2003 Oldsmobile Alero recommended oil

BRAKE
I I
United States
I I
Canada
When your brake fluid falls
to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See
Brake System Warning
Light on page
3-28.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid. Use new brake fluid from a sealed container
only. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page
6- 15.
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.
\. ._h the wrong kinc~ luid in you1 re
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
“Appearance Care’’ in the Index.
5-39

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
IMPORTANT:
KEEP ENGINE OIL AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE AS RECOMMENDED
14
r
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet or your dealer
for details.
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can
even affect the quality
of the air we breathe. Improper
fluid levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase
the level of emissions from your vehicle.
To help protect
our environment, and to keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections and
recommended fluids and lubricants as prescribed in this
manual are necessary to keep your vehicle in good
working condition. Any damage caused by failure
to follow recommended maintenance may not be
covered by warranty.
6-2

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
This part contains engine oil scheduled maintenance
which explains the engine oil life system and how
it indicates when to change the engine
oil and filter.
Also, listed are scheduled maintenance services which
are
to be performed at the mileage intervals specified.
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to keep your vehicle in good
working condition. But we don’t know exactly how
you’ll drive it. You may drive short distances only a few
times
a week. Or you may drive long distances all
the time in very hot, dusty weather. You may use your
vehicle in making deliveries. Or you may drive it to
work, to
do errands or in many other ways.
Because of the different ways people use their vehicles,
maintenance needs may vary. You may need more
frequent checks and replacements.
So please read the
following and note how you drive.
If you have
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition,
see your dealer. This part tells
you the maintenance services you should
have done and when you should schedule them.
When you go to your dealer for your service needs,
you’ll know that GM-trained and supported service
people will perform the work using genuine GM parts.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Part
D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses
these.
All parts should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else drives the
vehicle.
This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these on your vehicle’s
Tire-Loading Information label. See
Loading Your
Vehicle on page 4-34.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
use the recommended fuel. See Gasoline Octane
on page 5-5.
6-4

Scheduled Maintenance
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(1
66 000 km) should be repeated after 100,000 miles
(1
66 000 km) at the same intervals for the life of
this vehicle. The services shown at 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) should be repeated at the same interval
after 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) for the life of this
vehicle.
See
Part B: Owner Checks and Services on page 6-9
and Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections on
page
6- 13.
Footnotes
t The U.S. EfMrmmef%al Prdectim Agency or the
California Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify
the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to
the completion of the vehicle's useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the
,iia;ii;eiiaiic.e be ,.ec.ui.u'eu'.
+ A good time to check your brakes is during tire
rotation. See Brake System Inspection on page
6-14.
Engine Oil Scheduled Maintenance
Change engine oil and filter as indicated by the GM
Oil Life SystemTM (or every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). Reset the system.
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and filter. This
is
based on engine revolutions and engine temperature,
and not on mileage. Based on driving conditions,
the mileage at which an oil change will be indicated can
vary considerably. For the oil life system to work
properly, you must reset the system every time the oil is
changed.
When the system has calculated that
oil life has been
diminished, it
wi!! indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE OIL light will come on. Change
your oil as soon as possible within the next two
times you stop for fuel. It is possible that,
if you are
driving under the best conditions, the oil life system may
not indicate that an oil change is necessary for over a
year. However, your engine oil and filter must
be
must be reset. It is also important to check your oil
regularly and keep it at the proper level.
chs-mgd
!ezst s-ve 2 ye2r 2nd 2t this ?im,e the cwctam 'J -*-* ' *
6-5

Light (cont.) Low Oil Level
............................................. 3-35
Low Washer Fluid Warning
........................... 3-36
Malfunction Indicator
.................................... 3-31
Oil Pressure
............................................... 3-34
Safety Belt Reminder
................................... 3-26
Security
..................................................... 3-36
Service Vehicle Soon
................................... 3-36
Up-Shift
..................................................... 3-28
Loading Your Vehicle
....................................... 4-34
Lockout Protection
.......................................... 2-1 1
Locks Delayed Locking
.......................... ...... 2-8
Door
.......................................... .......... 2-7
Leaving Your Vehicle
........................ .... 2-11
Lockout Protection
........................... .... 2-11
Power Door
.................................................. 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks
............... 2-8
Rear Door Security Locks
............................. 2-10
Loss of Control
............................................... 4-14
Low Coolant Warning Light
.............................. 3-31
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
....................... 3-36
M
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts ........ 5-88
Maintenance Schedule At Each Fuel Fill
........................................... 6-9
At Least Once a Month
.................................. 6-9
At Least Once a Year
.................................. 6-10 Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
At Least Twice a Year
.................................. 6-10
Brake System Inspection
.............................. 6-14
Engine Cooling System Inspection
................. 6-14
Exhaust System Inspection
........................... 6-13
Fuel System Inspection
................................ 6-14
How This Section is Organized
....................... 6-3
Introduction
.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Requirements
............................. 6-2
Part A
- Scheduled Maintenance Services ......... 6-4
Part B
- Owner Checks and Services ............... 6-9
Part C
- Periodic Maintenance Inspections ...... 6-13
Part D
- Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
........................................... 6-15
Part
E - Maintenance Record ........................ 6-16
Scheduled Maintenance
................................. 6-5
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
.......................... 6-13
Throttle System Inspection
............................ 6-14
Using Your
................................................... 6-4
Your Vehicle and the Environment
............... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
.... ..... 4-42
Making Turns
.................................... ..... 4-40
Malfunction Indicator Light
............................ 3-31
Manual Seats
................................................... 1-2
Manual Transaxle
............................................ 2-18
Fluid
.......................................................... 5-22
Operation
................................................... 2-25
Manual Transaxle Check
.................................. 6-10
Manual Windows
............................................ 2-14
8

Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle ............... 2-5
Mexico. Central America and Caribbean
IslandslCountries (Except Puerto Rico and
U.S. Virgin Islands) ....................................... 7-4
Manual Rearview Mirror
................................ 2-32
Outside Convex Mirror
................................. 2-33
Outside Power Mirrors
.................................. 2-33
Outside Remote Control Mirror
...................... 2-32
Mirrors
New Vehicle Break-In
...................................... 2-17
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............ 5-88
0
Odometer ...................................................... 3-25
Off-Road Recovery
.......................................... 4-1 2
Oil Change Engine Oil Light
............................... 3-35
Low Oil bevel Light
...................................... 3-35
Pressure Light
............................................. 3-34
Older Children, Restraints
................................ 1-32
Operation
...................................................... 3-1 9
Other Warning Devices
...................................... 3-6
Outside
Engine ....................................................... " E-! 5
Outlet Adjiisti?ieiit ............................................ 3-22
Convex Mirror ............................................. 2-33 Outside
(cont.)
Power Mirrors
............................................. 2-33
Remote Control Mirror
................................ 2-32
Owners. Canadian
............................................... ii
Owner's Information
........................................ 7-10
Park (P)
Parking Shifting
Out
of ......... ~~~~ ................ 2-28
Brake
............................ ................ 2-26
Over Things That Burn
............................. 2-29
Your Vehicle/Key Removal
............................ 2-29
Parking Brake and Automatic Transax!e Park (P)
Mechanism Check
....................................... 6-12
Parking on Hills
.............................................. 4-41
Park(
P)
Shifting Into ................................................ 2-27
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services ............ 6-4
Part B
- Owner Checks and Services .................. 6-9
Part D
- Recommended Fluids and Lubricants .... 6-15
Part
E - Maintenance Record ........................... 6-16
Passing
................................................. 4-13, 4-40
Passlock@
..................................................... 2-16
Plan Ahead When Possible
................................ 7-7
Playing a Cassette Tape .................................. 3-61
Playing a Compact Disc .................. 3-41, 3-51, 3-63
Playing the Radio
........................... 3-39, 3-43, 3-53
I UI k G . Pericdlc ??lzintzn2ncc Inspcticns .......... 8-13
9