2009 BUICK ENCLAVE check oil

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:This 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
the vehicle 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 the vehicle 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.
5-6 Service and Appearance Care

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:
1. Pull the hood release handle with
this symbol on it. It is located
under the instrument panel on
the driver side of the vehicle.
2. At the front of the vehicle, pull up
on the bottom center of the grille,
and push the secondary hood
release to the left.3. After the lid has been partially
lifted, a gas strut automatically
lifts and holds the hood in
the fully open position.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
ller caps are on properly.
Pull the hood down to close. Lower
the hood until the lifting pressure of
the strut is reduced. Then allow the
hood to fall and latch into place
under its own weight. Check to make
sure the hood is closed. If the hood
does not fully latch, gently push the
hood down at the front and center
until it is completely latched.
Service and Appearance Care 5-9

A. Radiator Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System on page 5-16.
B. Engine Coolant Recovery Cap.
SeeCooling System on
page 5-16.
C. Remote Negative (−) Terminal.
SeeJump Starting on page 5-28.
D.Underhood Fuse Block on
page 5-94.
E. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
SeeJump Starting on page 5-28.
F.Power Steering Fluid on
page 5-22.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” underEngine
Oil on page 5-11.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 5-11.
I. Automatic Transmission Fluid
Dipstick. See “Checking the
Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 5-15.
J. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir.
See “Brake Fluid” underBrakes
on page 5-24.K.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 5-14.
L. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-23.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the
engine oil every time you get fuel. In
order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the vehicle
must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a
yellow loop. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-10for the location of the
engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the
oil several minutes to drain back
into the oil pan. If you do not
do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it
with a paper towel or cloth, then
push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the tip
down, and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick,
add at least one quart/liter of the
recommended oil. This section
explains what kind of oil to use. For
engine oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications on
page 5-98.
Notice:Do not add too much oil.
If the engine has so much oil
that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows
the proper operating range,
the engine could be damaged.
Service and Appearance Care 5-11

Notice:Use only engine oil
identied as meeting GM
Standard GM6094M and showing
the American Petroleum
Institute Certied For Gasoline
Engines starburst symbol. Failure
to use the recommended oil
can result in engine damage not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Cold Temperature Operation
If you are in an area of extreme
cold, where the temperature falls
below−20°F (−29°C), use either an
SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil or an
SAE 0W-30 engine oil. Both provide
easier cold starting for the engine at
extremely low temperatures. Always
use an oil that meets the required
specication, GM6094M. See “What
Kind of Engine Oil to Use” for more
information.
Engine Oil Additives / Engine
Oil Flushes
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 system ushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This 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, the
mileage 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. A CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message will come
on. 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 the last oil change. Remember
to reset the oil life system whenever
the oil is changed.
Service and Appearance Care 5-13

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

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

Compact Spare Tire
The compact spare tire, if the
vehicle has one, was fully inated
when the vehicle was new, however,
it can lose air after a time. Check
the ination pressure regularly.
It should be 60 psi (420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare
on the vehicle, stop as soon
as possible and make sure the
spare tire is correctly inated. The
compact spare is made to perform
well at speeds up to 65 mph
(105 km/h) for distances up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can
nish your trip and have the
full-size tire repaired or replaced at
your convenience. Of course, it
is best to replace the spare with a
full-size tire as soon as possible.
The spare tire will last longer and
be in good shape in case it is
needed again.Notice:When the compact spare
is installed, do not take the vehicle
through an automatic car wash
with guide rails. The compact
spare can get caught on the rails
which can damage the tire, wheel
and other parts of the vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on
other vehicles.
And do not mix the compact spare
tire or wheel with other wheels
or tires. They will not t. Keep the
spare tire and its wheel together.
The All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system
will be automatically disabled
when you use the compact spare.
To restore the AWD and prevent
excessive wear on the clutch in your
AWD, replace the compact spare
tire with a full-size tire as soon
as possible.
Notice:Tire chains will not t the
compact spare. Using them can
damage the vehicle and can
damage the chains too. Do not use
tire chains on the compact spare.
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning
The vehicle’s interior will continue
to look its best if it is cleaned often.
Although not always visible, dust
and dirt can accumulate on the
upholstery. Dirt can damage carpet,
fabric, leather, and plastic surfaces.
Regular vacuuming is recommended
to remove particles from the
upholstery. It is important to keep
the upholstery from becoming and
remaining heavily soiled. Soils
should be removed as quickly as
possible. The vehicle’s interior may
experience extremes of heat that
could cause stains to set rapidly.
Lighter colored interiors may
require more frequent cleaning.
Use care because newspapers and
garments that transfer color to home
furnishings may also transfer color
to the vehicle’s interior.
Service and Appearance Care 5-83