2010 BUICK LACROSSE coolant temperature

Vehicle Care 9-17
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the
engine to maintain the correct
working temperature.
When it is safe to lift the hood:
2.4 L L4 Engine
A. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
B. Coolant Recovery Tank andPressure Cap 3.0 L V6 Engine shown,
3.6 L V6 Engine similar
A. Electric Engine Cooling Fans
B. Coolant Recovery Tank and
Pressure Cap
{WARNING
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.
{WARNING
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 fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed 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 50 000 km
(30,000 miles) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Any
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant
in the vehicle.

9-18 Vehicle Care
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for five years
or 240 000 km (150,000 miles),
whichever occurs first.
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,
see Engine Overheating
on
page 9‑20.
What to Use
{WARNING
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
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
water or the wrong mixture, the
engine could get too hot but you
would not get the overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire 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 −37°C (−34°F), outside
temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to
129°C (265°F), 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.
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 mark pointed to, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at

9-20 Vehicle Care
3. Fill the coolant surge tank withthe proper mixture to the mark
pointed to on the front of the
coolant surge tank.
4. With the coolant surge tank cap off, start the engine and let it run
until the upper radiator hose
starts getting hot. Watch out for
the engine cooling fan(s). By this
time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be
lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the
coolant surge tank until the level reaches the mark pointed to on
the front of the coolant
surge tank.
5. Replace the cap. Be sure the cap is hand–tight and full
seated.
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.
If coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture at the
coolant recovery tank.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There is a coolant temperature gage
and a warning light on the
instrument panel cluster that
indicate an overheated engine
condition. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage
on page 4‑15for more information. You may decide not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, but
instead get service help right away.
See
Roadside Assistance Program
(US, Can) on page 12‑6.
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, the fan(s)
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.
If Steam Is Coming From The
Engine Compartment
See Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Modeon page 9‑21for
information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.

Vehicle Care 9-21
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 might not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.Climbing a long hill on a hot day.
.Stopping after high-speed
driving.
.Idling for long periods in traffic.
.Towing a trailer.
If the overheat warning displays 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. In heavy traffic, let the engine
idle in N (Neutral) while stopped.
If it is safe to do so, pull off the
road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral) and let the
engine idle.
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 vehicle in
front. 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”
later in this section.
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode
allows the vehicle to be driven to a
safe place in an emergency
situation. If an overheated engine
condition exists, an overheat
protection mode which alternates
firing groups of cylinders helps
prevent engine damage. In this
mode, there is significant loss in
power and engine performance. The
engine coolant temperature warning
light comes on the instrument panel,
to indicate the vehicle has entered
overheated engine protection
operating mode. The temperature
gage also indicates an overheat
condition exists. Driving
extended km (miles) and/or towing a
trailer in the overheat protection
mode should be avoided.

Vehicle Care 9-23
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an
area where the temperature can fall
below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on
page 9‑6for reservoir location. Notice:
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer's instructions
for adding water.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage your
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as
well as washer fluid.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for
fluid expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage
the tank if it is
completely full.
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in your
windshield washer. It can
damage the vehicle's
windshield washer system
and paint.

INDEX i-3
Climate Control SystemsAutomatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Cluster, IP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . 12-10
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . 9-74
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Compass Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Coolant Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Engine Temperature Gage . . . . 4-15
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17 Engine Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-8
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-37 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . 12-4
Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-3
Text Telephone (TTY)
Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-4
Customer Information Service PublicationsOrdering Information . . . . . . 12-12
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . 12-10
Danger, Warnings, andCautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . 12-15
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Devices, Auxiliary . . . . . . . 6-28, 6-31
Displays
Head-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5 Door
Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Drive Systems All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-30
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25
Driving Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-54
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . 8-9
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9

i-4 INDEX
Dual Automatic ClimateControl System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
DVD Rear Seat EntertainmentSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-34
DVD/CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-22
E
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . 4-20
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-60
Electrical System Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Electronic Stability Control . . . . . 8-35
Electronic Stability Control Indicator Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-22 Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-15
Check and Service Engine
Soon Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 9-6
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Coolant Temperature Gage . . . 4-15
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17
Cooling System Messages . . . 4-34
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-26
Overheated Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 8-26
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-20
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-59
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . 12-15
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6 Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 5-2
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 9-15
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 5-4
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-67
Flat Tire, Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-69
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-15
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Fog Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . 5-5, 9-35
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Front Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

INDEX i-5
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-49Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-51
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-53
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-52
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . 8-51
Gage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . 8-50
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 4-24
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-50
Requirements, California . . . . . 8-51
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Fuses Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43G
GagesEngine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-50
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 10-1
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-54
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-5
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 5-4
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . . 4-28
HeadlampsAdaptive Forward
Lighting (AFL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 5-2
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7