Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modi®cations..........................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 Speci®cations....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-19
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-21
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-22
Engine Coolant.............................................5-23
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-26
Engine Overheating.......................................5-26Cooling System............................................5-29
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-33
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-34
Brakes........................................................5-35
Battery........................................................5-38
Jump Starting...............................................5-39
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-44
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-46
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-46
Headlamps..................................................5-46
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-48
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-49
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-51
Tires..............................................................5-52
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-54
Tire Terminology and De®nitions.....................5-56
In¯ation - Tire Pressure.................................5-59
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-62
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-63
Buying New Tires.........................................5-64
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-65
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-66
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-67
Wheel Replacement......................................5-67
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual
A. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-88.
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See ªAdding
Washer Fluidº under
Windshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-34.
C. Battery. See
Battery on page 5-37.
D. Radiator Pressure Cap (Out of View). See
Radiator
Pressure Cap on page 5-26.
E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See ªChecking Engine Oilº
under
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See ªWhen to Add Engine Oilº
under
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
G. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped). See
ªChecking the Fluid Levelº under
Automatic
Transmission Fluid on page 5-19.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See
Power Steering
Fluid on page 5-33.
I. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See ªBrake Fluidº under
Brakes on page 5-35.
J. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped). See
Hydraulic Clutch on page 5-22.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. See
Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-18.
L. Engine Coolant Over¯ow Reservoir. See
Engine
Coolant on page 5-23.
Engine Oil
If the Service Engine Oil message appears on the trip
computer display, it means you need to check your
engine oil level right away. For more information, see
Trip Computer on page 3-33. You should check
your engine oil level regularly; this is an added reminder.
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.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual
Your vehicle's engine is ®lled at the factory with a
Mobil 1žsynthetic oil, which meets all requirements for
your vehicle.
Substitute Engine Oil: When adding oil to maintain
engine oil level, oil meeting GM Standard GM4718M
may not be available. You can add substitute oil
designated SAE 5W-30 with the starburst symbol at all
temperatures. Substitute oil not meeting GM Standard
GM4718M should not be used for an oil change.
Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to the oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol that meet GM Standard
GM4718M are all you will need for good performance
and engine protection.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and ®lter. This is
based on engine revolutions and engine temperature,
and not on mileage. Based on driving conditions,
the mileage at which an oil change will be indicated can
vary considerably. For the oil life system to work
properly, you must reset the system every time the oil is
changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A Service Engine Oil message on the trip
computer display will come on. See
Trip Computer
on page 3-33. Change engine oil as soon as possible
within the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that, if
you are driving under the best conditions, the oil life
system may not indicate that an oil change is necessary
for over a year. However, the engine oil and ®lter
must be changed at least once a year and at this time
the system must be reset. Your dealer has GM-trained
service people who will perform this work using
genuine GM parts and reset the system. It is also
important to check engine oil regularly and keep it at
the proper level.
5-16
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual
The level should never read over the HOT mark, so be
careful not to add too much. It does not take much
¯uid, generally less than 0.6 pints (0.3 L). Do not over®ll.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic transmission
¯uid may damage your vehicle, and the damages
may not be covered by your warranty. Always
use the automatic transmission ¯uid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
·After adding ¯uid, recheck the ¯uid level as
described under ªHow to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid,º earlier in this section.
·When the correct ¯uid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Remember to always replace the dipstick and lock
the handle down.
·If ¯uid has to be added often, there may be a
problem or leak and you should see your dealer.
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check Manual Transmission
Fluid
A good time to have your manual transmission ¯uid
checked is when the engine oil is changed. However,
the ¯uid in your manual transmission does not
require changing.
How to Check Manual Transmission
Fluid
Because this operation can be 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.
Notice:Too much or too little ¯uid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the ¯uid could come out and fall on hot engine
part or exhaust system parts, starting a ®re.
Too little ¯uid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission ¯uid.
Check the ¯uid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on a level place, and the transmission
is cool enough for you to rest your ®ngers on the
transmission case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the reverse light switch.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of
the switch hole.
3. If the ¯uid level is good, install the switch and be
sure it is fully seated. If the ¯uid level is low, add
more ¯uid as described in the next steps.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOLžcoolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If this coolant mixture is used, nothing
else needs to be added.
{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 coolant needs to be added more than four times a
year, have your dealer check the cooling system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or additives
in your vehicle's cooling system, you could
damage your vehicle. Use only the proper mixture
of the engine coolant listed in this manual for
the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12for more information.
Checking Coolant
The coolant over¯ow reservoir is located in the engine
compartment on the driver's side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on location.
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2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Over¯ow Reservoir
{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.If you have not found a problem yet, check the coolant
level on the coolant over¯ow reservoir dipstick. If
the coolant level is not at or above the bottom arrow on
the dipstick, add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
žcoolant at the coolant over¯ow
reservoir. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-23for
more information.
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.
5-31
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual
Capacities and Speci®cations
The following approximate capacities are given in English and metric conversions. SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12for more information.
ApplicationCapacities
English Metric
Air Conditioning Refrigerant R134a 1.81 lbs 0.8 kg
Automatic Transmission (Drain and Re®ll) 5.3 qt 5.0 L
Brake Fluid 0.65 qt 0.62 L
Cooling System 12.7 qt 12.0 L
Engine Oil with Filter (Drain and Re®ll) 6.5 qt 6.2 L
Fuel Tank 18.5 gal 70.0 L
Manual Transmission 4.6 qt 4.4 L
Wheel Nut Torque 100 lb ft 140Y
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to ®ll to the appropriate level, as recommended in this
manual. Recheck ¯uid level after ®lling
Engine Speci®cations
Engine VIN Code Transmission Spark Plug Gap Firing Order
6.0L V8 (LS2) UAutomatic
Manual0.040 inch
(1.016 mm)1±8±7±2±6±5±4±3
5-90
2006 - Pontiac GTO Owner Manual