helps keep your engine
in tune and
your emission control system working properly. It’s
good for your vehicle, and you’ll be doing your part for
cleaner air.
Many gasolines are now blended
with oxygenates.
General Motors recommends that you use gasolines with
these blending materials, such as 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
L. zasolines contain deposit control additives and
oxygenates, and
if they have been reformulated to
reduce vehicle emissions.
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Engine Coolant 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.
Air Cleaner
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.)
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 problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your retailer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
To Check or Replace the Air Filter
1. Remove hose (A) from resonator channel.
2. Release tension of the wing screw clamp (B) on the
air intake duct where
it attaches to the air cleaner
cover near the top of
the engine. Just turn the wing
screw counterclockwise, then detach the duct from
the air cleaner cover.
3. Push the duct and resonator assembly (C) rearward
and up, and hold out of the way.
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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.
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 your Aurora Retail Facility
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 parts, starting a fire. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
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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 Aurora will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C)
0 Give boiling protection up to 262°F (128°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights work as they should.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half c.lt.crr~ wwtor (preferably
distilled) and one-half antifreeze that meets “GM
Specification 182S-M,” which won‘t damage aluminum
parts.
You call also use a recycled coolant conforming to
GM Specification 1825-M
with a complete coolant tlush
and refill. Use GM Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer)
with any cotnplete coolant flush and refill. If you use
this mixture, you don‘t need to add anything else.
A
special procedure is required for adding sealer; see the
ALI~o~~ Service Manual. (To order a service 1nanual. see
”Service Publications“
in the Index.)
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NOTICE: (Continued)
If your tires have
too much air (overinflation),
you can get:
Unusual wear
0 Bad handling
0 Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more,
Don’t forget your compact spare tire.
It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. Simply looking
at the tires will not tell you the
pressure, especially
if you have radial tires -- which
may look properly inflated even
if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back
on. They help prevent leaks
by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
( 10 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear. If
unusual wear is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment.
Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When it’s Time for New
Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” later
in this section for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is
to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services’’
in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
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