Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13710474) -
2020 - CRC - 10/7/19
Vehicle Care 197
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the
engine to maintain the correct
working temperature.
1. Engine Cooling Fan (Outof View)
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can
start up even when the engine is
not running and can cause injury.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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 0200.
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.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13710474) -
2020 - CRC - 10/7/19
Vehicle Care 199
{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.
{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.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13710474) -
2020 - CRC - 10/7/19
200 Vehicle Care
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.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly.
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 098.
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance Program
0 283.
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.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13710474) -
2020 - CRC - 10/7/19
Vehicle Care 201
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
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 0191 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.
(Continued)
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13710474) -
2020 - CRC - 10/7/19
Vehicle Care 213
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away
if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by
electrical problems.
{Danger
Fuses and circuit breakers are
marked with their ampere rating.
Do not exceed the
specified amperage rating when
replacing fuses and circuit
breakers. Use of an oversized
fuse or circuit breaker can result
in a vehicle fire. You and others
could be seriously injured or
killed.
To check a fuse, look at the
silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the band is broken or melted,
replace the fuse. Be sure to replace
a bad fuse with a new one of the
identical size and rating. Fuses of the same amperage can
be temporarily borrowed from
another fuse location, if a fuse goes
out. Replace the fuse as soon as
possible.
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
To remove the fuse block cover,
squeeze the clip and lift it up.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13710474) -
2020 - CRC - 10/7/19
Index 305
Driving the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Dual Automatic ClimateControl System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
E
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 213
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Emergency
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Check Light(Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101, 103
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 191
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . 98
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Engine (cont'd)
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 159
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 291
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 123
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
F
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 125
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 195
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Fluid (cont'd)
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Fog Lamps Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Folding Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Front Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Economy, Driving for Better . . . 140
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . 181, 182
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 108
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Top Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13710474) -
2020 - CRC - 10/7/19
308 Index
Maintenance and CareAdditional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . 263 Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . 101, 103
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Messages Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Vehicle Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Mirrors Automatic DimmingRearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Tilt in Reverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Mirrors, Interior Rearview . . . . . . . . 24
Monitor System, Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228N
Navigation
Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 299
Net, Convenience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . 151
O
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Oil Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 194
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . . . 63
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . . 282
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
OnStar Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
OnStar Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
OnStar Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Outlets Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Overview Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
P
ParkShifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 205
Extended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 158
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . 56
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . . 188
Personalization Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 156
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . . . . 48