2001 BUICK CENTURY oil

6-21
Engine Coolant
The cooling system 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
-COOL
extended life coolant.
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 ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
-COOL
coolant will:

Give freezing protection down to
-34F (-37C).

Give boiling protection up to 265F (129C).

Protect against rust and corrosion.

Help keep the proper engine temperature.

Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
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.

6-22 What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one
-half DEX-COOL
coolant which won't damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don't need to add anything else.
CAUTION:
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, drinkable water
and DEX
-COOL
coolant.
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.

6-28
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT
-3 brake
fluid. Use new brake fluid from a sealed container only.
Refer to ªRecommended Fluids and Lubricantsº in the
Maintenance Schedule.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
NOTICE:

Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a few
drops of mineral
-based 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 put in the
wrong kind of fluid.

If you spill brake fluid on 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 ªAppearance Careº in
the Index.

6-50
Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flame if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your
vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer's warnings
and instructions. And always open your doors or
windows when you're cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:

Gasoline

Benzene

Naphtha

Carbon Tetrachloride

Acetone

Paint Thinner

Turpentine

Lacquer Thinner

Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
-- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too.Don't use any of these unless this manual says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:

Alcohol

Laundry Soap

Bleach

Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather, plastic and painted surfaces
with a clean, damp cloth.
Cleaning of Fabric/Carpet
Your dealer has two cleaners, Multi-Purpose Interior
Cleaner and Capture Non
-Solvent Dry Spot and
Soil Remover for cleaning fabric and carpet. They will
clean normal spots and stains very well. You can get
GM
-approved cleaning products from your dealer.
See ªAppearance Care and Materialsº in the Index.

6-51
Here are some cleaning tips:

Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.

Clean up stains as soon as you can
-- before they set.

Carefully scrape off any excess stain.

Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean area
often. A soft brush may be used if stains are stubborn.

If a ring forms on fabric after spot cleaning, clean the
entire area immediately or it will set.
Using Multi-Purpose Interior Cleaner
on Fabric
1. Vacuum and brush the area to remove any loose dirt.
2. Always clean a whole trim panel or section.
Mask surrounding trim along stitch or welt lines.
3. Mix powdered cleaner following the directions on
the container label to form thick suds.
4. Use suds only and apply with a clean sponge.
Don't saturate the material and don't rub it roughly.
5. As soon as you've cleaned the section, use a sponge
to remove the suds.
6. Wipe cleaned area with a clean, damp towel or cloth.
7. Wipe with a clean cloth and let dry.
Special Fabric Cleaning Problems
Stains caused by such things as catsup, coffee (black),
egg, fruit, fruit juice, milk, soft drinks, vomit, urine and
blood can be removed as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the
soiled area with cool water.
2. If a stain remains, follow the Multi
-Purpose Interior
Cleaner instructions described earlier.
3. If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine,
treat the area with a water/baking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml)
of lukewarm water.
4. Let dry.
Stains caused by candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chili
sauce and unknown stains can be removed as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain.
2. First, clean with cool water and allow to
dry completely.
3. If a stain remains, follow instructions for
Multi
-Purpose Interior Cleaner.

6-52 Cleaning Vinyl
Use warm water and a clean cloth.

Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt.
You may have to do it more than once.

Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain if you
don't get them off quickly. Use a clean cloth and a
vinyl/leather cleaner. See your dealer for this product.
Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or
saddle soap and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Then, let the
leather dry naturally. Do not use heat to dry.

For stubborn stains, use a leather cleaner. See your
dealer for this product.

Never use oils, varnishes, solvent
-based or abrasive
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.

Soiled or stained leather should be cleaned
immediately. If dirt is allowed to work into the
finish, it can harm the leather.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield
and even make it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components
Use only a mild soap and water solution on a soft
cloth or sponge. Commercial cleaners may affect the
surface finish.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
CAUTION:
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them. In a crash, they
might not be able to provide adequate protection.
Clean safety belts only with mild soap and
lukewarm water.

6-54 Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle's finish is to
keep it clean by washing it often with lukewarm or
cold water.
Don't wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Use a car washing soap. Don't use strong soaps or
chemical detergents. Be sure to rinse the vehicle well,
removing all soap residue completely. You can get
GM
-approved cleaning products from your dealer.
See ªAppearance Care and Materialsº in the Index.
Don't use cleaning agents that are petroleum based,
or that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agents
should be flushed promptly and not allowed to dry
on the surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish with
a soft, clean chamois or an all
-cotton towel to avoid
surface scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter
your vehicle.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a
car washing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses.
Follow instructions under ªWashing Your Vehicle.º
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the paint
finish. You can get GM
-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. See ªAppearance Care and Materialsº
in the Index.
Your vehicle has a ªbasecoat/clearcoatº paint finish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non
-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat
paint finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing
on a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc.,
can damage your vehicle's finish if they remain on
painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible.
If necessary, use non
-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.

6-57
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
PART NUMBERSIZEDESCRIPTIONUSAGE
99495423 in. x 25 in.Polishing Cloth ± Wax TreatedExterior polishing cloth
105017216 oz. (0.473 L)Tar and Road Oil RemoverRemoves tar, road oil and asphalt
105017316 oz. (0.473 L)Chrome Cleaner and PolishUse on chrome, stainless steel, nickel, copper and brass
105017416 oz. (0.473 L)White Sidewall Tire CleanerRemoves soil and black marks from whitewalls
105021432 oz. (0.946 L)Vinyl CleanerCleans vinyl tops, upholstery and convertible tops
105042723 oz. (0.680 L)Glass CleanerRemoves dirt, grime, smoke and fingerprints
1052918**8 oz. (0.237 L)Armor All
ProtectantProtects leather, wood, acrylics, Plexiglas
, plastic,
rubber and vinyl
105292516 oz. (0.473 L)Multi-Purpose
Interior CleanerCleans carpets, seats, interior trim, door panels
and floor mats
105292916 oz. (0.473 L)Wheel CleanerSpray on and rinse with water
10529308 oz. (0.237 L)Capture Dry Spot RemoverAttracts, absorbs and removes soils on fabric
123457212.5 sq. ft.Synthetic ChamoisShines vehicle without scratching
1234572512 oz. (0.354 L)Silicone Tire ShineSpray on tire shine
12377964*16 oz. (0.473 L)Finish EnhancerRemoves dust, fingerprints and surface contaminants
12377966*16 oz. (0.473 L)Cleaner WaxRemoves light scratches and oxidation and protects finish
12377984*16 oz. (0.473 L)Surface CleanerRemoves contaminants, blemishes and swirl marks
See your General Motors Parts Department for these products. * For exterior use only.
See ªRecommended Fluids and Lubricantsº in the Index. ** Not recommended for use on instrument panels.