1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE Owners Manual

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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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I I Remove the wing nuts on the air cleaner housing cover.
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... .. .. ..
2. Remove the air intake hose that snaps over the
bottle
body by pulling the hose upward and away
from the throttle body. As YOU are detaching the
hose, remove ahe air cleaner housing cover by
pulling upward and remarc%.
3. Replace the air filter.
4. Reattach the air intake hose.
5. Reinstall the air cleaner housing cover.
Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the
air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can
cause you or others to be burned. The air eleaner
not only cleans the air, it stops flame if the engine
backfires.
1% it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires,
you could be burned. Don’t drive with
it
off, and be careful working on %he engine with
the air cleaner off.
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt cars easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
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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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Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done set your 3uick dealerslug
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sue to follow all the instructions
here,
OT you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
Wait at Beast 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fhid lwei if you have been driving:
8 When outsiOe temperatures are above 90°F (3~ e>. m0-
@ At high speed for quite a while.
e In heavy traffic -- especiaily in hot weather.
8 While gulling a trailer.
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Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
1. The transaxle fluid
dipstick top is a round,
red
loop and is next to
............. ............. the brake master
cylinder behind
the
engine block. Pull out
the dipstick and wipe
it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the
lower level. The fluid 'level
must be in the
cross-hatched area.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait thee seconds and 4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push
then pull it back out again. the dipstick back in a11 the way.
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