1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM engine coolant

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Pontiac. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
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6-34 Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Manual Transaxle Fluid
Hydraulic Clutch
Engine Coolant
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Thermostat
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery Bulb
Replacement
Halogen Bulbs
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac
Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac
Aluminum Wheels
(If Equipped)
Cleaning Tires
Sheet Metal Damage
Finish Damage
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Dimensions
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Checking Things Under the Hood
I
' A CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure
you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
A CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber.
You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things
that will burn onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
The following sections tell you how to check fluids,
lubricants and important parts underhood.
To open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the vehicle.
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2.4L (CODE T) Engine
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap
C. Engine Oil Dipstick
D. Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
(If Equipped) E.
Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
E Brake Fluid Reservoir
G. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir
H. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
Reservoir
(If Equipped)
I. Air Cleaner
J. Battery
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3100 (CODE M) Engine
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap
D. Engine Oil Dipstick
E. Automatic Transaxle
F. Brake Fluid Reservoir Fluid Dipstick G.
Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir
H. Air Cleaner
I. Battery
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When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often you should check the
fluid level in your clutch
master cylinder reservoir
and for the proper fluid. See
“Owner Checks and
Services” and
“Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
., , I . ...
How to Check
The proper fluid should be added if the level is at or
below the STEP mark on the reservoir cap. See the
instructions on the reservoir cap.
Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL
J engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or 150,000 miles
(240
000 krn) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOLd extended life coolant.
The following explains
your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your Pontiac will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 OF (1 29 O C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
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NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you use
only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL@ 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. Damage caused by the use
of coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled)
and one-half DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum parts.
If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else. 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@ coolant.

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 dealer check your cooling system.
I 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.
Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is located on the passenger’s side
of the engine compartment.
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A CAUTION:
nrning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
Never turn the surge tank pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot,
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the
FULL COLD mark, or a little higher.
If the low coolant light
comes on, it means you’re
low on engine coolant.
~ ~~~
See “Low Coolant Warning Light” in the Index. Adding Coolant
If you need
more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL’
coolant mixture
at the surge tank, but only when the
engine is
cool.
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 spill coolant on a hot engine.
1
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is tight.
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