Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
Vehicle Care 201
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 202
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 203
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 211
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 213
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 218
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Battery - North America . . . . . . 222
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 223
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 223
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 224
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 225
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 227
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 230
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 231
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 231
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 240
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 257
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
Vehicle Care 215
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tankand Pressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan 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
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts.
They can be very hot and can
burn you. Do not run the engine if
there is a leak; all coolant could
leak out. That could cause an
engine fire and can burn you. Fix
any leak before driving the
vehicle.
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 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), 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 0218.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an 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. 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.Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard
GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause
damage to the engine cooling
system and the vehicle, which
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
216 Vehicle Care
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
It is normal to see coolant moving in
the upper coolant hose return line
when the engine is running.1.4L L4 Engine (LUV) Shown, 1.4LL4 Engine (LE2) Similar
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge 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.
Be sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done.
If no coolant is visible in the coolant
surge tank, add coolant as follows:
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
Vehicle Care 217
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine
parts can burn you. Coolant
contains ethylene glycol and it will
burn if the engine parts are hot
enough.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific
coolant fill procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and could
cause system damage. If coolant
is not visible in the surge tank,
contact your dealer.
If no problem is found, check to see
if coolant is visible in the coolant
surge tank. If coolant is visible but
the coolant level is not at the
indicated level mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap, is
cool before you do it.
1. Remove the coolant surge tank
pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about
one-quarter of a turn. If you
hear a hiss, wait for that to
stop. This will allow any
pressure still left to be vented
out the discharge hose.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank withthe proper mixture to the
indicated level mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you
can feel the upper radiator
hose getting hot. Watch out for
the engine cooling fan.
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
indicated level mark.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
218 Vehicle Care
5. Replace the pressure captightly.
6. Verify coolant level after the engine is shut off and the
coolant is cold. If necessary,
repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1–6.
If the coolant still is not at the
proper level when the system
cools down again, see your
dealer.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and engine
damage may occur. Be sure the
cap is properly and tightly
secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an engine coolant
temperature gauge to warn of the
engine overheating. See Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge 0115. If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance Program
0
299.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, do not continue
to run the engine. Have the vehicle
serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak in the engine cooling system.
This can cause a loss of all
coolant and can damage the
system and vehicle. Have any
leaks fixed right away.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
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 may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
. Climbs a long hill on a hot day
. Stops after high-speed driving
. Idles for long periods in traffic
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 219
If the overheat warning is displayed
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. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral), and let the
engine idle.
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is no longer in the overheat
zone, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
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
and have the cooling system
checked for proper fill and function.
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.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When the vehicle needs windshield
washer fluid, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an
area where the temperature may 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. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0206 for
reservoir location.
Caution
. Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can
cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
. Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the
windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield
washer system and paint.
. Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the
solution to freeze and
damage the washer fluid
tank and other parts of the
washer system.
(Continued)
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
324 Index
E
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Electrical System Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 231
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 206
Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Engine (cont'd)
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 176
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 307
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 140
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
F
FeaturesMemory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 142
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 212
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 Fog Lamps
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Folding Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Frequency Statement
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Front Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Front Seats
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 124
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Top Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
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Index 327
Maintenance and CareAdditional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . 281 Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . 118
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Messages Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Vehicle Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Mirrors Automatic DimmingRearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Tilt in Reverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Mirrors, Interior Rearview . . . . . . . . 42
Monitor System, Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247N
Navigation
Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 317
Net, Convenience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . 167
O
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Oil Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . .211
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . . . 80
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . . 298
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
OnStar Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
OnStar Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
OnStar Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Outlets Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
P
Park Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Parking
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 223
Extended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 174
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Passenger Compartment Air
Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . 74
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . . 203
Personalization
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 172
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43