Oldsmobile 1970 Ninety-Eight User manual

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Important Operating, Safety and Maintenance Instructions
NINETY-EIGHT • DELTA 88 ROYALE
DELTA 88 CUSTOM • DELTA 88

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THE MARK OF EXCELLENCE .....
MARK OF EXCELLENCE
This is the General Motors mark of excellence that
appears on all Oldsmobile motor vehicles.
We use it in the same spirit with which craftsmen, through the centuries, have used
a personal mark to identify the products of their skills: We are proud of the things
we make, and we want our customers to be able
to identify them easily and to know
that we stand behind them.
Whenever you see this mark of excellence, you can be certain that it represents GM
design and engineering . . . and that it has been built with care and dedication you
have come to expect from Oldsmobile.
Your new 1970 Oldsmobile meets or exceeds all applicable
U. S. Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards. Effectiveness of these safety features can best be continued through
regular vehicle inspection and maintenance.
OLDSMOBILE DIVISION
General Motors Corporation
Lansing, Michigan 48921
For maximum performance and economy keep your GM car all GM.
Specify General Motors Parts identified by one of these trade-marks:
GM
-" G
"'"
@ General Motors Corporation 1969
United Delco

" " .
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE OLDSMOBILE OWNER
This manual has b ee n prepared to acquaint you with the operation and maintenance of your 1970 Oldsmobile. We urge you
to
read it carefully and follow the recommendations contained to help assure the most enj oyab le and trouble-free operation
of your vehicle. Listed below are subjects that deserve your special attention.
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL - A special colored supplement describes the operation and maintenance
of the air pollution control systems on your car.
ALPHABETICAL INDEX - A complete ind ex will be found in the back of the manual to assist you in
locating specific information on your vehicle.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR VEHICLE OWNERSHIP - U. S. Federal Law requir es the manufacturer
to contact vehicle owners of record in the event a product safety defect is discovered. Your Oldsmobile
Dealer should
be notified if you change your address or purchased this car used.
DEALER ASSISTANCE - Your Oldsmobile Dealer knows your vehicle' best and is interested in your
complete satisfaction. Return to him for Gua rdian Maintenance Service and any other assistance you may
require. To assist dealers
in handling your needs. Oldsmobile maintains zone offices at the locations
li sted on the inside back cover. Should you have any questions which your dealer is unable to answer,
the zone office nearest you,
or the Owner Re lations Department at the Oldsmobile Division address shown
on the opposite page, will be pleased
to assist you.
MAINTAINING SAFETY AND DEPENDABILITY - A speed co lored supplement conta ins recommen-
dations to help you maintain the safety and dependability originally built into your Oldsmobile.
PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT -Only you can assure that the investment in your Oldsmobile is
adequately protected. Regular and proper service as outlined in the manual will help you get the utmost
in satisfaction and extended service from your car.
WARRANTY -When purchased new, your Oldsmobile is covered by the Oldsmobile New Vehicle War-
ranty and the Policy on Oldsmobile Owner Service. Complete details will
be found in the Oldsmobile
New Vehicle \Varr unty and Owner Protection Plan folder which was given to you by your Oldsmobile
Dealer
at th e tim e of new car delivery.
1
See Insert "B"
See Pag e 55
..
See Your Dealer
See Your Dealer
See Insert "A"
See
Page 36
See Your
Warranty Folder

Safety on the Road
depends on ...
1. You, the Driver
2. The Condition of Your Vehicle
3. Traffic and Highway Conditions
••. BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND ALL THREE!
REMEMBER: Proper operation, periodic
maintenance and safety inspections help
provide • ••
• Economical Operation of Your Vehicle
• Safety for You and Your Passengers
• Dependable Transportation
Observe All Traffic Laws-
Make Safe Driving a Habit
2
• WHEN PARKED -Don't invite theft by leaving your car
unlocked or leaving valuable articles in view. Never leave
children unattended in the automobile where they could
accidentally release the brake or activate other controls.
• IN TRAFFIC -Study and understand surrounding traffic
conditions before slowing, passing, turning or lane-changing,
so you won't run into the unexpected. Maintain proper
spacing, and check rearnrard conditions too.
When the light turns greeo, make sure cross-wise traffic
has stopped before starting up.
Anticipate your next move and signal your intention at
a reasonable time to the drivers around you.
• DRIVING AT NIGHT -Remember to remove sun glasses
at dusk and at other times when the lighting is poor.
Be especially alert for pedestrians and unlighted vehicles
at dusk and after dark.
Use "low beam" when approaching or following other cars,
and look slightly to the right of oncoming lights.
Even properly aimed headlamps may cause annoying glare
if the car is heavily loaded in the trunk. Distribute the load
in your car as evenly as possible to avoid blinding other
drivers.
Turn on your headlamps at early dusk, and during bad
weather, to help other drivers see your car.

• INCLEMENT WEATHER -Proceed cautiouslv in incle-
ment weather, until you are sure it is safe to drive faster.
Be prepared for sudden crosswinds when crossing bridges
or viaducts.
Remember that some
wet pavement is as treacherous as ice.
and bridges and viaducts can be slipperier.
• BAD ROADS -Remember, dust obscures vehicles and ob-
stacles as completely as fog; drive cautiously in dust-clouded
areas.
Avoid striking sharp rocks and pot-holes to avoid unneces-
sary (and often hidden) tire damage.
Remember to clean off headlamps, tail lamps and side mark-
eTS after driving on wet, dusty, or muddy roads.
• WINTER DRIVING -Drive extra cautiously when winter
comes, until you adjust to winter driving conditions.
Remember side streets may
be slippery for days after main
streets have been cleared, and drive accordingly.
In heavy snow
or on icy roads. drive more cautiously.
allow more room to stop, and use the brakes conservatively.
and reduce the possibility of skids by using chains
or special
tires.
To get moving in snow, press very lightly on the acceler-
ator pedal, increase pressure very slowly, and don't spin
the wheels. If the wheels spin, they will turn the snow to
slick ice or dig your wheels in deeper. Sand, rock salt,
Liquid Tire Chain, or a piece of carpeting under the drive
wheels can help if you do not get bogged down.
3
Remember that wet ice -at about 32°F -is extremely
slippery; drive very cautiously.
• EXTENDED TRIPS -Before and regularly during the trip,
check tire pressure, windshield washer and other fluid levels,
and have necessary maintenance performed on a regular
basis.
When driving along unfamiliar routes,
it is safer to drive
during daylight hours, and it is wise to obtain up-to-date
maps and route information beforehand.
Remember that a high percentage of
rural accidents involve
head-on coJIisions and drive accordingly.
Budget your driving over the length of your trip. Share
the driving or take rest breaks.
When driving alone
for a long period., counteract monotony
by changing radio stations, changing heater settings, open-
ing windows, etc. If fatigue sets in, pull off the road for
a short nap, or at least a rest.
• ALWAYS be prepared for stopped or slow moving vehicles
ahead.
Maintain an adequate distance between your car and the
car ahead, to reduce the chances
of rear-end collisions.
If you smell, or otherwise suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering the passenger compartment, drive only with all
windows and vents fully open, and then only until the cause
can
be determined and corrected.

~ OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS .
A
Word
About
Your
Keys
Two separate ke ys are provided for your
car. Each key has a different cross section
so that it can
be inse rted only in certa in
lock s. The key with th e square h ead and
th e lett er "1" stamped on it operates the
ignition switch and door locks. The key
with the oval h ead and th e letter "H" is
us ed for the luggage compartment and
glove box door locks, as well as the centcr
console lock on cars so equipped. Th ese
compartments shou
ld be locked and the
key removed from the ca r s hould it be
necessary to leave the ignition key with an
attendant.
The code number of each key is stamped
on a "knock-out" plug
in the key head.
Your Oldsmobile dealer removed the key
plugs
and placed them with the spare set
of keys in the special key envelope
that
was g iv en to you at time of delivery, Re-
co rd the numbers on the key envelope and
disc ard the key plugs. Keep the key en-
velope
in a safe place such as your wallet,
NOT IN THE CAR, so that you can have .
duplicate keys
mad e in the event the
original keys are lost.
Door Locks
Front and r ea r doors can be locked from
the inside
by depr essing the passenger
guard d
oo r lock button lo cated on the
upp er door paneL All doors can be locked
from the outside by simply depressing
th e
interior door lock button
and depressing
the outside door handle plunger while
closing the door. On
ce closed, release the
plunger
and the door is locked.
The front doors can also be locked by
using the square headed ke
y. All models
4
have, as a sta
ndard safety feature, over-
riding door locks.
When the doors are
locked, the door latch mechanism is in-
operative, preventing inadvertent opening
of the door by moveme
nt of the in side
handle.
CA UTION: Always lock the doors when
driving for greater security in the event
of
an accident and for security against
unauthorized entries. Avoid pushing on
the door glass
when opening or closing
the doors -instead, use the handles.
Anti-Theft Steering
Column Lock
The Anti-Theft Lock, located on the right
side of the steering column, has five posi-
tions. Starting from the full countercloc
k-
wise pOSition (the position nearest yo u)
they are, accessory, lock, off, on and start.
To provide a
dd ed theft protection for your
car, the system
is designed to prevent
normal operation of the steering
and shift
controls when the ignition switch
is in the
"lock" pOSition. Th e transmission selector
lever must
be in "park" on automatic
trans
mi ss ion model s, or reverse on manual
transmission models, before the key can be
turned to the "lock" position. Th e ignition

switch "accessory" position permits oper a-
tion of electrical accessories when the en-
gine is not running. It can
be engaged
only
by pus hi ng in on th e ignition key
and turning the key toward yo u (counter-
cl ockwise). The "o ff " p os ition is provided
so that the ignit io n can be turned off with-
lock l
oc king the steeri ng column or trans-
mi ss ion se lector leve r. Th e key can be
withdrawn only when the swit
ch is in the
"lock" positio n.
NOTE, The Anti-Theft Steering Column
Lock
is not intended as a substitute for
the parking brake. Always set your park-
brake when leaving the vehicle unattend-
ed to help assure that the vehicle
will not
move,
\Vhen leaving your car unattended:
• Set the pa rking brake
• Place automatic transmission selec-
tor
in Park (Reverse for manual
transmi
ss ion)
• Turn key to LOC K p os ition
• Remove th e key
• Lock a ll doors
CAUTION: In a parking situation, al-
ways let go of the steering wheel BE-
FORE turning the ignition key to
LOCK position. When parking on a hill
with wheels turned in to the curb, be
sure the car has come to a complete
stop before turning the key to LOCK
position. Turning the whee1s to left or
right after the car stops "winds up'
the steering system, which can result in
a "spring back" of
the steering wheel
when the lock is released. As a further
precaution, never reach through the
steering wheel to operate contro]s, or lor
any other reason.
The ignition key warning buzzer warns
vo u if you have left th e key in the anti-
th eft lock when the driver's door is
opene d. Heed its warning -remove th e
key and lock the doo
rs . Th e visible v e-
hicle id entification numb er of the instru-
5
ment pa nel aids in apprehension of thieves
and recovery' of stolen vehicles. He
lp it
work; make sure it is not obscur
ed by
gloves, maps Or other object
s.
Starting the Engine
CAUTION, When starling the engine
with the car parked, always have the
brake applied -use the foot brake on
automatic transmission cars and the
parking brake on manual transmission
cars.
NOTE, To prolong battery life, turn off
switches for headlamps, radio, heater fan
and other unnecessary electrical loads
prior to starting the engine in colder
weather. Leave accessories off until the
engine is running smoothly.
Automatic Tr ansmission Sta rt Procedu re -
Place transmi ss ion se lector lever in «P"
or "N" CP" preferred). A starter safety
swi tc h incorporated in automatic transmi s-
sion cars is designed to preve nt starter
operation while the trans
mi ss ion se lector
lever is in any drive position. If it is
necessary to re-start the engine with the
car mov
in g, place the selector lever in
"N".

Manual Transmission Start Procedure-
Hold clutch pedal to the floor throughout
the start
in g procedure. A starter safety
switch incorporated in manual transmis-
sion cars
is designed to prevent starter
operation when
the clutch is not fu ll y
depressed. Select the proper gear range
before releasing the clutch pedal.
Cold Engine -Fully d
ep ress accelerator
pedal and slowly release. With loot
011
the accelerator pedal crank the engine by
turning the key to
the Start position and
release when engine starts.
If the engine
start
s, but fails to run, repeat above pro-
cedure. When the eng ine is running
smoothly, the idle speed
may be reduced
by s li ghtly depressing the accelerator
pedal
and then sl ow ly releasing.
Warm Engine -Depress accelerator pedal
about halfway and hold wh il e cranking
the engine.
Extremely Cold
Weather (Below O° F) or
After Car Has Been Standing
Idle Several
Days -Fully depress and release acceler-
ator peda l two or tlu'ee times before crank-
ing the engine.
With foot off the acceler-
ator pedal crank the eng ine by turning the
key to th e Start position and release when
engine starts.
If Eng in e Fai ls to Start using the appro-
priate procedure above, first, fully depress
and release the accelerator
pedal several
times.
Then remove foot from the accel-
erator and crank the engine.
If the engine still does not start, fully de-
press th e accelerator pedal and hold to
the floor while cranking the engine.
If
the engine has been flooded with gasoline
it may
start to run but not have enough
power to keep running. In
that case, con-
tinue cranking with the accelerator fully
depressed until the engine clea
rs itself of
excess gasoline
and runs smoothly.
Emergency Starting
If your Oldsmobile is e quipped with a
manual 3-speed transmission,
it can be
started in an emergency by pu shing. "Vhen
being pushed to start the engine turn igni-
tion to "ON," depress
th e clutch, place
the shift lever in high gear. Release the
clutch when the car speed reaches 10 to
15 miles
per hour. Bumpers and other
parts contacted by the pushing vehicle
should be protected from damage during
pushin
g. Never tow the car to start.
Engines in vehicles with automatic trans·
missions cannot be started by pushing the
car. To start the car
wh en the Energizer
6
( batter y) is discharged, us e a single aLL'\(-
iliary battery or Energizer of the same
voltage as the discharged battery with
jumper cables. (Ref
er to page 44 lor
procedure.)
Exhaust Gas Warning
(Carbon Monoxide)
Avoid inhaling ex haust gases because they
contain carhon monoxide, which
is a po.
tenially l et hal gas that by itself is colorless
and odorless.
SITIING IN A PARKED CAR WITH
ENGINE RUNNI NG FOR AN EXTEND-
ED PEillOD IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
Do not fun engine in confined areas such
as garages any more than needed to move
vehicle
in or out of area. \Vhen vehicle is
stopped
in an unconf in ed area with the
eng
in e running for any more than a short
period, the following precaution should
be
observed:
• Adjust heating or cooling system to
force outside air into car with blower
set
at medium Or high speed and con-
trols set in any position except "OFF"
or "MAX."
The trunk lid shou ld be closed while driv-
ing to prevent drawing exhaust gases into

the car. However, if for some reason the
trunk must remain open while moving, the
following precautions should be observed:
• Close all windows.
• Adjust heating or cooling system to
force outside air into car with blower
set
at high speed, and controls set in
any position except
"OFF" or "MAX."
• On cars equipped with outside air
vents
in or under instrwnent panel,
open vents fully.
The best protection against carbon mon-
oxide entry into the car body is a properly
maintained engine exhaust system. When-
ever a change
is noticed in the sound of
the exhaust system, when exhaust fumes
can be detected inside
the vehicle, or
when the underside of the vehicle
is dam-
aged, have a competent mechanic inspect
the complete exhaust system and adjacent
body areas for broken, damaged or mis-
positioned parts, deterioration, open seams
or loose connections which could permit
exhaust fumes to seep into the trunk or
passenger compartment.
In addition, in-
spect the exhaust system each time the
vehicle is raised for lubrication or oil
change. Replace or adjust as required.
Turbo Hydra-Mafic
On all models except the console equipped
cars, the selector lever is located on the
right side of the steering column
and the
shift indicator is located directly above the
steering column on the instrument panel.
On console equipped cars, the selector
lever
and shift indicator ar e located on the
console between the front seats.
When
shifting to "Park," <fR," "5," and "L" posi-
tion, the T-handle on the shift lever may
be gripped to depress the ball on top of
the shift lever.
7
"Park" provides a positive transmission
lock when parking or while starting the
engine. Pull the selector lever toward you
(column shift) or press the button on selec-
tor lever (console shift) to select or release
this position. Never move the selector
lever to "Park" position unless the car
is
completely stopped.
<OR" Reverse position is for backing the car.
Bring the car to a complete stop before
moving the selector lever into reverse.
"N" Neutral is the,out-of-gear position. It
is provided for starting a stalled engine
while the vehicle is
in motion and for
running
the engine while standing with
the brakes applied. Do not coast in neu-
tral.
"D" Drive Range is the driving range for
normal city and highway driving. This
position permits the transmission to oper-
ate through its complete range of gear
ratios and to select the proper ratio for
road
and load conditions.
"S" Super Range position is used when
super performance is needed for increased
acceleration in traffic, hill climbing or
"engine braking" downhill. The selector
lever may be moved from <OD" to "5" and
vice versa, under most operating condi-

tions. "Super" should not be used at
speeds above 75 mph .
CAUTION, Use caution when shifting
into lower gear ratios on slippery sur-
faces, with vehicle moving -the abrupt
braking action could cause the driving
wheels to skid.
" L" Low position is av aila bl e f or heavy
pulling through mud Or sand a nd for "e n-
g in e bra kin g" when descending steep hills.
The selector lever may be moved to "L"
pos iti on at any speed but the tr ans mis sion
will o nl y shift automatically into low ran ge
when car speed
is under appr ox imately
40 m.p.h. The transmission will not up·
shift fr om low range as long as the selec·
tor lever is in
"L " position.
GOOD DRIVING PRACIICE, Before
descending a steep or long grade, down
a mountain or hillside, reduce speed and
shift into a lower gear. Use the brakes
sparingly to prevent them
from over-
heating and thus reducing brake effec-
tiveness.
F or ced Do wnshi ft - When qui ck power or
acceler
at i on is desired to p ass moving ve·
hid es or to c li mb steep grades at speeds
between approximately 35 and 65 mph,
th e tr ansmission can be downshifted by
de pr ess in g theaccelerator pedalcompletely
to the floor. It is also possible to obtain
a forced downshift in "D ri ve" range at
speeds under 35 mph by depressing the
accelerator pedal part way down.
CAUTION, Care should he taken to
avoid sudden accelerations when both
drive wheels of any vehicle are on a
slippery surface. This could cause both
drive wheels to spin, especially when
the car is equipped with Anti-Spin dif-
ferential, and allow the vehicle to slide
sideways on the curved surface of a
road or in a turn.
Rock ing th e C ar - If it becomes necessary
to r
ock the car to fr ee it from sand, mud
or snow, move th e selector lever from
"D" to <O R" in a repeat pattern while
s
imu ltaneously ap plying moderate pres·
su
re to the accelerator. Do not race en·
gine. Avoid spinn in g wheels when trying
to free the
car.
Three-Speed Manual
Transmission
A ll forward gears on the Oldsmobile 3-
speed manual transmission are fu lly syn·
8
chronized. T hi s transmission is shifted
through the standard "H" pattern as
shown in the illustration. Before shifting
into any gear, depress th e clutch pedal
and then shift into the desired gear. In
f irst an d reverse gears, release the clutch
pedal slowly while simultaneously de-
pressing the acceler ator pedal. In second
and third gear
s, release the clutch a little
faster. This reduces the wear on the
clutch and provides smoother operation.
OPERATING CAUTIONS -
1. Do not "speed shift," allow time be-
tween shifts for transm ission synchronizers
to coordinate.
2. Do not use second
or third gear to
accelerate from a stop.

3. Always place gear selector in neutral
and set the foot brake when starting the
engine.
4. Never leave vehicle
Wl attended with
the engine running.
5. Always set parking brake firmly before
leaving the vehicle.
6. Do not coast in Neutral.
7. Never "r ide" the clutch pedal as this
will cause excessive slippage with result-
ant wear on the clutch parts.
GOOD DRIVING PRACTICE: Do use
second gear at slow speeds (I.... than
30 miles per hour) when driving in
"stop
and go" traffic, for improved ve·
hicle performance during acceleration
and when desceDding steep hills.
New Car Operating Speeds
Driving speeds for your new Oldsmobile
should be limi
ted to a maximum of 50
miles per hour for the firs t 100 miles and
65 miles per hour for the next 400 miles
with no heavy throttle accelerations.
If
most of your driving is of the around-town
v
ar iety, which is considered usevere serv-
ice" especially
in co ld weather, be sure to
include some 25 to 50 mile highway trips
during the break-in pe ri od and vary the
car's speed.
The vehicle should be driven
a minimum of 500 miles before hauling a
trailer of less than 2,000 Ibs. gross weight
and at least 1,000 miles if the trailer ex-
ceeds 2,000 Ibs. gross weight.
fuel Requirements
You r Oldsmobile is designed to operate
efficiently on "Regular" or "Premium"
grade fuels commonly sold in the United
States and Canada, depending on the
eng
in e in sta ll ed in ·your car. The table
indicates the fuel grade requirements for
va ri o us Oldsmobile engines.
Engine I Fuel Grade
V·S (350 cu. in.)
2 Bbl . (low Compression)
4 Bbl. (High Compression)
V ·S (455 cu. in.)
2 Bbl. (low Compression)
4 Bbl. (High Compression)
Regular
Premium
Regular
Premium
Use of a fuel which is too low in anti-
knock quality will result in "spark knock."
Since the anti -k nock quality of all regular
grade or of a ll premium grade gasoHnes
is not the same and factors such as altitude,
te rra in and air temperature affect operat in g
efficiency, knock in g may result even
9
though you are using the grade of fuel
recommended for your engine. If persist-
ent knocking is encountered, it may be nec-
esssary to change to a higher grade of
gasoline and, if knocking continues, con-
sult your authorzied Oldsmobile Dealer.
In any case, continuous or excessive knock-
ing may result in engine damages and con-
stitutes misuse of the engine for which the
Oldsmobile Division is not responsible
under the terms of the Manufacturer's New
Vehicle Warranty.
fuel filler Tube location
The fuel RileI' tube is lo cated in the center
of the rear bumper directly behind the
hinged license plate. The cap is removed
by slowly turning it counterclockwise. The
license plate door may be held down by
placing the Aller cap between the hold-

open tab on the door and the hinge as
shown. On Ninety-Eights
the fuel filler
door
is located just below the trunk lid
lock.
CAUTION: Gasoline is 8ammable
and
explosive under certain conditions. Al-
ways stop the engine
and do not smoke
or allow
open Sames or sparks near the
vehicle when refueling. H gasoline fumes
are noticed while driving, the cause
should
be determined and corrected
without delay.
Operation in Foreign
Countries
If you plan to operate your Oldsmobile
outside the continental limits of the United
States or Canada,
there is a possibility that
the best fuels available are so low in anti-
knock quality that excessive knocking and
serious engine damage may result from
their use.
To minimize th is possibility,
write to Oldsmobile Division, Service
De -
partment, Lansing, Michigan 48921, giv.
ing:
• The compression ratio and cubic inch
displacement of your engine (obtain
from your dealer).
• The vehicle ident~cation number (on
plate on instrument panel ahead of
the
steering wheel and visible through the
windshield, or from registration slip or
title).
• The country or countries in which you
plan to travel.
You will be furnished details of adjust~
ment or modifications which should be
made to your engine at your Oldsmobile
Dealership prior to your departure.
Fail~
ure to make the necessary changes to your
car and subsequent operation under con-
ditions of continuous excessive knocking
is considered misuse of the engine for
which the Oldsmobile Division
is not
responsible
under the terms of the Olds~
mobile New Vehicle Warranty.
After arriving in a foreign cowltry,
deter~
mine and use the best fuels available.
Extended Vehicle Storage
If you plan to store your Oldsmobile over
an extended period of time, certain steps
should
be taken to give it maximum pro~
tection. It is recommended that you write
Oldsmobile Division, Service Department,
Lansing, Michigan 48921, for detailed in-
structions on
how to prepare your Olds~
mobile for storage.
10
Trailer Hauling
Since passenger cars are designed and in-
tended to be used primarily as passenger
conveyances, towing a trailer may affect
handling, durability
and economy. Maxi-
mum satisfaction and safety will be de~
rived through use of proper equipment and
avoiding ovel'loads and other abusive oper -
ation.
This car
can pull a trailer of 5,000 pounds
maximum loaded weight
with a maximum
tongue load of 500 pounds if equipped to
the recommendations in Oldsmobile's 1970
Trailering Brochure.
Oldsmobile has a number of
factory-in~
stalled options available to better equip
cars for pulling trailers. For hauling
trailers heavier than 2,000 pounds.
it is
recommended that an appropriate load
equalizing hitch be purchased from a
reliable manufacturet'o
NOTE: Whenever a trailer hitch
is re ~
moved. be certain to have any mounting
holes in the underbody properly sea
led to
prevent possible entry of exhaust fumes,
dirt or water.
Purchase of bumper and axle type hitches
is not recommended. Rental installations

should be made only in accord wi th in-
stallation and u sa ge ins tru ctions of a
reputable
tra il er agency. To assist in at-
taining proper handling of th e ca r- tr ailer
combinatio
n, it is im po r ta nt th at tr a il er
tongue loads be
ma intained at approxi-
mately 10% of loaded trailer weight.
Tongue loads can be adjusted
by proper
di stribution of the load in the trailer, and
can be checked
by weighing separately
the loaded trailer
and then th e tongue.
Ti re inflation recommenda ti ons outlined
in this Owner's Manual should be fol -
lowed. When towing tra
il ers, th e allow-
able passenger and cargo lo
ad (as shown
in the instructions for tire inflation pr es-
sures, located in the tire section) must be
reduced by an amount eq ual to th e trailer
tongue load on the tra il er hitch. Th e fluid
in your automatic transmi ss ion should be
changed each 12,000 mil es when the car
is being used to pull a tr a il er.
Vehicles equipped with the trailer wiring
option are
fu rnished with a special turn
signal flasher. This special
Ha sher, sto re d
in the glove compartment, should be in-
sta ll ed in place of th e r eg ul ar turn signal
fl as h er when hauling a tra il e r.
NOTE: Do not tap into the car's hydraulic
brake system to couple wi th a trailer
hydraulic
br ake system.
General information on
tr ailer hauling, spe-
cial equipment required, and optional
equipme
nt o ff ered by Oldsmob il e is avail-
ab le in boo kl et form and can be o bt ained
by writing to Oldsmobile Division, Owner
Relations Dept ., Lansin g, Mi chi gan 48921.
Towing
With Ignition Key Available -Nonnally
your Oldsmobile may be towed with all
four wheels on the ground for distances
up to 50 mil es at speeds of less than 35
mph. How ever, the drive wheels (rear
wheels) must
be raised off the gro un d or
the
dri ve shaft disconnected when the
tran smission is not operating prope rl y or
when a speed of 35 mph or distance of
50 miles will be exceeded.
CAUTION: For towing, the parking
brake should be released, the transmis-
sion should be in neutral and the engine
ignition should be "off," but the Anti-
Th eft Steeri ng Column Lock should not
be in the "locW' position.
'Vithout the Ignition Key - Since the Ant i-
Th eft Steering Column Lock locks the
st ee ring and the shift controls as well
as
th e i gn ition system, special provisions
ar e necessary for t ow in g a vehicle when
th e switch is in '10ck" position. Normally
11
it will be necessary to place a do ll y under
th e rear wheels and tow the ve hicle with
th e front end ra ised.
Deta
il ed towing information is available at
your de
al er and h as been provided to tow
truck op
er at ors r es ponsible f or movement
of disabled or lock ed vehicles. Proper
lifting an d t ow ing equipment is necessary
to prevent damage to
th e ve hicle during
th e towing operation.
CAUTION: Attachment should NOT be
made to bumpers or bumper brackets
for towing. When vehicle is towed in
a manner that requires hoisting one end
off the ground, this is to
be done on1y
with a sling-type attachment hooked to
main structural members
of the car. Al -
ways use safety back- up chains crossed
under the tow har in a manner that will
retain the vehicle if the primary attach·
ment fails or breaks
free, preferably
attached to different structural members
than those used for the primary attach-
ment. When towing vehicles on the
front wheels, the steering wheel should
be secured to maintain a straight ahead
position.
NOTE: Do not use the locking feature of
the Anti-Theft Lock to secure the front
wheels for towing purposes.

INSTRUMENTS ' '
The instruments, gauges and warning
lights which are conveniently grouped in
the instrument clusters
on the da sh, are
designed to give the op e rator important
information on the car's performance.
n
GOOD DRIVING PRACTICE: A good
driver familiarizes himself with the con-
trols of any automobile BEFORE oper-
ating it.
12
1. left Air Conditioning Outlet
2. Left Turn Indicator
3. Broke System Warning Indicator
4. Hot Warning Indicotor
5. Cold Warning Indicator
6. Speedometer
7. Odometer
8. High Beam Indicotor
9. Charging System Warning Indicator
10. Oil Pressure Warning Indicator
11. Fuel Gouge
12. Right Turn Indicator
13. Electric Clock
14. Center Air Conditioning Outlet
T5. Cruise Control ON -OFF Switch
16.
Headlight and I",trument Ponel Light Switch
17.
Windshie ld Washer· Wiper Switch
18. Heater/Air Conditioner Control Panel
19. Rear Defogger Switch
20.
Automatic Transmission Shift Indicator
21. Ventilotion Slower Switch
22. Cigar· Cigarette lighter
23. Ash Troy Door Button
24. Convertible Top Switch
25. Radio ON· OFF and Volume Control
26. Radio Tone Control
27. Radio Diol and Push Buttons
28,
Courtesy light Switch
29. Rear Seat Speaker Fader Control
30 . Manual Station Selector Switch

Brake System Warning
Indicator
A brake system warning light is located in
the low er section of the left instrument
cluster.
The warning light glows red to
indicate to the operator
that the parking
brake has not been fully released.
It also
is de sign ed to glow red while braking in
the event of broken brake lines, major
fluid loss, air in the brake lines or a pres-
sure deviation between the front
and the
rear wheel brake lines.
If this happens, it
may mean th at braking effectiveness is
impaired.
It will be possible to bring the
vehicle to a stop,
but depending on the
severity of the malfunction, greater pedal
force
and pedal travel ma y be required
and stopping distance may be increased.
The cause should
be determined and any
problem corrected as soon as possible.
To
make sure the brake warning light is not
burned out . set the parking brake and start
the engine. If the light does not come on,
have your Oldsmobile Dealer correct the
trouble as soon as possible.
N OTE: Th is warning li ght is not a substi-
tute for visual checking of the flu id level
in the master cylinder. which is a normal
maintenan
ce item at intervals specified on
page 37.
Engine Temperature
Indicator Lights
A green signal light "COLD" will appear
when a cold engine
is started and the light
will remain
on until the engine reaches
normal operating temperature.
If the green
light remains on after several miles of
driving. have the cause
det ermined and
corrected. The red signal light "HOT" will
go on momentarily when starting the car
to let you know the warning light is oper-
ational The only other time the red signal
light should appear
is when the engine
reaches an abnormally high temperature.
Then it will appear as a flashing light. If
l.3
this happens, the engine should be stopped
immediately
and the cause determin ed and
corrected. When the engine is operating
at normal temperature neither light should
appear.
Turn Signal Indicators
A green light on the instrument panel
flashes
to indicate proper operation of the
front
and rear tum signal lamps.
Charging System
Warning Indicator
A red light "AMP" will appear with the
ignition key in the "ON" position
and the
engine not running. This Hght lets you

know the warning signal is operational.
Should the light fail to come on, see your
Oldsmobile Dealer. When the engine is
started, the warning light should go out.
In certain. types of malfunction, the red
light will come on with the ignition "OFF"
or with the engine running. Should this
happen, see your Oldsmobile Dealer. The
warning light will not indicate all types of
charging malfunctions. Therefore, if the
starting motor turns the engine slower
than normal, have the cause determined
promptly.
fue' Gauge
This gauge shows the approximate fuel
level in the tank. ONLY with the ignition
in the "ON" position will the pOinter in-
dicate the fuel level.
FUfl
E' \I I / F J
NOTE: Approximately 2 gallons of fuel
remain in the tank when the fuel gauge
shows empty.
Engine Oi' Pressure
'ndicator
The red light "OIL" will appear when the
ignition is turned "ON." informing you
that
th e indicator light is operational.
When the engine sta
rts and oil pressure
builds up, the light will go out. This
signal light is an oil pressure indicator-
not an oil level gauge. Should the light go
on while the engine is funning, stop th e
eng
in e immediately and have the cause
determined and corrected. Driving the
car
with low oil pressure can cause extensive
engine damage.
Head'ight
Seam
Indicat or
Light
The headlights of your Oldsmobile have
high and low beams to provide you with
proper night-time visibility during all driv-
ing conditions. The <10w" beams are used
during most city driving. The ''high''
beams are especially useful when driving
on dark roads since they provide excellent
long range illumination. The headlight
14
beam indicator, the emblem on the dash
will glow red, whenever the high beams
Or '·brights" are in use. The Headlight
Beam Switch controls the headlight beams
(see Page 18).
Speedometer and
Odometer
The speedometer indicates the forward
speed of the car in miles per hour. The
odometer
or mileage recorded registers the
accumulataed mileage the car
has been
driven.

CONT
Ash Trays
To expose the ash t ra y, loc at ed on th e in-
strwne nt panel just to th e right of the
cigar
li g ht er, depress th e a sh tray bu tton
and the as h tr ay door swings open to give
access to the tray.
To close th e ash tray
door, push down on the exposed edge until
th e d oo r is flush with th e panel surface.
~ o ~ e m ove the tr ay for cl ea ning, simply
hft
It out of its rece pt acle. R ea r seat ash
tr ays may be removed by lifting th em out
of
th e ir armre st rece pt acles.
I ~ ~ ~.
' "''
Lighter
Pu sh the li gh te r all th e way in to operate.
Wh en it is he at ed sufficie ntly to use it
w i1l "snap" back to normal positi on ~ith
an audible so und. Avoid holding the light-
er m by
hand while it is he ating as this
may da
ma ge th e heating eleme nt .
ROLS
Braking Systems
Th e service brake system is designed for
br aking performance und er a wide range
of driving conditions even
when the ve-
hicle is loaded to its full rat ed vehicle load.
CAUTION: "Riding the brake" by rest-
ing your foot
on the brake pedal when
not intending to brake can cause aboor ..
ma1ly high brake temperatures, exces-
sive lining
wear and possible damage to
the brakes.
Th e service brake system is designed so
th at in the eve nt of a h ydra ulic fluid l ea k
in one-half of the system, the o
ther half
still pro vi des br aking action.
CAUTION: Driving through
deep wa-
ter may affect brake performance. Ap-
plying
the brakes lightly will indicate
whether they have been affected. To
dry them quickly, lightly apply brakes
while maintaining a slow forward speed
with an assured clear distance ahead
until brake perfonnance returns to
normal.
15
Autamatic Brake Adjusters
All Oldsmobiles ar e eq uipped with self-
ad justing br akes d es igned to eliminate
pe riodic brake adjustm en ts. On drum-
type
br akes the self-adjusting mechanism
is
ac tuated, as needed, whenever the car
is moved
in reverse and the brakes are
applied. Optional
(s tan dard on Ninety-
Ei g ht ) fro nt wh eel disc br akes do not re-
quire
ad justme nt . It is possible, however,
for excessive
br ake pedal tr avel to develop
if
th e required reverse moveme nt with a
br ake application does not take place dur-
ing a pr olong ed period of stop and go for-
wa rd driving. Sho uld this occur, the car
should be driven b ac kw ard a nd forward
with the br akes app li ed fir ml y at the end
of each rearwa rd movement, until the
br ake pedal trav-el is b ac k to norma l. If this
proce du re fails to restore no nn al peda l
tr ave l, or if any a bn orma ll y rapid in cre ase
in pedal tr avel is experienced, imm ed iate
inspection should be made by your A uth or-
ized Old smobile D ea le r.
...
CAUTION: Brake pedal travel should
not be obstructed by improper floor
mats
or other interfering materia] under
the pedal.

Parking Brake
The parking brake operates independently
of the regular foot brake hydrau
li c system.
It is applied by fully depressing the foot
pedal which
is located to the lower left
side of the front compartment under the
instrument panel. The brake system warnw
ing light will also be "ON" whenever the
parking brake
is not fully released and the
ign ition switch is "ON," The par ki ng
brake is released by pulling the "BRAKE
RELEASE" lever located directly over the
parking brake foot pedal. Never dr ive the
car with the parking brake engaged.
CAUTION: When l ea vi ng the car un-
attended, always place the selector lever
in "PARK" position
(if equipped with an
automatic transmission) and fully apply
parking brake. On manual
tr ansmission-
equipped ca r, place the shift lever in
reverse and fully apply tbe parking
brake.
Convertible Top
CAUTION: Do not attempt to lower the
top when the temperature is below 40°
fahrenheit. Prior to lowering or raising
the top, the car must be completely
stopped and the sunshades t ur ned down.
Also, pri or to lowering the top, make
sure the top material is thoroughly dry
and th e t op weD is free of any stored
items.
To lower the top, disengage the lock
handles, located at the front of the si de
ra il s, by rotating inboard until the lock
hook levers are free
fr om the lock st ri kers
located on the windshield header. (The
lock handles must remain in the rotated po-
sition unt
il the top is again locked to the
windshield header.) Actuate the top con-
16
trol switch and lower the top assembly to
the full down position.
To raise the top, actuate the control switch
until the top contacts and rests
on the
windshield header and the guide pins at
the outboard corners
of the top engage the
stri
ker assemblies on the wi ndshield head-
er.
To lock the top, rotate the left side locking
handle outboard to engage the lock hook to
the striker. Th en, perform the same opera-
tion to the right side lock handle.
IMPORTANT: The top assembly must be
securely l
oc k ed to the windshield header
prior to movement of car.
Installing the Boot -Attach the forward
edge of the boot
by grasping and suding
the welt of the boot into the retainer lo-
cated on the top of the rear seat back
panel. Position the boot over the lowered
t
op and engage the snap fasteners on the
boot to the snap studs located on the
quarter tr i m. The rear and sides of the
hoot are then secured
by starting at the
center and pulling the rear
edge of the
boot rearward over the belt
mo lding an d
inserting the plastic retainer under the
molding.

Turn Signals and
Lane Change Feature
Th e turn signal lever is l ocated on th e left
side of the steering column immediately
under the steering whee
l. The lever is
moved u
pw ard to signal a right turn a nd
downward to signal a left turn. Lamps on
th e fro nt a nd rear of th e ca r transmit this
si gnal to other motorists and pe d es trian s.
The ignit ion switch must be in th e "ON"
p os ition in order for the turn signals to be
operationa l. Thi s feature pr eve nt s b at tery
drain
if the lever is left in an "ON" pos i-
tion when yo ur car is not in use.
In a no nn al turning situation such as turn-
ing a co rn er, the turn signal is cancelled
automatica
ll y after the turn is complete d.
However, in so me driv in g maneuvers such
as changing lanes on an expressway, the
steering wheel is
not turned back suffi-
cie
nt ly after completing the tum to auto-
mat ica ll y cancel the turn signa l. For con-
ve
ni ence in such maneuvers the driver can
flash the turn signals by moving the tum
sig n. ll ever pa rt way (to the first stop) a nd
holding it the re . Th e lever returns to the
neutral or can
ce ll ed position wh en th e
dr
iv er releases his hold on the l eve r.
A green U ght on the instru ment panel
flashes to indicate
pr o per operation of the
front
and rear tum signal l amp s. If the
indicator lamp remains on and does not
flash, ch
ec k for a defective signal lamp
b
ul b. If the indicator fa il s to li ght when
the lever is mov
ed , ch ec k th e fuse and
indic
at or bu lb.
Hazard Warning Fl asher
In the eve nt your car is disabled or you
stop for any reason on the highway, the
four-way
ha z ard warni ng fl asher system
17
on the yo
ur vehicle, front and rear signal
lamps, shou
ld be used to warn o th er driv-
ers th at your ve hicle ~ a traffic haza rd .
However, you should
do eve rything pos-
sible to avoid stoppi
ng on the actual
highway.
CAUTION: Use of the hazard flasher
while the vehicle
is moving is prohibited
in some states.
The hazard warning system is activated by
pus
hi ng in on the but ton located be low
the steering wheel on
th e rig ht side of the
steering column. When the system is op-
eratin
g, th e tu m signal indi ca tors on the
ins
tr um ent panel will fl as h simul ta neousl y.
Use this system only when your vehicle
is st
opped on or near the roadway or
otherwise constitut es a traffic hazard. The
hazard
fl ash er may be canceled by pu lling
the b
utt on out ward .
NOTE:
The hazard warning flasher will
operate with the ignition in the
"LOCK"
position and the key removed, allowing
the
car to be locked while he lp is sought.
CAUTION: If tbe brake pedal is de-
pressed when the hazard warning flasb-
er is in operation, the lights will not
flash but will glow continuously instead_