1998 Oldsmobile Achieva Owner's Manual - Page 181

Towing a Trailer If you don't use the correct equipment and drive properly, you can lose control when you pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the brakes may not work well or even at all. You and your passengers could be seriously injured. You may alsodamage your vehicle; the resulting repairs would not be coveredby your warranty. Pull a trailer only if you have followed all the steps in this section. Ask your retailer foradvice and information about towing a trailer with your vehicle. -- Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it isequipped with the proper trailertowing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in"Weight of the Trailer" that appears laterin this section.But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safetrailering takes correct equipment, and it has to beused properly. That's the reason for this part. In it are many time-tested, importanttrailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that of your passengers. So please read this sectioncarefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight. The engine is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra heat. What's more, the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements. L Do not tow a trailer if your vehicle is equipped with a 2.4L (Code T) engine. 4-33