2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX fuel additives

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-19
Supercharger Oil..........................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-21
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-23
Engine Coolant.............................................5-25
Pressure Cap...............................................5-28
Engine Overheating.......................................5-28Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-30
Cooling System............................................5-30
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-40
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-41
Brakes........................................................5-42
Battery........................................................5-45
Jump Starting...............................................5-46
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-50
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-53
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-53
Headlamps and Sidemarker Lamps.................5-54
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Fog Lamps......5-56
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-57
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-58
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-59
Windshield Replacement.................................5-60
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-60
Tires..............................................................5-60
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-62
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-64
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-67
Tire Ination Monitor System..........................5-68
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-70
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your dealer before adding equipment to the outside of
your vehicle.
Fuel
The 8th digit of your vehicle identication number (VIN)
shows the code letter or number that identies your
engine. You will nd the VIN at the top left of the
instrument panel. SeeVehicle Identication
Number (VIN) on page 5-110.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 3800 V6 engine (VIN Code 2),
use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87,
you may notice an audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as spark knock. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as
soon as possible. If you are using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking, your
engine needs service.If your vehicle has the 3800 Supercharged V6 engine
(VIN Code 4) or the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code C), use
premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 91 or higher. You may also use regular
unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but
your vehicle’s acceleration may be slightly reduced, and
you may notice a slight audible knocking noise,
commonly referred to as spark knock. If the octane is
less than 87, you may notice a heavy knocking
noise when you drive. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
Otherwise, you might damage your engine. If you are
using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and you hear
heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
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 5-6
for additional information.
5-5

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 3-47. 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 todirty 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.
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.
5-6

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlet(s)...............................3-24
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-66
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-111
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-21
Air Conditioning......................................3-26, 3-29
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-40
Readiness Light..........................................3-39
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-52
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-66
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-59
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-61
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-65
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-59
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-60
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-57
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-55
Antenna, Backglass.......................................3-141
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System........................................3-142
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-44Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels......................................5-106
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-104
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-108
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-105
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-99
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-101
Finish Care...............................................5-105
Finish Damage..........................................5-107
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.....................................5-104
Leather....................................................5-103
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-107
Tires........................................................5-107
Ultra Lux Suede........................................5-103
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-108
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-109
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-105
Weatherstrips............................................5-104
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-106
Ashtray(s)......................................................3-25
Assist Handles...............................................2-42
Audio System(s).............................................3-94
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-139
Backglass Antenna.....................................3-141
Care of Your CD Player..............................3-141
Care of Your CDs......................................3-141
Chime Level Adjustment.............................3-142
1

Engine (cont.)
Overheating................................................5-28
Starting......................................................2-23
Supercharger Oil.........................................5-20
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)......................4-11
Warning Light.............................................3-45
Entry Lighting.................................................3-18
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-29
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-15
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver..........................3-17
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-21
Finish Damage.............................................5-107
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire........................................................5-77
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-88
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-97
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-23
Power Steering...........................................5-40
Windshield Washer......................................5-41
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-50
Fog Lamps....................................................3-17
Folding Rear Seat............................................ 1-9
Folding Seatback, Passenger............................. 1-7Front Reading Lamps......................................3-20
Front Seat Storage Net....................................2-42
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-51
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-5
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-112
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-112
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-114
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-111
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-46
Fuel..........................................................3-51
Speedometer..............................................3-37
Tachometer.................................................3-37
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-5
Glove Box.....................................................2-40
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-5
5