1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner's Manual - Page 257

If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're planning to visit there, here are sometips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. Theseparts can work hard on mountain roads. Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill. Coasting downhillin NEUTRAL ( )or with the N ignition off is dangerous. Your brakeswiU have to do a l the work of slowing down. They could getso l hot that they wouldn't work well. would then You have poor brakingor even none going down a hl. il You could crash. Always have your enginerunning and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill. CAUTION: If you don't shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they wouldn't work well.You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill.You could crash. Shift down to let your engine assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope. L Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transaxle, andyou can climb the hill better. Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Don't swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. 0 As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be car something in your lane, like a stalled or an accident. You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems. Examples long grades, passingor are no-passing zones, a falling rocks areaor winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action. 4-25