1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass Owner's Manuals

Fuels in Foreign Countries Filling Your Tank
If you plan on driving
in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended
in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re
going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number
o.
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke
if you’re near gasoline or refbesng
your vehicle. Keep
sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from gasoline.

The cap is behind a hinged door on the right side of your
vehicle.
To open the door, insert your finger into the
finger depression next to the fuel door.
While refueling, hang the tethered cap inside the
fuel door. To
remove the cap,
turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The cap has a spring in it;
if you let
go of the cap
too soon, it will spring back to the right.
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on
you if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more Iikely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any 6'hisss' noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the
way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon
as possible. See "Cleaning the
Outside
of Your Vehicle" in the Index.
6-6

Checking Things Under the Hood
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.
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 under the hood.
To
open the hood, first pull
the
HOOD release handle
inside the vehicle.

Then go to the front of the vehicle and lift the secondary
hood release handle before
lifting.
Lift the hood, release
the hood prop
from its
retainer and put the hood
prop rod
into the slot
~ marked PROP ROD.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps
are on properly. Then let the hood drop from about
8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm).

A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank D.
Engine Oil Dipstick
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir E. Brake Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap F.
Air Cleaner
G. Battery
H. Windshield Washer
Fluid Reservoir
6-10

Engine Oil
CHECK
OIL
If the CHECK OIL light
on the instrument panel
comes on, it means you
need to check your engine
oil level right away.
For more information, see “Check Oil Light” in the
Index.
You should check your engine oil level regularly;
this is an added reminder.
It’s a good idea to check your engine
oil every time you
get fuel.
In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground. The engine
yellow and
fi-ont
of the oil
dipstick is
located on the engine.
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.

Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD line, then you’ll need
to add at least one
quart of oil. But you must use the
right kind.
This part explains what kind of oil to use. For
crankcase capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications”
in the Index.
NOTICE: - . -.
. ~~i ~ - ~~
Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above the upper
mark that shows the proper operating range,
your engine could be damaged.
6-12