1998 Oldsmobile Achieva Owner's Manual - Page 172

If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. e Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires, coolingsystem and transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. Know how togo downhills. The most important thing to knowis this: let your engine dosome of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill. 0 Coasting downhillin NEUTRAL (N) or with the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to do al the work of slowing down. They could get l so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down hl. a i l You could crash.Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill. Know how to go uphill. Drive in the highest gear possible. Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Don't swing wide or cut across the centerof the road. Drive atspeeds that let you stay in your own lane. could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident. 0 0 If you don'tshift down, your brakes could get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poorbraking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift downto let your engine assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope. e As you go over the topof a hill, be alert. There You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.