2008 SATURN ASTRA radiator cap

Checking Coolant
The coolant reservoir is located in
the engine compartment on the
driver’s side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6for more information
on location.
{CAUTION
Turning the coolant reservoir
pressure cap when the engine
and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to
blow out and burn you badly.
Never turn the coolant
reservoir pressure cap - even
a little - when the engine and
radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level
surface. When your engine is cold,
the coolant level should be at
the KALT/COLD line.
Do not overll the coolant reservoir.
Too much coolant can result in
an overow condition when the
uid is hot.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the
proper DEX-COOL®coolant mixture
at the coolant reservoir, but only
when the engine is cool. If the
coolant reservoir is empty, a special
ll procedure is necessary. See
Cooling System on page 9-16
for instructions on “How to Add
Coolant to the Coolant Reservoir.”
{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.
When replacing the pressure cap,
make sure it is hand-tight and
fully seated.
9-14 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

{CAUTION
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up
even when the engine is not
running and can cause injury.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant
reservoir is boiling, do not do
anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a
level surface.
The coolant level should be at or
above the KALT/COLD mark on the
coolant reservoir. If it is not, you
may have a leak at the coolant
reservoir pressure cap or in
the radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump, or somewhere
else in the cooling system.
{CAUTION
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there
is a leak. If you run the engine,
it could lose all coolant.
That could cause an engine
re, and you could be burned.
Get any leak xed before you
drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak,
with the engine on, check to see
if the electric engine cooling fans are
running. If the engine is overheating,
both fans should be running.
If they are not, your vehicle needs
service.Notice:Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other
than DEX-COOL
®can cause
premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition,
the engine coolant could require
changing sooner, at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any
repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free)
coolant in the vehicle.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-17
ProCarManuals.com

How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Reservoir
Notice:This vehicle has a
specic coolant ll procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely
damaged.
If you have not found a problem yet,
check to see if coolant is visible
in the coolant reservoir. If coolant is
visible but the coolant level is not
at or above the KALT/COLD
mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®
coolant at the coolant reservoir,
but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant reservoir
pressure cap, is cool before you
do it. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 9-12for more information.If no coolant is visible in the coolant
reservoir, add coolant as follows:
{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 coolant
reservoir pressure cap — even
a little — they can come out at
high speed. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system,
including the coolant reservoir
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and coolant
reservoir pressure cap to cool
if you ever have to turn the
pressure cap.
{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.
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
you 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: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.
9-18 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

{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.
1. Remove the coolant reservoir
pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
reservoir pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot. Turn the coolant
reservoir pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about two
or two and one-half turns.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that
to stop. This will allow any
pressure still left to be vented
out the discharge hose.2. Keep turning the coolant
reservoir pressure cap slowly,
and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant reservoir with
the proper mixture, to the
KALT/COLD mark. Wait about
ve minutes, then check to
see if the level is below the
mark. If the level is below the
KALT/COLD mark, add additional
coolant to bring the level up to
the mark. Repeat this procedure
until the level remains constant
at the KALT/COLD mark for
at least ve minutes.4. With the coolant reservoir
pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you
can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant reservoir might
be lower. If the level is lower
than the KALT/COLD mark,
add more of the proper mixture
to the coolant reservoir until
the level reaches the
KALT/COLD mark.
5. Replace the coolant reservoir
pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and
fully seated. Coolant Reservoir
Pressure Cap
Vehicle Service and Care 9-19
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