2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette coolant level

A. Underhood Fuse Block.
SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-101.
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
See
Jump Starting on page 5-42.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir.
See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-37.
D. Radiator Pressure Cap.
See
Radiator Pressure Cap on page 5-25.
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir.
See
Power Steering Fluid on page 5-36.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap.
See
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
G. Engine Oil Dipstick.
See
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
H. Transaxle Fluid Dipstick.
See
Automatic Transaxle Fluid on page 5-19.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir.
See
Brakes on page 5-38.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.
See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-18.
K. Coolant Recovery Tank.
See
Cooling System on page 5-28.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is 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.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
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.
5-13

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

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

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is what
you will see:
A. Radiator Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fans
C. Coolant Recovery Tank{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood
can start up even when the engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
do not do anything else until it cools down. The
vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
The coolant level should be at or above the FULL COLD
mark. If it is not, you may have a leak at the pressure cap
or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else in the cooling system.
5-28

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, but the coolant
level is not at or above the FULL COLD mark, add
a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable waterand
DEX-COOLžengine coolant at the coolant recovery
tank. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-22for more
information.
{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:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
{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.
5-30

6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fans.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
®ller neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL
žcoolant mixture
through the ®ller neck until the level reaches
the base of the ®ller neck.
5-34

Underhood Fuse Block
This fuse block is located
in the engine compartment,
in front of the windshield
washer ¯uid reservoir.
See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for more information
on location.
The fuses marked spare are available if a replacement
fuse is needed.
To remove the cover, turn the knob counterclockwise
and lift up.
When ®nished, to put the cover back on, turn the knob
clockwise to tighten it. Make sure that the remote
positive (+) terminal cover is on correctly.
Fuse Usage
1 Coolant Fans
2 Not Used
3Circuit Breakers: Front Comfort
Controls Hi Blower, and Headlamp
Fuses (Instrument Panel): Hazard
and Stoplamp, PASS-Key
ž
4Circuit Breaker: Power Seat and
Power Sliding Door. Fuses
(Instrument Panel): Electronic Level
Control and Rear Defogger, Trailer,
Fog Lamps
5-105