1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Owners Manual

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 R&.fQr
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
gasolines contain deposit control additives
and
oxygenates, an’d if they have been reformulated to
reduce vehicle emissions.
Fuel
3808 Supercharged Engine (Code 1)
The 8th digit of your vehicle identification number
(VIN) shows the code letter for your engine. You will
find the VIN at the top left
of your instrument panel.
(See “Vehicle Identification Number” in the Index.)
Use premium unleaded gasoline rated at
91 octane or
higher. You may use middle grade or regular unleaded
gasolines, but your vehicle
may not accelerate as well.
The gasoline you use should meet specifications
ASTlM D4814 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 for premium is at least 91
(at least 89 for middle grade and 87 for regular). If the
octane is less than 87, you may get a heavy knocking
noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage
your engine.
6-4
ProCarManuals.com

If you’re using fuel rated at 91 octane or higher and you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating
or driving up a hill. That’s normal
and you don’t have to buy
a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have a problem.
What about gasoline with blending materials that
contain oxygen (oxygenates), such as
MTBE or alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.” Fuel that is no
more than 15% MTBE is fine for your vehicle.
Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol. Properly-blended fuel
that is no more than
10% ethanol is fine for your vehicle.
Methanol 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
park 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.
6-5
ProCarManuals.com

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
gasolines contain deposit control additives and
oxygenates, and if
they have been reformulated to
reduce vehicle emissions.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
U.S. or Canada, unleaded fuel may be hard to find. Do
not use leaded gasoline. If you use even one tankful,
your emission controls won’t work well or at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get fouled, the exhaust
system can corrode, and your engine oil can deteriorate
quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor will be damaged.
All
of that means costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
LlH 8P7
6-6
ProCarManuals.com

Fuel Door Lock (Option)
On a model equipped with the Theft-Deterrent System,
the fuel door is locked and unlocked together with the
power door locks. Therefore, to unlock the fuel filler
door, you may use the outside door key lock, the inside
power
door lock button, or the Remote Keyless Entry
key chain transmitter. To unlock
the fuel door, unlock all
doors.
If the Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter is used,
the unlock button must be pressed twice.
While refueling, hang
the cap inside the fuel door.
The cap 1s: behind a hinged door on the left side of your TO take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
vehicle. (counterclockwise).
6-7
ProCarManuals.com

When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right until
you hear at least three clicks.
I NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer
can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit or have proper
venting, and your
fuel tank and emissions system
might be damaged.
6-8
ProCarManuals.com

Fuel Door NIanual Release
If your vehicle has a fuel
door lock, the fuel door can
be opened manually in case
of
an electrical power
failure.
Open the trunk, the release mechanism is
on the driver’s
side
of the vehicle, at the top of the trunk compartment.
Pull the tab rearward to release the fuel door.
NOTICE:
Prying on a locked fuel filler door can damage it.
Use the remote fuel door manual release located
in the trunk.
--
Checking Things Under the Hood
The following information tells you how to check fluids,
lubricants and important parts under the hood.
To open the hood, first pull the hood release handle
inside the vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com

Then go to the front of the
vehicle and pull up on the
underhood release.
Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure dl the filler caps are on
properly. Then just pull the hood down and close it
firmly.
Underhood Lamp
Your parking lampgor headlamps must be on for the
underhood
lamp to function when you open the hood.
6- 10
ProCarManuals.com

Engine Accessory Belt
A
C
The 3800 (L36) engine uses an engine accessory belt.
This diagram shows the features connected by the belt
routing. See “Maintenance Schedule” in the Index for
when to check the belt.
A. Power Steering
B . Alternator
C. Air Conditioning
D. Crank
E. Coolant Pump
E Tensioner
3800 Supercharged (L67) Engine
(Option)
Your Bonneville may have a 3800 Supercharged engine.
The Supercharger is
a device which is designed to pump
more air into the engine than it would normally
use.
This air mixed with fuel, creates increased engine
power. Since the Supercharger is a pump and is driven
from an engine accessory drive belt, increased pressure
is available at all driving conditions.
The powertrain control module
(PCM), works with a
vacuum control to regulate the increased pressure
required during specific driving conditions. When this
increased pressure or boost is not desired, such as during
idling
and light throttle cruising, the excess air that the
Supercharger is pumping is routed through a bypass.
All
of these controls, working together provide high
performance character
and fuel efficiency in the
3800 V6 Supercharged engine.
The power steering pump uses a remote reservoir
mounted on the throttle and cruise control cable bracket.
See “Maintenance Schedule”
in the Index for when you
should check the fluid.
6-11
ProCarManuals.com