1997 Buick Park Avenue Owner's Manual - Page 267

Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle You can be injured andyour vehicle could be damaged if you try to do service work on a vehicle without knowing enoughabout it. Be sure you have sufficient knowledge, experience, the properreplacement parts and tools before you attempt any vehicle maintenance task. Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and other fasteners. "English" and "metric" fasteners can be easily confused. you use If the wrong fasteners, parts can later break or fall off. You could behurt. Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise and affect windshieldwasher performance. Check with your Buick dealer before adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle. Fuel The 8th digit of your vehicle identification number (VIN) shows the code letter for your engine. You will find the VIN at the top of your instrument panel. left (See "Vehicle Identification Number" in the Index.) If you have the 3800 engine (VJN Code K), use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher. If you're using fuel rated at the recommended octane or higher and you still hear heavy knocking, yourengine needs service. But don't worry if you hear a little pinging noise when you're accelerating or driving up a hill. That's normal, and you don't have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid of pinging. It's the heavy, constant knock that means youhave a problem. 6-3