1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE radiator cap

If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back
on, you can
drive normally. When you
decide it’s safe to
lift the hood, here’s what
you‘ll see:
If the warning continues,
pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see if
the warning stops.
But then, if you still have the
warning, turn 08 the engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Electric Engine Fan
D. Electric Engine Fan
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Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out
and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and
if you turn the radiator
pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come out
at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap,
is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap
to cool if you ever have to
turn the pressure cap.
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How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
I. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot. Turn the
pressure cap slowly counterclockwise 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.
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3. Fill the radiator with the proper mix, up to the base
of the filler neck.
4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the FULL
HOT mark.
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap
off.
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6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fans.
7. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator
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.
8. 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.
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If this light comes on, it
means you’re low on
engine coolant.
LOW
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper mix at the
coolant recovery tank.
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 coolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
Add coolant mix at the recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill
it.
I
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 spill coolant on a hot engine.
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Radiator Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap line up with the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@
cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow
of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches
a preset temperature.
When
you replace your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat
is recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering fluid reservoir is located to the right
of the engine coolant reservoir, at the back of the
engine compartment.
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rF
The windshield washer fluid reservoir is located on the
driver’s side
of the vehicle, toward the front of the
engine compartment. Open
the cap
labeled WASHER FLUID ONLY. Add
washer fluid
until the tank is full.
NOTICE:
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When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze
and damage your washer fluid tank and
other parts of the washer system. Also,
water doesn’t clean as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it’s very cold. This
allows for expansion, which could damage
the tank if it is completely full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your
windshield washer. It can damage your
washer system and paint.
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