1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE engine oil

Your vehicle may have 2 3800 Sqercharged engine.
Supercharging, rather
than turbocharging, emphasizes
smooth, refined power.
The supercharger is a device which is designed to pump
more ais into the engine than it would normally use.
This air mixed with fuel creates increased engine power.
Since the supercharger
is a pump and is driven from an
engine
accessory drive belt, iwreased pressure is
available at all driving conditions.
The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) works with a
vacuum control to regulate the increased pressure
required during specific driving conditions. When this
increased pressure or boost is not desired, such as during
idling and light tfarsttIe cruising, the excess air that the
supercharger is pumping is routed through a bypass.
AB1 sf these controk working together provide high
performance character and fuel efficiency in the
3800 V6 Supercharged engine.
The power steering pump and reservoir are mounted on
the rear (driver’s side) sf the engine biock. See
“Maintenance Schedule”
in the Index for when you
should check the fluid.
c
ENGINE OIL LOW CHECK LEVEL HMBHBMrn
Ef you have the Driver Infcmation Center, an ENGINE
OIL LOW-CHECK LEVEL message will appear when
the engine oil is approximately I quart (fL) Isw. 11 the
message is displayed, check the dipstick level and add
oil as needed.
7r
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Oils recommended for your vehicle can be identified
by looking for the '"Starburst" symbol. Vas symbol
indicates that the 0iI has been certified by the American
Petroleum Institute (AH).
Do not use any oil whch
does
not cmy this Starburst symbd.
P
oil dipstick.
Be sure to fill it enough tc put the Bevel somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you're through.
If you change your own oil,
be sure you use oil that has
the Starburst symbol on the
front of the oil container. If
you have your oil changed
for you, be sure the 02 put
into your engine is
American Petroleum
Institute certified f~r
gasoline engines.
You should also use the prcper viscosity oil for your
vehicle,
as shown in the following chart:
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If none of them is true, use the %ong triphighway
maintenance schedule. Change the oil and filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months -- whichever
occurs
ht. Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed
engine
under highway conditions causes engine oil
to $re& down dower.
If any one of these is true for you, use the short tripkity
maintenance schedule:
8
Most trips are less than 5 to 13 miles (8 to I 6 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures
are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive id1ir.g (such as frequent
$riving
in stop-and-go traffic).
Most
trips are though dusty areas.
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
your vehicle.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other
commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine
oil to
break down
sooner. Hf any me of these is true for your
vehicle, then
YOU need to change your si1 and filter
every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever
occurs
kt. (See Engine Oil Life Monitor (Index) in
the Index.
1
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
ekmer,ts that may
be unhealthy for your skin and csdd
even cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on your skin
for very iong. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hznd cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about
the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be a real t-heat to the environment. If you
change
your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing
oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever dispose of
oil by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it
to a place that coilects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer,
a service station or a local recycling
center for kelp.
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Check oil only when the engine is cold. Allow the
engine
to cool two to three hours after running.
I. Clean tke area around the oil fill plug before
removing it.
2. Remove the G~H fill plug wing a 3/26 inch
Allen
wrench.
3. The oil level is correct when it just reaches efre
bottom of the threads of the inspection hole.
4. Replace the oil plug with the O-ring in place.
Torque
to 88 bin ( IO N-m).
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is wherr the engine oil is changed.
Change
both the fluid a.nd filter every 50,000 miles
(83 080 Ian) if the vehicle is mainly driven rander one
or more of these conditions:
8 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police QT delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any sf these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not reqwie changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids
md Eubricmts” 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.
I. 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 one
pint
(0.5 L). Don’t ove@Zl.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level ips
4. When the correct fluid level is obt.ained, push the
described
under “How to Check.”
dipstick back in
dl the way.
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 MI0 h) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL“ extended life coolant,
The following explains
your coding 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 DEX-COOL’
coolant will:
J
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 OF 129 ” C).
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 importrant that you use
O~Y DEX-CQOE~ (sficate-free) COQI~~.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to the
system, premature engine, heater
core or
radiator corrosion may result.
Hw addition, the
engine coolant
will require change SQB~~F -- at
30,000 des (50 000 b) or 24 months,
whichever occurs
first. Damage caused by the
use of coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is not
c~vemdl by
your new vehicle warranty.
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled)
and one-half DEX-COOL’ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum pats. If you use this mixture,
YOU don’t need to add anything else.
..
..
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Blain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol,
can boil before the proper
coolant mixture
will. Your vehicle’s CQO~~
warning system is set for the proper c~~lmt
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too
hot but you wouldn’t
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and
yon or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean water and
DEX-CBOL@ codant.
6-24
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NOTICE:
Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system
parts. For example, just a few
drops
of minerallbased oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system
parts so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced.
Don’t let someone gut in the
If you spill brake fluid OEI your vehicle’s
painted
surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful
not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Case” in
the Index. wrong
kind of fluid.
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc
brake pads have built-in wear inchcators &at make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except
when
you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
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The following approximate capacities are given in English and metric conversions. Please refer to “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index for more information.
Automatic Transaxle AT (Overdrive)
Pan Removal and Replacement ................................................... 6 quarts (5.6 L)
After Complete Overhaul ...................................................... 1 I quarts (10.4 E)
When draining or replacing torque convertep; nzore fluid may be needed.
Belt Tensions
Automatically controlled by a Self-Tension idler pulley. Tension adjustment should never be necessary.
Cooling System ............................................................. 13 quarts (12.3 k)
Engine Crankcase
Oil change with filter change ................................................... 4.5 quarts (4.3 L)
Power Steering
Complete System ............................................................ 1 1/2 pints (0.7 L)
Tire Pressure
See the Tire-Loading Information label on the rear edge of the driver’s door.
WheelNutTorque ........................................................ 1001b-ft(140N-m)
R-134a Air Conditioning ................................ See refrigerant charge label under the hood.
FuelTank ................................................................ 18SgaIlons(70L)
PumpOnly ..................................................................... 1pint(OSE)
NOTE: All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the appropriate level, as recommended in
this manual.
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