2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner's Manuals

6. Latch the hooks to secure the panel in place. If the
panel moves easily, check that the tabs are seated
correctly in the slots.
7. Put the duct back on and reinstall the clamps.
{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/®lter
off can cause you or others to be burned.
The air cleaner not only cleans the air,
it helps to stop ¯ame if the engine back®res.
If it is not there and the engine back®res,
you could be burned. Do not drive with it off,
and be careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner/®lter off.
Notice:If the air cleaner/®lter is off, a back®re can
cause a damaging engine ®re. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always have
the air cleaner/®lter in place when you are driving.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transaxle Fluid
A good time to check your automatic transaxle ¯uid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the ¯uid and ®lter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one
or more of these conditions:
·In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or higher
·In hilly or mountainous terrain
·When doing frequent trailer towing
·Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service
If you do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, change the ¯uid and ®lter at
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4for more
information.
5-19

How to Check Automatic Transaxle
Fluid
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at the dealership service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
Notice:Too much or too little ¯uid can damage the
transaxle. Too much can mean that some of the ¯uid
could come out and fall on hot engine or exhaust
system parts, starting a ®re. Too little ¯uid could
cause the transaxle to overheat. Be sure to get an
accurate reading if you check the transaxle ¯uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
¯uid level if you have been driving:
·When outside temperatures are
above 90ÉF (32ÉC)
·At high speed for quite a while
·In heavy traffic ± especially in hot weather
·While pulling a trailer
To get the right reading, the ¯uid should be
at normal operating temperature, which is
180ÉF to 200ÉF (82ÉC to 93ÉC).Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about
15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are
above 50ÉF (10ÉC). If it is colder than 50ÉF (10ÉC),
you may have to drive longer.
Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
·Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
·With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
·With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK (P).
·Let the engine run at idle for three to ®ve minutes.
5-20

Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
The dipstick is located toward the back of the engine
compartment, next to the brake master cylinder
reservoir.The dipstick has a bright, red loop design for easy
identi®cation. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for more information on location.
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag
or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds
and then pull it back out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the
lower level. The ¯uid level must be in the
cross-hatched area.
4. If the ¯uid level is in the acceptable range, push
the dipstick back in all the way.
5-21

How to Add Fluid Automatic Transaxle
Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle ¯uid to use. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-12.
If the ¯uid level is low, add only enough of the proper
¯uid 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 ¯uid at the
dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level.
It does not take much ¯uid, generally less than
one pint (0.5 L). Do not over®ll.
Notice:Use of automatic transaxle ¯uid labeled
other than DEXRONž-III may damage your vehicle,
and the damages may not be covered by your
warranty. Always use DEXRON
ž-III labeled automatic
transaxle ¯uid.
3. After adding ¯uid, recheck the ¯uid level as
described under ªHow to Check Automatic
Transaxle Fluidº.
4. When the correct ¯uid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is ®lled with
DEX-COOLžengine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs ®rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
žextended 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 5-25.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
žcoolant will:
·Give freezing protection down to-34ÉF (-37ÉC)
·Give boiling protection up to 265ÉF (129ÉC)
·Protect against rust and corrosion
·Help keep the proper engine temperature
·Let the warning messages and gages work
as they should
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOLžmay
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs ®rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
ž(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-22

What Engine Coolant to Use
Use a mixture of one-halfclean, drinkable waterand
one-half DEX-COOLžcoolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you do not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as 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 would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch ®re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
žcoolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost would not 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 do not
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful.
5-23

Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery tank
is located on the driver's
side of the vehicle,
above the engine air
cleaner/®lter. See
Engine
Compartment Overview
on page 5-12
for more
information on location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the
FULL COLD mark, or a little higher. When your engine
is warm, the level should be above the FULL COLD
mark or a little higher.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOLž
coolant mixtureat the coolant recovery tank.
{CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. With the coolant recovery tank, you will
almost never have to add coolant at the
radiator. Never turn the radiator pressure
cap Ð even a little Ð when the engine and
radiator are hot.
Add coolant mixture at the coolant recovery tank, but be
careful not to spill it.
5-24

{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
Occasionally check the coolant level in the radiator.
For information on how to add coolant to the radiator,
see
Cooling System on page 5-28.
Radiator Pressure Cap
Notice:The radiator cap on your vehicle is a
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap line
up with the over¯ow tube on the radiator ®ller neck.
The radiator pressure cap is located at the front of the
engine compartment on the passenger's side of the
vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for more information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will ®nd an engine coolant temperature gage on
your vehicle's instrument panel cluster. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-48. You
also have an engine coolant temperature warning
message on your instrument panel. See
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Message on page 3-54.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation.
If an overheated engine condition exists, an overheat
protection mode which alternates ®ring groups of
cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
you will notice a signi®cant loss in power and engine
performance. The temperature gage will indicate
an overheat condition exists. Driving extended
miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in the overheat
protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely degraded. Repair the
cause of coolant loss, change the oil and reset the oil
life system. See
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
5-25

If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
from it. Just turn it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch ®re. You
or others could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
See ªOverheated Engine Protection Operating
Modeº under
Engine Overheating on page 5-25
for information on driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
Notice:If your engine catches ®re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. See ªOverheated
Engine Protection Operating Modeº under
Engine
Overheating on page 5-25for information on driving
to a safe place in an emergency.
5-26