Auto Parts: 1993 pontiac grand am radaitor system fluid capacity, radiator fluid, overflow tube

Question
how much water and/or radiator fluid does a 1993 pontiac grand am hold while running.

Answer
    Well, it should hold the same amount when it's running as it does when it's not running.  Somewhere there is a published figure of how much coolant the car holds, probably it is in the owner's manual.  Here's the rule of thumb old-timer's use when filling a car with coolant: one quart of antifreeze for each cylinder, and fill the rest of the way with water.  Then you run the car until it gets hot enough for the thermostat to open up, shut it off, let it cool, and then check the level again, topping off if necessary.  On some of these newer cars you have to bleed the air out of the cooling system.  If this is required there will be a small plug in wither the water outlet or the intake manifold.  You take the plug out and wait until coolant comes out, then put the plug back in.  Sometimes you have to repeat this a couple of times as the engine scavenges air from all of its' hiding places in the system.  In the old days all of the air made it into the radiator and was bled through the cap or the overflow tube.  Oh, and if you live in Alaska or anywhere with Alaskan or Siberian style winters, make sure you mix it according to the chart on the back of the bottle for max freezing protection, and then add the mixed coolant.  Mostly, except for some of the mountains and the northern tier, in the lower forty-eight it's not that critical.