Page 198 of 354
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
NOTICE:
Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure could cause your
engine
to overheat and be severely damaged.
i
1. You can remove the
radiator pressure cap
when the cooling system, including the
radiator pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is
no longer
hot. TU^ the
pressure cap slowly to
the left 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.
2. Then keep turning the
pressure cap, but now
push down
as you turn
it. Remove the pressure
cap.
5-19
ProCarManuals.com
Page 199 of 354
3. After the engine cools, open the coolant air bleed
valve.
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.
3.4L LQl (Code X) Engine
3.4L V6 (VIN Code X): There are two bleed valves.
They are located on the thermostat housing and heater
inlet pipe.
5-20
ProCarManuals.com
Page 200 of 354
Fill the radiator with the
base of the filler neck,
If you see a stream of
coolant coming fi-om an
air bleed valve, close the
valve. Otherwise, close
the valves after the
radiatur is filled.
proper mix, up to the
5. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the engine
and compartment.
6. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the COLD
mark.
7. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off,
5-21 ProCarManuals.com
Page 201 of 354
8. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fans.
filler neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more
of the proper mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches the base of the filler neck.
9. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator
10. Then replace the
pressure cap. At
any
time during this
procedure
if coolant
begins to
flow out of
the filler neck, reinstall
the pressure cap.
Be
sure the arrows on the
pressure cap line up
like this.
11. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at
the HOT
mark when the engine is hot or at the COLD mark
when the engine is cold.
5-22
ProCarManuals.com
Page 216 of 354

Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher.
It should meet specifications ASTM D4814 i.n
the United States and CGSB 3592 in Canada. These
hels should have the proper additives,
so you should not
have to add anything to the fuel.
h the United States and Canada, it’s easy to be sure you
get the right kind
of gasoline (unlea.ded). 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 87. 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.
Lf you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane or higher and you
still hear heavy hocking, 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 dan’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinmg. 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.
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
6-3
ProCarManuals.com
Page 217 of 354

Gasolines for Cleaner Air Fuels in Foreign Countries
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.
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
Oskawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
6-4
ProCarManuals.com
Page 221 of 354
I
a3
7
With the 3.1 L L82 (Code M) engine, when you open the hood, you’ll see:
1. Radiator Pressure Cap 7. Engine Oil Dipstick
2. Engine Coolant Reservoir 8. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
3. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir 9. Brake Fluid Reservoir
4. Coolant Bleed Valves 10. Air Cleaner
5. Electric Engine Fans 11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Engine Oil Fill Cap
6-8
ProCarManuals.com
Page 222 of 354
'4 L,
With the 3.4L LQI (Code X) engine, when you open the hood, you'll see:
1. Radiator Pressure Cap 7. Coolant Bleed Valves
2. Engine Coolant Reservoir 8. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
3. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir 9. Brake Fluid Reservoir
4. Electric Engine Fans 10. Air Cleaner
5. Engine Oil Dipstick 1 1. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Engine Oil Fill Cap
6-9 ProCarManuals.com