2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE oil dipstick

On vehicles with a DIC, a CHECK GAGES OIL
PRESSURE message will be displayed and a warning
chime will sound. See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on Daue
3-60 for more information.
Don’t keep drivi
J if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become
so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice: Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Check Oil Level Light
If your vehicle has the
systems monitor, the
comes on for five seconds CHECK
OIL LEVEL light
OIL LEVEL I as
a-bulb check each
time the ignition key
I is turned io ON.
If the engine oil is more than 1 .O quart (0.9 L) low and
the engine has been shut
off for at least eight minutes,
the CHECK OIL LEVEL light will come on and a
chime will sound the next time you
start your vehicle.
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL light comes on, the engine oil
level should be checked
at the dipstick then brought
up
to the proper level, if necessary. See Engine Oil on
page
5- 15.
On vehicles with a DIC, the CHECK OIL LEVEL light is
replaced by an OIL LEVEL
LOW message. See DIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-60 for more
information.
3-50

A. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
D. Radiator Pressure Cap
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
F. Engine Oil Dipstick
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap
H. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
I. Brake Master Cylinder
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Engine Oil
WCHECK
OIL LEVEL
If the OIL LEVEL LOW
message appears
on the
DIC, or the CHECK
OIL LEVEL light appears
on the instrument cluster, it
means
YOU need to
check your engine oil level
right away.
For more information, see
Check Oil Level Light on
page
3-50 or DIG Warnings and Messages on
page 3-60.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
5-1 5

Checking Engine Oil
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. 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.
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.
The engine oil dipstick is located behind the engine
cooling fans and in front of the engine
oil fill cap. The top
of the dipstick is a round yellow loop. See
Engine
Comparfment Overview on page 5-74 for more
information on location.
I I
5-1 6

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the cross-hatched area at the tip
of the dipstick, 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- 100.
Notice: Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating
range, your engine could
be damaged.
1
7
The engine oil fill cap is
located near the engine oil
dipstick. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on
page
5-14 for more
information on location.
Be sure to
fill it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range in the cross-hatched
area. Push the dipstick
all the way back in when
you’re through.
5-1 7

How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid
to use. See Part D:
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-24.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid
to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on the
dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole
to bring it to the proper level.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than one
pint
(0.5 L). Don’t overfill.
Notice: We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-Ill, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON@-Ill
is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check,” earlier in this
section.
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 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, see
Engine Overheating on
page
5-29.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C)
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back
in all the way.
5-26