2007 PONTIAC SOLSTICE fuel additives

Service........................................................ 235
Accessories and Modications................... 235
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 236
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 236
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 237
Fuel............................................................. 237
Gasoline Octane........................................ 237
Gasoline Specications.............................. 237
California Fuel........................................... 238
Additives................................................... 238
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 239
Filling the Tank......................................... 240
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 242
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 242
Hood Release........................................... 243
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 244
Engine Oil................................................. 247
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 252
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 254
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 256
Manual Transmission Fluid........................ 256
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 256
Engine Coolant.......................................... 257Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 260
Engine Overheating................................... 260
Cooling System......................................... 262
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 268
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 269
Brakes...................................................... 270
Battery...................................................... 273
Jump Starting............................................ 274
Rear Axle.................................................... 279
Bulb Replacement....................................... 280
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 280
Headlamps................................................ 280
Front Turn Signal, Parking and
Fog Lamps............................................ 281
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps...... 281
Back-Up Lamps......................................... 282
License Plate Lamp................................... 282
Replacement Bulbs................................... 283
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 283
Tires............................................................ 284
Winter Tires.............................................. 285
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 286
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 289
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
233

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
Use of the recommended fuel is an important
part of the proper maintenance of your vehicle.
To help keep your engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, GM recommends
the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
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 238for additional information.
237

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 138. 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 dealer has additives that will help
correct and prevent most deposit-related problems.
238

A
Accessories and Modications..................... 235
Accessory Power Outlet(s).......................... 121
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle....................................................... 55
Additives, Fuel............................................ 238
Add-On Electrical Equipment....................... 326
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine............................. 254
Air Conditioning........................................... 122
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator....................... 132
Readiness Light....................................... 131
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic
Module (SDM).......................................... 373
Airbag System............................................... 42
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle......................... 55
How Does an Airbag Restrain?.................. 48
Passenger Sensing System....................... 50
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..... 54
What Makes an Airbag Inate?.................. 48
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates?...................................... 48
When Should an Airbag Inate?................. 47
Where Are the Airbags?............................. 45Antenna, Fixed Mast................................... 187
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.................................................... 187
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................... 195
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light....... 135
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels........ 321
Care of Safety Belts................................ 317
Chemical Paint Spotting........................... 323
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.............. 318
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 314
Convertible Top........................................ 320
Fabric/Carpet........................................... 315
Finish Care.............................................. 319
Finish Damage......................................... 322
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and
Other Plastic Surfaces.......................... 317
Leather.................................................... 316
Sheet Metal Damage............................... 322
Tires........................................................ 322
Underbody Maintenance........................... 323
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials.......... 324
Washing Your Vehicle .............................. 318
Weatherstrips........................................... 317
Windshield and Wiper Blades................... 320
Ashtray(s).................................................... 122
383

Electronic Stability Control Indicator Light...... 136
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter...................................... 254
Battery..................................................... 273
Check and Service Engine Soon Light..... 138
Coolant.................................................... 257
Coolant Temperature Warning Light.......... 137
Cooling System Inspection....................... 352
Drive Belt Routing.................................... 356
Engine Compartment Overview................ 244
Exhaust..................................................... 91
Oil ........................................................... 247
Oil Life System........................................ 252
Overheating............................................. 260
Reduced Power Light............................... 143
Starting...................................................... 80
Entry/Exit Lighting....................................... 120
Event Data Recorders (EDR)...................... 373
Extender, Safety Belt..................................... 26
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner................................... 254
Finish Damage............................................ 322
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................... 187Flashers, Hazard Warning........................... 110
Flash-to-Pass.............................................. 113
Flat Tire...................................................... 302
Fluid
Automatic Transmission............................ 256
Manual Transmission................................ 256
Power Steering........................................ 268
Windshield Washer.................................. 269
Fog Lamps.................................................. 120
Fuel............................................................ 237
Additives.................................................. 238
California Fuel.......................................... 238
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.............. 242
Filling Your Tank...................................... 240
Fuels in Foreign Countries....................... 239
Gage....................................................... 144
Gasoline Octane...................................... 237
Gasoline Specications............................ 237
Low Warning Light................................... 145
System Inspection.................................... 351
Fuses
Floor Console Fuse Block........................ 327
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...................... 326
Underhood Fuse Block............................. 329
387