2006 BUICK TERRAZA engine

Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
General Motors recommends against the use of
gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives on page 5-5
for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California Emissions
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specications. See the underhood
emission control label. If this fuel is not available
in states adopting California emissions standards, your
vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp may turn on and your vehicle may fail a
smog-check test. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-44. If this occurs, return to your authorized GM
dealer for diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of fuel used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work properly. In
most cases, you should not have to add anything to your
fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the minimum
amount of additive required to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations. To help keep fuel injectors
and intake valves clean, or if your vehicle experiences
problems due to dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline
that is advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Also,
your GM dealer has additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area. General Motors recommends that you use
these gasolines if they comply with the specications
described earlier. However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other
fuels containing more than 10% ethanol must not be used
in vehicles that were not designed for those fuels.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be covered under your
warranty.
5-5

Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors
recommends against the use of such gasolines. Fuels
containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs
and the performance of the emission control system may
be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn
on. If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
Filling the Tank
{CAUTION:
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel re can
cause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries to
you and others, read and follow all the
instructions on the pump island. Turn off your
engine when you are refueling. Do not smoke
if you are near fuel or refueling your vehicle.
Keep sparks, ames, and smoking materials
away from fuel. Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended when refueling your vehicle — this
is against the law in some places. Keep
children away from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel.
5-6

Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and
other uids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
5-10

Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the hood release
handle with this symbol
on it. It is located under
the instrument panel on
the driver’s side.
2. Go to the front of the vehicle and push the
underhood release to the right. It is located near the
center of the hood, above the grille.
3. Lift the hood.4. Pull up on the hood prop to release it from its
storage clip.
The hood prop may be hot due to increased engine
temperatures under the hood, so be careful when
handling it. Use your hood prop sleeve when
handling the hood prop.
5. Put the end of the hood prop into the slot in the
underside of the hood, on the driver’s side of the
vehicle. It is marked by an arrow.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the ller caps are
on properly. Lift the hood to relieve pressure on the hood
prop. Remove the hood prop from the slot in the hood
and return the prop to its retainer. Then let the hood
down and close it rmly.
5-11

Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 3.5L V6 engine, here is what you will see:
5-12

A. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-98.
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
D. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-26.
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-37.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.G. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
H. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
on page 5-22.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-39.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20.
K. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System
on page 5-29.
5-13

When you open the hood on the 3.9L V6 engine, here is what you will see:
5-14

A. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-98.
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
D. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-26.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-37.
G. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
H. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
on page 5-22.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-39.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20.
K. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System
on page 5-29.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.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. 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.
5-15