2003 Oldsmobile Alero oil dipstick

Low Oil Level Light
LOW
OIL
If your vehicle is equipped
with a
3400 V6 engine,
then you
will have a LOW
OIL light in your
instrument panel cluster.
This light will come on briefly when you start your
vehicle.
If the light stays on after starting your vehicle, or comes
on and chimes while you are driving, your engine
oil
level should be checked.
Prior to checking the oil level, be sure your vehicle has
been shut
off for several minutes and is on a level
surface. Check the oil level on your dipstick and bring it
to the proper level. See
Engine Oil on page 5-15.
The oil level monitoring system only checks oil level
during the brief period between when the key is on and
the engine is cranking. It does not monitor engine oil level
when the engine is running. Additionally, an oil level
check is only performed
if the engine has been turned off
for a considerable period of time allowing the oil normally
in circulation to drain back into the oil pan.
Change Engine Oil Light
CHANGE
OIL
The CHANGE OIL light
should come on briefly as
a bulb check when you
start the engine. If the light
' doesn't come on, have it
~ serviced.
I I
If the CHANGE OIL light comes on and stays on after
you start the engine, have the oil changed.
To reset the CHANGE
OIL light, see Engine Oil on
page 5- 15.
3-35

A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
B. Engine Oil Dipstick
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap
D. Brake Fluid Reservoir
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir F. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
G. Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
H. Battery
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
5-1 3

When you open the hood on the 3400 V6 engine, you'll see the following:
A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap
D. Engine Oil Dipstick E.
Brake Fluid Reservoir
F. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
G. Battery
H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
5-1 4

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.
3400 V6 Engine
The engine
oil dipstick handle is yellow. The dipstick on
the
2.2L L4 ECOTEC engine is located at the front of
the engine compartment. The dipstick on the
3400
V6 engine is located at the front of the engine, behind
the fan. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page
5-12 for more information on location.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
I
3400 V6 Engine
5-1 6

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the MIN mark for the 2.2L L4
ECOTEC engine or below the cross-hatched area at the
tip
of the dipstick for the 3400 V6 engine, 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 engine oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities
and Specifications
on page 5-86
Notice: 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.
I
For the location of the
engine oil
fill cap see
IA
SAE 5W-30
El
Be sure to fill it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you’re through.
5-1 7