1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX oil

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel informa\
tion,
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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6-8
6-8
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6-32
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6-36
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6-44 Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Filling a Portable Fuel Container Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil Air Cleaner
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
.
Engine Coolant
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement 6-44
6-52
6-53 6-55
6-56
6-57
6-59
6-60
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6-6
1
6-62
6-68
6-70
6-70 Tires
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside of
Your Vehicle
Care
of the Safety Belts and Built-in Child
Restraint Harness Cleaning the Outside
of Your Vehicle
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
(If Equipped)
Underbody Maintenance
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Service
Parts Identification Label
Electrical System
Capacities and Specifications Normal Maintenance Replacement
Parts
Air Conditioning Refrigerants

To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel system, allowing your emission control system to
function properly. Therefore, you should not have to add
anythmg to the fuel. In addition, gasolines containing
oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines may be available in your area to
help clean the
air. General Motors recommends that you
use these gasolines if they comply with the specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and
also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
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 (VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
6-5

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
A CAUTION:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged
if this
occurs.
To help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
0 Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed
or
on any surface other than the ground.
0 Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
1 inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
1 until the filling is complete.
~ 0 Don’t smoke while pumping gasoline.
i
Checking Things Under the Hood
A CAUTION: I
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,
1 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.
6-8

When you open the hood of the 3100 engine, you'll see:
n
A. Windshield Washer Fluid
B. Battery
C. Radiator Fill Cap
D. Power Steering
Fluid Reservoir
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap
E Engine Oil Dipstick G.
Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir
I. Engine Coolant Reservoir
J. Air Cleaner
6-10

When you open the hood of the 3800 engine, you’ll see:
A. Windshield Washer Fluid
D. Power Steering G. Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
B. Battery Fluid Reservoir
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir
C.
Radiator Fill Cap E. Engine Oil Dipstick I. Engine Coolant Reservoir
E Engine Oil Fill
Cap J. Air Cleaner
6-11

When you open the hood of the 3800 Supercharged engine, you'll see:
D. Power Steering
Fluid Reservoir
E. Engine Oil Dipstick
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap
G. Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir
I. Engine Coolant Reservoir
J. Air Cleaner
A. Windshield Washer Fluid
B. Battery
C. Radiator Fill Cap
6-12

Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
on properly. Then just pull the hood down and close
it fiiy.
3800 Supercharged Engine
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have a 3800 Supercharged engine.
The supercharger is a device which is designed to pump
more air 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, increased 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 throttle cruising, the excess air that the supercharger is pumping is routed through a bypass.
All of these controls working together provide high
performance character and fuel efficiency
in the
3800 Supercharged engine.
Engine Oil
LOW OIL
LEVEL
If the LOW OIL LEVEL
light on the instrument
panel comes on, it means
you need to check
your
engine oil level right away.
For more information, see “Low
Oil Level 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 oil dipstick
handle is the yellow loop
near the front of the engine.
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I
1
I
3 Checking Engine Oil
3800 or 3800 Supercharged 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. 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.
3100 Engine
6-14