1998 BUICK REGAL engine overheat

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
I NOTICE:
Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure could cause your
engine to overheat and be severely damaged.
. . 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.
2. Then keep turning the
pressure cap, but now
push down as
you
turn it. Remove the
pressure cap.
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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If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking”
can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must -use caution.
If yaa let your tires spin at M~JI speed, they can
expIode, and you or others could be injured. And,
the transaxle
or other parts of the vehicle can
overheat.
That could cause an engine
compartment
fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck,
spin the wheels as little as possible. Don’t
spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” 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.
1. 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 overfill.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRON-I11
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.” 4.
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
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
000 km) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL6 extended life coolant.
J
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If
you have a problem with
engine overheating or if you need
to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (1 29°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 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
E :.
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 mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
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 you or others could be burned.
Use
a 50/50 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
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NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mixture 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.
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
-
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the
COLD mark or a little higher. When your engine is
warm, the level should be up to the
HOT mark or a
little higher.
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If this light comes on, it
means you’re low
on
engine coolant.
LOW COOLANTI
-
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture ut the coolant recovery tank, but be
careful not to spill it.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant
to the radiator. (See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.)
nrning 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.
b, CAUTIOI.. 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.
Power Steering Fluid
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.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise.
A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
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Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light ................... 2-75
Driver Information Center
........................ 2-76
Driver Position
................................. 1 - 1 1
Driver Selectable Shifting ........................ 2-26
Driving City
........................................ 4-22
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken
..................................... 4-3
Freeway
.................................... 4-23
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-29
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-5
IntheRain
.................................. 4-19
Night
...................................... 4-17
OnCurves
.................................. 4-12
On Grades While Towing a Trailer
............... 4-39
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-25
On Snow
or Ice .............................. 4-28
Through Deep Standing Water
................... 4-21
WetRoads
.................................. 4-19
Winter
...................................... 4-27
With a Trailer
................................ 4-38
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-3
Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control
......... 3-7
Dual ComforTemp Climate Control
.................. 3-4
Electrical Equipment, Adding
..... 2-20. 2-52. 3-29, 6-61
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview Mirror
.......... 2-47
Engine
.................................. 6-10, 6-11
Coolant
..................................... 6-23
Electrical
System
............................... 6-61 Coolant
Heater
............................... 2-20
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-14
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-67
Coolant Temperature Light
..................... 2-67
Exhaust
..................................... 2-31
Identification
................................ 6-60
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-14
Overheating
................................. 5-15
Running While Parked
......................... 2-32
Specifications
................................ 6-68
Starting Your
................................ 2-19
Adding ..................................... 6-14
Checking
................................... 6-13
Engineoil
.................................... 6-12
Additives
................................... 6-16
Supercharger
................................ 6-19
Used
....................................... 6-17
What Kind to Use
............................. 6-15
Whentochange
.............................. 6-16
Enhanced Traction System
........................ 4-11
Enhanced Traction System Active Light
............. 2-66
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
........... 2-65
Ethanol
........................................ 6-5
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-31
Exterior Lamps ................................. 2-41
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-50
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-6
Filter, Air
..................................... 6-17
Filter. Engine Oil
............................... 6-16
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