2007 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Owners Manual

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
{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
®coolant.If you have not found a problem yet, but the
coolant level is not at the cold ll line, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®engine coolant at the coolant
recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant on page 360
for 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.
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When the coolant level in the coolant recovery
tank is at the cold ll line, start the vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there is one
more thing you can try. You can add the proper
coolant mixture directly to the radiator, but be sure
the system is cool before you do it.
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system can blow out and burn
you badly. They are under pressure, and if
you turn the pressure cap — even a
little — they can come out at high speed.
Never turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and pressure
cap to cool if you ever have to turn the
pressure cap.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(3800 V6 Engines)
Notice:Your engine has a specic radiator ll
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure
could cause your engine to overheat and be
severely damaged.
1. You can remove the pressure cap when the
cooling system, including the pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. Turn
the cap slowly counterclockwise.
3800 V6 Supercharged Engine shown,
3800 V6 Engine similar
370

If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss
means there is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap and
remove it.
{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.3. Remove the Series III V6 engine cover shield
to access the bleed valve.
3.1. Clean the area around the engine oil ll
tube and cap before removing. Twist
the oil ll tube, with cap attached,
counterclockwise and remove it.
3800 V6 Engine
371

3.2. Lift the engine cover shield at the front,
slide the catch tab out of the engine
bracket and remove the cover shield.
3.3. Put the oil ll tube, with cap attached, in
the valve cover oil ll hole until you are
ready to replace the cover shield.4. After the engine
cools, open the
coolant air bleed
valve located on the
thermostat housing
near the upper
radiator hose.
3800 V6 Supercharged Engine
Thermostat Housing
372

5. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture, up to the base of the ller
neck. SeeEngine Coolant on page 360
for more information about the proper coolant
mixture.
If you see a stream of coolant coming from the
air bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise,
close the valve after the radiator is lled.6. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the
engine and the compartment.
7. Replace the 3800 Series III V6 engine cover
shield.
7.1. Remove the oil ll tube, with cap
attached, from the valve cover.
7.2. Insert the catch tab on the cover shield
under the bracket on the engine.
7.3. Place the hole in the cover shield over
the hole in the valve cover. Install oil ll
tube and cap by twisting clockwise.
8. Then ll the coolant recovery tank to the cold
ll line.
9. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery
tank, but leave the pressure cap off.
3800 V6 Supercharged Engine shown,
3800 V6 Engine similar
373

10. Start the engine and let it run until you can
feel the upper radiator hose getting hot.
Watch out for the engine cooling fan(s).
11. 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
®
coolant mixture through the ller neck until the
level reaches the base of the ller neck.12. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time
during this procedure if coolant begins to ow
out of the ller neck, reinstall the pressure
cap. Be sure the pressure cap is hand-tight
and fully seated.
13. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The
level in the coolant recovery tank should be
at the cold ll line when the engine is cold.
How to Add Coolant to the Cooling
System (5.3L V8 Engine)
Notice:Your engine has a specic cooling
system drain and ll procedure. Failure
to follow this procedure could cause your
engine to overheat and be severely damaged.
If your engine’s cooling system needs to
be drained and re-lled, please see your dealer.
3800 V6 Supercharged Engine shown,
3800 V6 Engine similar
374

You can remove the
pressure cap when the
cooling system,
including the pressure
cap and upper
radiator hose is no
longer hot. Turn
the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise.
1. If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss
means that there is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap to remove
the pressure cap.
{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.3. Fill the cooling system with the proper
DEX-COOL
®coolant mixture, up to the base
of the ller neck. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 360for more information about
the proper coolant mixture.
4. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the
engine and the compartment.
5. Then ll the coolant recovery tank to the cold
ll line.
6. Install the coolant recovery tank cap and the
pressure cap.
7. If the coolant in the recovery tank is constantly
low, you should have a dealership service
department inspect your vehicle for leaks.
375

Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 346for
reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power
steering uid unless a leak is suspected in the
system, or an unusual noise is heard. A uid loss
in this system could indicate a problem. Have
the system inspected and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering Fluid
To check the power steering uid, do the following:
1. Turn the key off and let the engine
compartment cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir
clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a
clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look at the
uid level on the dipstick
The uid level should be between the ADD and
HOT marks when the engine is cold.
When the engine compartment is hot, the level
should be at the HOT mark.
If the uid is at the ADD mark when the engine is
cold or hot, power steering uid should be added.
376