1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Owner's Manuals

Engine Overheating
You will find a,coolant temperature gage and a w&ng
light about a hot engine on your instrument panel.
See
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Engine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light” in the Index. You
also have a low’coolant light on your instrument panel.
See
“Low Coolant Light” in the Index.
If Steam Is, Coming From Your Engine
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with
no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would
not be
covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming,From Your Engine
If you get the overheat -warning but see-or hear no ~
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
0 Stop after high speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
’ Tow a trailer.
5-13

If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
tw this for a minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
3. If you're in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
speed and open the window as necessary.
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while driving
--
DRIVE (D) or THIRD (3).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about ten minutes.
If the warning doesn't come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
3.1L L82 (Code M) Engine
If there's still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you're parked, to see if
B. Radiator pressure cap
the warning stops. But then, if you still have the warning,
turn off the engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
A. Coolant recovery tank ,
C. Electric engine fans
5-14

3.4L LO1 (Code X) Engine Y The coolant level should be at or above the COLD mark.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else in
the
cooling system.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else (until it
cools down.
5-15

NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on check to
see if
the electric engine fan(s) are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fan(s) should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the’coolant level
isn’t at the
COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
water (preferably distilled) and a proper antifreeze at the
coolant recovery ‘tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the
Index for more information about the proper coolant
mix
.)
5-16

NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack,,the ... , . i . ar
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.' Use
the recommended coolant.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at the
COLD mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there's one more
thing you can try.
You can add the proper coolant mix
directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.
5-17

NOTICE:
Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure
to follow this procedure could cause your
engine
to overheat and be severely damaged.
1. You can remove the
radiator pressure cap
when the
cooling
system, including the
radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator
hose,
is no l6nger
hot.
Turn the pressure
cap slowly to theleft
until
it first stops.
(Don’t press down
while turning.the
pressure cap.)
-
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
,5-18 ..

3. After the engine cools, open the coolant air bleed
valve.
3: ...
. -. 1 .. ., ..
,. I, . " "3; 1L L82 (Code M) Engine
3.1L V6 (VIN Code M): There are two bleed valves.
One
is located on the thermostat housing. The other is
located on the thermostat bypass tube.
/ 5-19

3.4L LQ1 (Code X) Engine
They are located
on the thermostat housing and heater
inlet pipe.
1 3.4L V6 (VIN Code X): There are two bleed valves.
4. Fill the radiator
with the proper
mix,
up. to the base
of the 'filler neck.
If
you see a stream.of coolant coming from an air
bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise, close the-
valves after the radiator i.s filled.
5. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the engine
and compartment.