2009 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 the 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: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.
8-36 Driving and Operating

GM6094M
Use only an oil that meets
GM Standard GM6094M.
SAE 5W-30
SAE 5W-30 is best for the
vehicle. 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 oil. Both provide
easier cold starting and better
protection for the engine at
extremely low temperatures.
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).
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.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.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-9

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.
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. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-12for
more information.
9-16 Vehicle Service and Care

Electrical System (cont.)
Power Windows and
Other Power Options.....9-36
Rear Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-41
Windshield Wiper Fuses....9-36
Electronic Stability Program....8-19
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter...............9-11
Check and Service Engine
Soon Lamp..................4-18
Coolant...........................9-15
Coolant Heater................... 8-5
Coolant
Temperature Gage.........4-17
Drive Belt Routing...........11-14
Engine Compartment
Overview....................... 9-6
Exhaust...........................8-14
Oil ................................... 9-8
Oil Life System.................9-10
Overheating.....................9-20
Starting............................. 8-4
Event Data Recorders.........12-16
Extender, Safety Belt............1-18
Exterior Lamps...................... 5-1F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner............9-11
Finish Damage...................9-102
Fixed Mast Antenna.............6-37
Flashers, Hazard Warning....... 4-4
Flat Tire..............................9-66
Flat Tire, Changing...............9-75
Flat Tire, Storing..................9-82
Fluid
Power Steering.................9-21
Windshield Washer...........9-23
Fog Lamp
Fog .................................. 5-3
Fog Lamp Light...................4-20
Fuel...................................8-34
Additives.........................8-36
California Fuel..................8-35
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container.....................8-38
Filling the Tank.................8-37
Fuels in Foreign
Countries.....................8-36
Gage ..............................4-21
Gasoline Octane...............8-35
Gasoline Specications......8-35Fuses
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block...................9-38
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block...........................9-36
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block...........................9-41
Windshield Wiper..............9-36
G
Gage
Engine Coolant
Temperature.................4-17
Fuel................................4-21
Oil Pressure.....................4-21
Speedometer...................4-12
Tachometer......................4-12
Voltmeter Gage................4-15
Gasoline
Octane............................8-35
Specications...................8-35
Glove Box............................ 3-1
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program..........................12-5
i-4 INDEX