Page 201 of 356
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  DEX-COOL 
(orange-colored,  silicate-free)  antifreeze  at  the  coolant 
recovery 
tad. (See “Engine  Coolant”  in the  Index  ’for 
more  information.) 
I 
A 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 antifreeze. 
NOTICE: 
In  cold  weather,  water can freeze  and  crack  the 
engine,  radiator, heater  core and  other  parts. 
Use  the recommended  coolant  and the proper 
coolant  mix. 
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        Page 240 of 356

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.  
     
        
        Page 241 of 356

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