2009 BUICK ENCLAVE engine

To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/lter:
1. Loosen the screws that hold the
cover on.
2. Disconnect the electrical
connector.
3. Lift off the cover.
4. Remove the engine air
cleaner/lter element and any
loose debris that may be found in
the air cleaner base.
5. Inspect or replace the air lter
element.6. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to
reinstall the cover and reconnect
the electrical connector.
{CAUTION
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/lter off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air; it
helps to stop ames if the engine
backres. If it is not there and the
engine backres, you could be
burned. Do not drive with it off, and
be careful working on the engine
with the air cleaner/lter off.
Notice:If the air cleaner/lter is
off, a backre can cause a
damaging engine re. And, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which will damage it. Always have
the air cleaner/lter in place
when you are driving.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission uid level. A
transmission uid leak is the only
reason for uid loss. If a leak occurs,
take the vehicle to the dealer/retailer
and have it repaired as soon as
possible.
Change the uid at the intervals
listed inAdditional Required
Services on page 6-6, and be sure
to use the transmission uid
listed inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12.
Service and Appearance Care 5-15

Notice:Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission uid may
damage the vehicle, and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle’s warranty. Always use
the automatic transmission uid
listed inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12.
The transmission uid will not reach
the end of the dipstick unless the
transmission is at operating
temperature. If you need to check the
transmission uid level, please take
the vehicle to your dealer/retailer.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the
engine to maintain the correct
working temperature.A. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Engine Cooling Fans
{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.
{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.
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.
5-16 Service and Appearance Care

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
lled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. The coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km),
whichever occurs rst.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and
add coolant when it is low. If there
is a problem with engine
overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 5-20.
What to Use
{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 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.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture, nothing
else needs to be added. This
mixture:
Gives freezing protection down to
−34°F (−37°C), outside
temperature.
Gives boiling protection up to
265°F (129°C), engine
temperature.
Protects against rust and
corrosion.
Will not damage aluminum parts.
Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
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.
Notice:If extra inhibitors and/or
additives are used in the
vehicle’s cooling system, the
vehicle could be damaged. Use
only the proper mixture of
the engine coolant listed in this
manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-12for
more information.
Service and Appearance Care 5-17

Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant recovery tank. If the
coolant inside the coolant recovery
tank is boiling, do not do anything
else until it cools down. If coolant is
visible but the coolant level is not at
or above the FULL COLD mark, add
a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant at the
coolant recovery tank, but be sure
the cooling system is cool before this
is done. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-17for more information.
The coolant recovery tank cap has
this symbol on it.When the engine is cold, the
coolant level should be at or above
the FULL COLD line marked on
the recovery tank.
When the engine is hot, the level
could be higher than the FULL
COLD line. If the coolant is below
the FULL COLD line when the
engine is hot, there could be a leak
in the cooling system.
If the coolant is low, add the coolant
or take the vehicle to a
dealer/retailer for service.
How to Add Coolant to the
Recovery Tank
{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.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 coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL
®coolant mixture at
the coolant recovery tank.
How to Add Coolant to the
Radiator
{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.
5-18 Service and Appearance Care

6. Fill the coolant recovery tank to
the FULL COLD mark.
7. Reinstall the cap on the coolant
recovery tank but leave the
radiator pressure cap off.8. Start the engine and let it run
until the upper radiator hose
feels warm. Any time during this
procedure, watch out for the
engine cooling fan(s).
9. If the coolant level inside the
radiator ller neck is low, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL
coolant mixture through the
ller neck until the level is back
up to the base of the ller
neck. Replace the pressure cap.
Be sure to secure it tightly.Notice:If the pressure cap is not
tightly installed, coolant loss and
possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature gage on the instrument
panel cluster. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-35.
The vehicle may also display
an ENGINE OVERHEATED
IDLE ENGINE and ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-48.
You may decide not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, but
instead get service help right away.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program
on page 7-6.
5-20 Service and Appearance Care

If you do decide to lift the hood,
make sure the vehicle is parked
on a level surface
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are
not, do not continue to run the
engine and have the vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Notice:If the engine catches re
while driving with no coolant,
the vehicle can be badly
damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. See
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 5-22for
information on driving to a
safe place in an emergency.If Steam Is Coming From The
Engine Compartment
{CAUTION
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Turn it off
and get everyone away from the
vehicle until it cools down. Wait
until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when the
vehicles engine is overheated, the
liquids in it can catch re. You or
others could be badly burned.
Stop the engine if it overheats,
and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 5-22for
information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
If No Steam Is Coming From
The Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little too hot when the vehicle:
Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
Stops after high-speed driving.
Idles for long periods in traffic.
Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest
temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. If in a traffic jam, shift to
N (Neutral), otherwise, shift
to the highest gear while
driving—D(Drive) or L (Low).
Service and Appearance Care 5-21

If the temperature overheat gage is
no longer in the overheat zone or an
overheat warning no longer displays,
the vehicle can be driven. Continue
to drive the vehicle slow for about
10 minutes. Keep a safe vehicle
distance from the car in front of you.
If the warning does not come back
on, continue to drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating
Mode” next in this section.Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode lets
the vehicle be driven to a safe place
in an emergency situation. If an
overheated engine condition exists,
an overheat protection mode which
alternates ring groups of cylinders
helps prevent engine damage. In this
mode, there is a signicant loss in
power and engine performance. The
temperature gage indicates an
overheat condition exists. Driving
extended distances and/or towing a
trailer in the overheat protection
mode should be avoided.Notice:After driving in the
overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to
cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely
degraded. Repair the cause
of coolant loss, change the oil
and reset the oil life system. See
Engine Oil on page 5-11.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering uid reservoir is
located toward the front of the engine
compartment on the passenger
side of the vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-10for reservoir location.
5-22 Service and Appearance Care

When to Check Power
Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly
check power steering uid unless
you suspect there is a leak in
the system or you hear an unusual
noise. 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:
1. Turn the key off and let the
engine compartment cool down.
2. Remove engine oil ll cap.
3. Slide engine cover rearward and
lift to remove.
4. Wipe the cap and the top of the
reservoir clean.
5. Unscrew the cap and wipe the
dipstick with a clean rag.6. Replace the cap and completely
tighten it.
7. Remove the cap again and look
at the uid level on the dipstick.
The uid level should be somewhere
between MAX and MIN line on the
dipstick in room temperature. If the
uid is on or below MIN line, you
should add uid close to MAX Line.
What to Use
To determine what kind of uid to
use, seeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12. Always
use the proper uid.
Notice:Use of the incorrect uid
may damage the vehicle and
the damages may not be covered
by the vehicle’s warranty.
Always use the correct uid
listed inRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-12.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When adding windshield washer
uid, be sure to read the
manufacturer’s instructions before
use. If the vehicle will be operating in
an area where the temperature may
fall below freezing, use a uid that
has sufficient protection against
freezing.
Service and Appearance Care 5-23