2008 PONTIAC G8 oil additives

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.
8-34 Driving and Operating
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

If you are in an area of extreme
cold, where the temperature
falls below−20°F (−29°C), it is
recommended that you use either
an SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil or
an SAE 0W-30 oil. Both provide
easier cold starting and better
protection for the engine at
extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils with the
starburst symbol that meet GM
Standard GM6094M are all
you 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, themileage 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. The Service Engine Oil
message will be displayed. Change
the 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
might 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/retailer has
trained service people who will
perform this work using genuine
parts and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
and keep it at the proper level.If the system is ever reset
accidentally, you must change the
oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km)
since your last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
The Engine Oil Life System
calculates when to change the
engine oil and lter based on vehicle
use. Whenever the oil is changed,
reset the system so it can calculate
when the next oil change is
required. If a situation occurs where
you change the oil prior to the
Service Engine Oil message being
displayed, reset the system.
9-10 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean,
drinkable water and one-half
DEX-COOL
®coolant which will not
damage aluminum parts. If you
use this coolant mixture, you do not
need to add anything else.
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to the
cooling system can be
dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as
alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
The vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain
water or the wrong mixture, the
engine could get too hot but
would not get the overheat
warning. The engine could
catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50
mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and
other parts.If you have to add coolant more
than four times a year, have
your dealer/retailer check your
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.
SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11-12for
more information.
9-14 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Fog Lamp
Fog .................................. 5-3
Fog Lamp Light . . . ................4-21
Front Seats . .......................... 1-2
Fuel...................................8-32
Additives . ........................8-34
California Fuel . . ................8-33
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . ..................8-36
Filling the Tank . . ...............8-35
Fuels in Foreign
Countries . . . ..................8-34
Gage ..............................4-22
Gasoline Octane . ..............8-33
Gasoline Specications......8-33
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block ...........................9-35
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block ...........................9-33
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block ...........................9-38
Windshield Wiper ..............9-33G
Gage
Engine Coolant
Temperature.................4-17
Fuel . . . . . ...........................4-22
Oil Pressure.....................4-22
Speedometer...................4-12
Tachometer......................4-12
Voltmeter Gage................4-15
Gasoline
Octane............................8-33
Specications...................8-33
Glove Box............................ 3-1
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program..........................12-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers . ....... 4-4
Head Restraints . .................... 1-4
Headlamp
Aiming............................9-27
Headlamp System
Automatic.......................... 5-2
Headlamp Wiring.................9-33Headlamps
Bulb Replacement . ............9-29
Daytime Running Lamps . . . . . 5-2
Exterior Lamps ................... 5-1
Halogen Bulbs..................9-29
Headlamps and Parking
Lamps .........................9-29
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 4-7
Heater...........................7-1, 7-4
Engine Coolant . ................. 8-5
Highbeam On Light . . . . . . ........4-21
High-Speed Operation, Tires . . . 9-48
Highway Hypnosis . . . .............8-24
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . 8-24
Hood
Release............................ 9-5
Horn.................................... 4-4
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly............................ 1-8
i-4 INDEX
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual