1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme engine coolant

When you open the hood of the 3.4L LQ 1 engine, you'll see:
A. Engine Coolant Reservoir
B. Radiator Fill Cap
C. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap
E. Engine Oil Dipstick
F. Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
G. Brake Fluid Reservoir
H. Air Cleaner
I. Windshield Washer Fluid
J. Battery (located under Windshield Reservoir
Washer Fluid Reservoir)
6-9

How ,to Add Fluid Engine Coolant
I
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
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.
~ kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended ,
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
(0.5 L). Don’t ove@ZZ. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-111, ‘because fluid with that
label is made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11 is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
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.
6-20
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to remain
in your
vehicle for
5 years or 100,000 miles (166 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
A
50/50 mixture of water and the proper.coolant for
your Oldsmobile will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 OF ( 129 O C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.

NOTICE:
When adding coolant it is important that you use
DEX-COOL (orange-colored, silicate-free)
coolant meeting
GM Specification 6277M.
If silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs
first.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze that meets GM Specification
6277M, which won’t damage aluminum parts. Use
GM Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer) (GM Part
No. 3634621) with any complete coolant change. If you
use
this mixture, you don’t need to add anything else.
1 CAUTION:
- -
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system
is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use
a 50/50 mix of clean
water and DEX-COOL (orange-colored,
,
silicate-free) antifreeze.
6-21

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.
..
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
,have your retailer check your cooling system.
' ,.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don't have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
.. , ,', . . , .,
L
I,
. -1 I ' .. .. . *. .. .,
.
,.
Chec'-'ng Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the
COLD mark or a little higher. When your engine. is
warm, the level should be up' to the HOT mark or, a
little higher.
/I .

this it conies on, it
means you're low
on
engine coolant.
A4&g Coolant
- ..
Jfy& more coolant, add the proper mix at the. I
coolant recovery tank. I.
If the coolant recovery tank is. completely empty, add
,- ,coolant -to the radiator.. (See ,:'Engine Overheating" in-
the Index.) I'
A CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and' scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. With the coolant recovery tank,-you
will
almost never have to add doolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiatol' pressure cap
-- even a
little.-- when the engine and radiator
are. hot.
I Add coolant mix at the recovery tank, but be careful not
to
spill it.
I A CAUTION:
You can be burned if you,spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it
will burn if the engine parts are hot '
enough. Don't s,pill coolant on a hot engme.

I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system
(or every
60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See “Engine
Coolant’’ in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap ,and neck. Pressure test cooling
system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control,.Service,
0 Inspect spark plug wires.
0 Replace spark plugs.
An Emission Control Service.
.An Emission Control Service.
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32 O C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, pdlice or
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid andfilter do not require changing.
delivery service.
DATE
SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
7-25

1 Long Trip/Highway Maintenance Schedule I
97,500 Miles (162 500 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
12 months, whichever occurs first).
17 Lubricate steering ball joints (or every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and
Rotation” in the Index for proper rotation
pattern and additional information. During
tire rotation, check brake calipers for
freedom of movement. Refer to the
appropriate
GM service manual for proper
caliper service procedures.
An Emission Control Service.
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY.
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
Drain, flush and refill cooling system
(or every
60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See “Engine
Coolant’’ in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap and neck. Pressure test the
cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
Inspect spark plug wires.
0 Replace spark plugs.
An Emission Control Service.
An Emission Control Service.
I’
1”.

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which
should be performed at the intervals specified to help
ensure the safety, dependability and emission control
performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part
D.
At Each Fuel Fill
I
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel
fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See “Engine Oil” in the Index for
further details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add the proper
coolant mix if necessary. See “Engine Coolant” in the
Index for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the
windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid
if
necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fiuid”,in the Index
for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures. See
“Tires” in the Index for further details.
Cassette Deck Service
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
50 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems” in the Index
for further details.
Power Antenna Service
Clean power antenna mast. See “Audio Systems” in the
Index for further details.
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