2011 BUICK LACROSSE oil filter

Black plate (23,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-23
indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑56.
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
This vehicle may come with a jack
and spare tire or a tire sealant and
compressor kit. The kit can be used
to temporarily seal small punctures
in the tread area of the tire.
See Tire Sealant and Compressor
Kit on page 10‑72 for complete
operating information.
If the vehicle came with a jack and
spare tire, see If a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑70.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message when it is time
to change the engine oil and filter.
The oil life system should be reset
to 100% only following an oil
change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off.
2. Press the DIC menu button on the turn signal lever to enter
the Vehicle Information Menu.
Use the thumbwheel to scroll
through the menu items until you
reach REMAINING OIL LIFE.
3. Press the SET/CLR button to reset the oil life at 100%.
4. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑13.
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving
tips to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
.When road and weather
conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
.Combine several trips into a
single trip.

Black plate (1,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-13
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-15 Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-21
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-23
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-27
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-29
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
High Intensity Discharge(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-36
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44

Black plate (7,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-7
A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑15.
B. Engine Cover.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑9.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑9.
E. Transmission Fluid Cap and Dipstick. See Automatic
Transmission Fluid on
page 10‑15.
F. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See Brakes on
page 10‑24. G. Power Steering Reservoir and
Cap. See Power Steering Fluid
on page 10‑23.
H. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑18.
I. Battery Cover. See Battery on
page 10‑27.
J. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑39.
K. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer
Fluid on page 10‑24.

Black plate (9,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-9
A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑15.
B. Power Steering Reservoir and Cap. See Power Steering Fluid
on page 10‑23.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑9.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑9.
E. Engine Cover.
F. Transmission Fluid Cap and Dipstick. See Automatic
Transmission Fluid on
page 10‑15. G. Brake Master Cylinder
Reservoir. See Brakes on
page 10‑24.
H. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑18.
I. Battery Cover. See Battery on
page 10‑27.
J. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑39.
K. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑24.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life,
careful attention must be paid
to engine oil. Following these
simple, but important steps will
help protect your investment:
.Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and
of the proper viscosity grade.
See “Selecting the Right Engine
Oil” in this section.
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine
Oil Life System on page 10‑13.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.

Black plate (13,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-13
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil.
The recommended oils with the
dexos specification and displaying
the dexos certification mark are all
that is needed for good performance
and engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
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 filter before disposal.
Never dispose of oil by putting
it in the trash or 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 Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on engine revolutions and engine
temperature, and not on mileage.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably.
For the oil life system to work
properly, the system must be reset
every time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished,
it indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on.

Black plate (14,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-14 Vehicle Care
SeeEngine Oil Messages on
page 5‑35. Change the oil as
soon as possible within the next
1 000 km (600 miles). It is possible
that, if driving under the best
conditions, the oil life system
might indicate that an oil change
is not necessary for up to a year.
The engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and,
at this time, the system must be
reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform
this work and reset the system.
It is also important to check the
oil regularly over the course of
an oil drain interval and keep
it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 miles)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
system:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with
the engine off.
2. Press the DIC menu button on the turn signal lever to enter
the Vehicle Information Menu.
Use the thumbwheel to scroll
through the menu items until you
reach REMAINING OIL LIFE.
3. Press the SET/CLR button to reset the oil life at 100%.
4. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF. The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message is off and the REMAINING
OIL LIFE 100% message is
displayed.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
message comes back on when
the vehicle is started, the engine
oil life system has not been reset.
Repeat the procedure.

Black plate (15,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-15
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the
only reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer service department and
have it repaired as soon as
possible.
There is a special procedure
for checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because
this procedure is difficult, you
should have this done at your
dealer service department.Contact your dealer for additional
information or the procedure can
be found in the service manual.
To purchase a service manual,
see
Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑15.
Change the fluid and filter at
the intervals listed in Scheduled
Maintenance on page 11‑2, and
be sure to use the fluid listed
in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑7.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is
located in the engine compartment
on the driver side of the vehicle.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6 for more information
on location.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/filter at
the scheduled maintenance
intervals and replace it at the first
oil change after each 80 000 km
(50,000 mi) interval. See Scheduled
Maintenance on page 11‑2 for more
information. If you are driving in
dusty/dirty conditions, inspect the
filter at each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/filter,
remove the filter from the vehicle
and lightly shake the filter to release
loose dust and dirt. If the filter
remains covered with dirt, a new
filter is required.

Black plate (2,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
11-2 Service and Maintenance
{WARNING
Performing maintenance work can
be dangerous. Some jobs can
cause serious injury. Perform
maintenance work only if you
have the required know-how and
the proper tools and equipment.
If in doubt, see your dealer to
have a qualified technician do
the work. SeeDoing Your Own
Service Work on page 10‑4.
At your dealer, you can be
certain that you will receive the
highest level of service available.
Your dealer has specially trained
service technicians, uses genuine replacement parts, as well as,
up‐to‐date tools and equipment
to ensure fast and accurate
diagnostics.
The proper replacement parts,
fluids, and lubricants to use are
listed in
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑7 and
Maintenance Replacement Parts on
page 11‑9. We recommend the use
of genuine parts from your dealer.
Rotation of New Tires
To maintain ride, handling,
and performance of the vehicle,
it is important that the first rotation
service for new tires be performed.
Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km/7,500 miles. See Tire
Rotation on page 10‑61.
Scheduled
Maintenance
When the Change Engine Oil
Soon Message Displays
Change engine oil and filter.
See Engine Oil on page 10‑9.
An Emission Control Service.
When the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message displays,
service is required for the vehicle
as soon as possible, within the next
1 000 km/600 miles. If driving under
the best conditions, the engine oil
life system might not indicate the
need for vehicle service for more
than a year. The engine oil and filter
must be changed at least once a
year and the oil life system must
be reset. Your dealer has trained
service technicians who will perform
this work and reset the system.