2008 PONTIAC G6 oil

TOP OVER TEMP (Temperature)
If your vehicle has a retractable hardtop, this message
displays when the retractable hardtop button is
pressed and the hardtop pump motor temperature is too
hot. Wait for the hardtop pump motor to cool down
before using the retractable hardtop. SeeLowering the
Retractable Hardtop on page 2-46andRaising the
Retractable Hardtop on page 2-49for more information.
TOP TOO COLD
If your vehicle has a retractable hardtop, this message
displays when the retractable hardtop button is
pressed and the hardtop pump motor temperature is too
cold. Wait for the hardtop pump motor to warm up
before using the retractable hardtop. SeeLowering the
Retractable Hardtop on page 2-46andRaising the
Retractable Hardtop on page 2-49for more information.
TRUNK AJAR
This message displays when the trunk is not closed
completely. Make sure that the trunk is closed
completely. SeeTrunk on page 2-13for more
information.
DIC Vehicle Personalization
The following personalization options may appear on
your vehicle’s audio display by pressing the MENU
button.The default settings for the features were set when your
vehicle left the factory, but may have been changed
from their default state since that time.
OIL LIFE RESET:When this option is displayed, you
can reset the engine oil life system. To reset the system,
seeEngine Oil Life System on page 5-24.
UNITS:When UNITS appears on the display, press the
enter button to move between METRIC (default in
Canada) or ENGLISH (default in United States). When
you have made your choice, press the MENU button
to record your selection.
If you choose English, all information will be displayed
in English units.
If you choose metric, all information will be displayed in
metric units.
The unit measurement will also change the trip
odometer, temperature, and average fuel economy
displays.
TIRE LEARN?:This option is available on vehicles
without the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) system. After
rotating the tires or after replacing a tire or sensor,
the Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) must re-learn
the tire positions. To re-learn the tire positions, see
Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 5-70. SeeTire
Inspection and Rotation on page 5-77andDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-46for more information.
3-50

Radio Messages for XM™ Only
SeeXM Radio Messages on page 3-66later in this
section for further detail.
Playing a CD
Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The
player pulls it in and the CD should begin playing.
Press the eject button or the DISP (display) knob to
insert a CD while the ignition is off.
If the ignition or radio is turned off while a CD is in the
player, it stays in the player. When the ignition or
radio is turned on, the CD starts playing, where it
stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.
As each new track starts to play, the track number
displays.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single
CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the
smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.
Care of Your CDs
If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality
of the music that has been recorded, and the way the
CD-R has been handled. Handle them carefully.
Store CD-R(s) in their original cases or other protective
cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. The
CD player scans the bottom surface of the disc.If the surface of a CD is damaged, such as cracked,
broken, or scratched, the CD does not play properly or
not at all. Do not touch the bottom side of a CD
while handling it; this could damage the surface. Pick up
CDs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the
hole and the outer edge.
If the surface of a CD is soiled, take a soft, lint free cloth
or dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent
solution mixed with water, and clean it. Make sure the
wiping process starts from the center to the edge.
Care of Your CD Player
Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught in the
CD player. If a CD is recorded on a personal computer
and a description label is needed, try labeling the top of
the recorded CD with a marking pen.
The use of CD lens cleaners for CDs is not advised,
due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics
with lubricants internal to the CD player mechanism.
Notice:If a label is added to a CD, or more than one
CD is inserted into the slot at a time, or an attempt
is made to play scratched or damaged CDs, the
CD player could be damaged. While using the CD
player, use only CDs in good condition without any
label, load one CD at a time, and keep the CD
player and the loading slot free of foreign materials,
liquids, and debris.
3-60

CAUTION: (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates strong
forces. Driving through owing water could
cause your vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle occupants
could drown. Do not ignore police warnings
and be very cautious about trying to drive
through owing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build up under
your vehicle’s tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and
you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice is to slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather driving tips
include:
Allow extra following distance.
Pass with caution.
Keep windshield wiping equipment in good shape.
Keep the windshield washer uid reservoir lled.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. SeeTires
on page 5-60.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
To prepare your vehicle for a long trip, consider having
it serviced by your dealer/retailer before departing.
Things to check on your own include:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Reservoir full? Windows
clean — inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:In good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:All levels checked?
Lamps:Do they all work and are lenses clean?
Tires:Are treads good? Are tires inated to
recommended pressure?
Weather and Maps:Safe to travel?
Have up-to-date maps?
4-13

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you are
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for
more on this. Things that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic transmission uid (do not
overll), engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and
brake system. Each of these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you nd them quickly. If you
are trailering, it is a good idea to review this information
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-33.
4-34

Service............................................................5-4
Accessories and Modications..........................5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-5
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-5
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-5
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-6
Fuel................................................................5-6
Gasoline Octane............................................5-6
Gasoline Specications....................................5-7
California Fuel...............................................5-7
Additives.......................................................5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-8
Filling the Tank..............................................5-9
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-11
Checking Things Under
the Hood....................................................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-12
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-21
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-24
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-26
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(3.9L Engine)............................................5-27Automatic Transmission Fluid
(2.4L L4, 3.5L and 3.6L V6 Engines)............5-30
Engine Coolant.............................................5-30
Pressure Cap...............................................5-33
Engine Overheating.......................................5-33
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-35
Cooling System............................................5-36
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-40
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-41
Brakes........................................................5-42
Battery........................................................5-45
Jump Starting...............................................5-46
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-51
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-52
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-52
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
(Sedan)...................................................5-54
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
(Retractable Hardtop and Coupe).................5-54
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps (Sedan).......................5-55
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps (Coupe).......................5-56
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work properly. In
most cases, you should not have to add anything to the
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/retailer has
additives that will help correct and prevent most
deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines might be available
in your area. We recommend 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 the fuel
system and also damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be covered under your
warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. We recommend against
the use of such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can
reduce the life of spark plugs and the performance of the
emission control system could be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp might turn on. If this occurs,
return to your dealer/retailer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel might 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.
5-8

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.
Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the handle with
this symbol on it. It is
located under the
instrument panel on
the driver’s side of the
vehicle.
5-12

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-26.
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
C. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
D. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-30.
E. Pressure Cap. SeePressure Cap on page 5-33.F. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-42.
G. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-45.
H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-41.
I. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-112.
5-15