LUBRICATION 0-14
SAE 5W-30 oils may be used during periods when
temperatures of 32° and below are to be expected.
Types of Oils
In service, crankcase oils may form sludge and varnish
and under some conditions, corrosive acids unless pro-
tected against oxidation.
To minimize the formation of these harmful products
and to assure the use of oil best suited for present day
operating conditions, automobile manufacturers have de-
veloped a series of sequence tests designed to evaluate
the ability of any oil to properly lubricate automobile
engines.
It is recommended that only those oils which are
certified by their suppliers as meeting or exceeding the
maximum severity requirements of these sequence tests
(or GM Standard 4745-M) be used in Chevrolet engines.
Certified sequence tested oils will be described as such
on their containers.
Maintaining Oil Level
The oil gauge rod is marked "Full" and "Add Oil."
These notations have broad arrows pointing to the level
lines.
The oil level should be maintained between the
two lines, neither going above the "Full" line nor under
the "Add Oil" line. DO NOT OVERFILL. After operating
vehicle allow a few minutes for oil to return to crankcase
before checking oil level.
Check the oil level frequently and add oil when
necessary.
Oil and Filter Change Intervals
NOTE:
Under prolonged dusty driving condi-
tions,
it is recommended that these operations
be performed more often.
OIL
To insure continuation of best performance, low main-
tenance cost and long engine life, it is necessary to
change the crankcase oil whenever it becomes contami-
nated with harmful foreign materials. Under normal
driving conditions draining the crankcase and refilling
with fresh oil every 60 days or every 6000 miles which-
ever occurs first, is recommended.
It is always advisable to drain the crankcase only after
the engine has become thoroughly warmed up or reached
normal operating temperature. The benefit of draining is,
to a large extent, lost if the crankcase is drained when
the engine is cold, as some of the suspended foreign
material will cling to the sides of the oil pan and will not
drain out readily with the cold, slower moving oil.
OIL FILTER
Change engine oil filter every 6000 miles or every 6
months, whichever occurs first.
NOTE:
For Vehicles in heavy duty operation
involving continuous start-stop or prolonged idl-
ing, engine oil should be changed after 2500-
3000 miles of operation. The filter should be
changed after 5000-6000 miles of operation.
Crankcase Dilution
Probably the most serious phase of engine oil deterio-
ration is that of crankcase dilution which is the thinning
of the oil by fuel vapor leaking by pistons and rings and
mixing with the oil and by condensation of water on the
cylinder walls and crankcase.
Leakage of fuel, or fuel vapors, into the oil pan occurs
mostly during the "warming up" period when the fuel is
not thoroughly vaporized and burned. Water vapor enters
the crankcase through normal engine ventilation and
through exhaust gas blow-by. When the engine is not
completely warmed up, these vapors condense, combine
with the condensed fuel and exhaust gases and form acid
compounds in the crankcase.
As long as the gases and internal walls of the crank-
case are hot enough to keep water vapor from con-
densing, no harm will result. However, when the engine
is run in low temperatures moisture will collect and
unite with the gases formed by combustion resulting in
an acid formation. The acid thus formed is likely to
cause serious etching or pitting which will manifest itself
in excessively rapid wear on piston pins, camshaft
bearings and other moving parts of the engine, oftentimes
causing the owner to blame the car manufacturer or the
lubricating oil when in reality the trouble may be traced
back to the character of fuel used, or a condition of the
engine such as excessive blowby or improper carburetor
adjustment.
Automatic Control Devices to Minimize
Crankcase Dilution
All engines are equipped with automatic devices which
aid greatly in minimizing the danger of crankcase
dUution.
The thermostat, mounted in the cylinder head water
outlet, restricts the flow of water to the radiator until a
predetermined temperature is reached, thus minimizing
the length of time required to reach efficient operating
temperature, reducing the time that engine temperatures
are conducive to vapor condensation.
A water by-pass is included in the cooling system,
utilizing a hole in the front of, the cylinder block. This
allows a limited circulation of coolant, bypassing the
thermostat until thermostat opening temperatures are
reached. This system provides a uniform coolant tem-
perature throughout the engine, eliminating localized
hot-spots, improving exhaust valve life, provides fast
warmrup of lubricating oil and fast temperature rise in
the coolant which provides fast heater operation in cold
weather.
A thermostatic heat control on the exhaust manifold
during the warming up period, automatically directs the
hot exhaust gases against the center of the intake mani-
fold, greatly aids in proper vaporization of the fuel.
An automatic choke reduces the danger of raw or
unvaporized fuel entering the combustion chamber and
leaking into the oil reservoir.
An.
efficient crankcase ventilating system drives off
fuel vapors and aids in the evaporation of the raw fuel
and water which may find its way into the oil pan.
CRANKCASE BREATHER CAP
Clean and re-oil at every oil change..
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL
