2009 Pontiac Vibe Owner's Manual - Page 191

Vehicle Service and Care 9-19 { CAUTION Adding only plain water to the cooling system can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle's coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture, the engine could get too hot but would not get the 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. Notice: If an improper coolant mixture is used, the engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The repair cost would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core, and other parts. Notice: If you use extra inhibitors and/or additives in your vehicle's cooling system, you could damage your vehicle. Use only the proper mixture of the engine coolant listed in this manual for the cooling system. See Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 11-18 for more information. coolant may require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Always use DEX-COOL (silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle. Checking Coolant The vehicle must be on a level surface. When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at LOW, or a little higher. When the engine is warm, the level should be up to FULL, or a little higher. If it is not, there could be a leak at the pressure cap or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump, or somewhere else in the cooling system. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 9-6 Engine Compartment Overview for the location of the coolant recovery tank. • Gives freezing protection down to −34°F (− 38°C). 265°F (129°C). • Gives boiling protection up to • Protects against rust and corrosion. • Helps keep the proper engine temperature. • Lets the warning lights and gages work as they should. Notice: Using coolant other than DEX-COOL can cause premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine