2009 BUICK ENCLAVE engine

Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is
an important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. To help
keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, we
recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with
a posted octane rating of 87 or
higher. If the octane rating is less
than 87, you might notice an audible
knocking noise when you drive,
commonly referred to as spark
knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as
soon as possible. If you are using
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher
and you hear heavy knocking, the
engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specication D 4814
in the United States or CAN/
CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeAdditives on
page 5-5for additional information.
California Fuel
If the vehicle is certied to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions
standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control
system performance might be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehiclemight fail a smog-check test. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-36. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer/retailer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of
fuel used, repairs might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
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 the vehicle experiences problems
due to dirty injectors or valves,
look for gasoline that is advertised
as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Service and Appearance Care 5-5

Filling the Tank
{CAUTION
Fuel vapor burns violently and a
fuel re can cause bad injuries.
To help avoid injuries to you and
others, read and follow all the
instructions on the pump island.
Turn off the engine when you are
refueling. Do not smoke if you are
near fuel or refueling the vehicle.
Do not use cellular phones. Keep
sparks, ames, and smoking
materials away from fuel. Do not
leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling the vehicle. This is
against the law in some places.
Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel. Keep children away
from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel.
The tethered fuel cap is located
behind a hinged fuel door on
the driver side of the vehicle.To open the fuel door, push the
rearward center edge in and release
and it will open.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it
slowly counterclockwise. The fuel
cap has a spring in it; if the cap
is released too soon, it will spring
back to the right.
While refueling, hang the tethered
fuel cap from the hook on the
fuel door.
{CAUTION
Fuel can spray out on you if you
open the fuel cap too quickly. If
you spill fuel and then something
ignites it, you could be badly
burned. This spray can happen if
the tank is nearly full, and is more
likely in hot weather. Open the
fuel cap slowly and wait for any
hiss noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top
off or overll the tank and wait a few
seconds after you have nished
pumping before removing the nozzle.
Clean fuel from painted surfaces as
soon as possible. SeeWashing Your
Vehicle on page 5-86.
Service and Appearance Care 5-7

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

Engine Compartment Overview
When you lift the hood, here is what you will see:
5-10 Service and Appearance Care

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

SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 5-10for the location of
the engine oil ll cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range in the cross-hatched area.
Push the dipstick all the way back in
when you are through.
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Look for three things:
GM6094M
Use only an oil that meets GM
Standard GM6094M.
SAE 5W-30
SAE 5W-30 is best for the
vehicle. These numbers on an oil
container show its viscosity, or
thickness. Do not use other
viscosity oils such as
SAE 20W-50.
American Petroleum Institute
(API) starburst symbol
Oils meeting these requirements
should have the starburst
symbol on the container. This
symbol indicates that the oil has
been certied by the American
Petroleum Institute (API).
5-12 Service and Appearance Care

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

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 a CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message being
turned on, reset the system.
To reset the Engine Oil Life System:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN,
with the engine off.
2. Press the vehicle information
button until OIL LIFE
REMAINING displays.
3. Press and hold the set/reset
button until 100% is displayed.
You will hear three chimes
and the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message will go off.
4. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when
you start the vehicle, the engine oil
life system has not reset. Repeat
the procedure.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or
properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer’s warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your own
oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
lter before disposal. Never dispose
of oil by putting it in the trash, pouring
it on the ground, into sewers, or into
streams or bodies of water. Recycle
it by taking it to a place that collects
used oil.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
When to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/lter at the
MaintenanceIIintervals and replace
it at the rst oil change after each
50,000 mile (80 000 km) interval.
SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-3for more information.
If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the lter at each
engine oil change.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 5-10for the location of
the engine air cleaner/lter.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/lter,
remove the lter from the vehicle and
lightly shake the lter (away from
vehicle) to release loose dust and
dirt. If the lter remains caked with
dirt, a new lter is required.
5-14 Service and Appearance Care