Page 234 of 372

If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a
few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your’foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to
go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake
to a stop -- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Air Inflator (Option)
Your vehicle may have an air inflator used to bring tires
up
to the proper pressure. See “Air Inflator System” in
the Index for more details.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you
or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
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Page 241 of 372
7. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
FTA TION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, you can use a cloth or
a paper towel
to do this; but be sure to use
a scraper or wire
brush later, if you need to, to get all the rust or
dirt off.
8. Replace the wheel nuts with the rounded end of the
nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each
nut by hand
until the wheel is held against the hub.
7
I A CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could
fall off, causing a serious accident.
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Page 283 of 372

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear.
If unusual wear is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When It’s Time for New
Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information. When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown
here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire
in your
tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the
,. ont and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the
CertificatiodTire label. Make certain that all wheel
nuts
are properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in
the Index.
/
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieTe 1yicsre
uniform wear for
all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services”
in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after
a time. The wheel could come off and cause
an accident. When you change
a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use
a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper
or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt off. (See
“Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index.)
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Page 305 of 372

Capacities and Specifications
Engine Crankcase ...................................... 4.5 to 5 quarts
Oil change with filter change. Use your dipstick to measure.
Automatic Transaxle
When draining or replacing torque convertel; more fluid may be needed.
Pan Removal and Replacement ............................ 6 quarts
After Complete Overhaul
................................ 8 quarts
With Air Conditioning
.................................. 11.75 quarts
With Rear Climate Control
............................... 13.5 quarts
Cooling System
NOTE: All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the appropriate level,
as recommended in this manual.
Refrigerant (R-l34a), Air Conditioning
FrontA/Conly ........................................ 2.25 lbs. 1.02 kg
Front and Rear A/C ..................................... 3 lbs. 1.36 kg
Not all air conditioning refrigerants are the same. rfthe air conditioning system in your vehicle needs refrigerant,
be sure the proper refrigerant is used.
lfyou ’re not sure, ask your Oldsmobile retailez For additional information,
see
your “Warranty and Owner Assistance Information ” booklet.
FuelTank ............................................. 20gallons 76 L
WheelNutTorque ...................................... 100 lb-ft 140 N-m
NOTE: All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the appropriate level,
as recommended
in this manual. 3.75
L
5.70 L
7.60 L
11.25 L
12.75 L
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