Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cooling System Care
Checking the coolant level at
each engine oil change. Level
should be
3" below bottom of filler
neck when cold.
Coolant Recommendations
The inhibited year-around cool
ant, used to
fill the cooling system
at the factory,
is a high quality so
lution that meets General Motors
Specifications 1899-M. This fac
tory-fill coolant solution
is formu
lated to withstand two full calendar
years of normal operation without
draining, provided the same con
centration of coolant
is added if the
system needs additional fluid be
tween drain periods. The original
factory-fill coolant provides freez
ing protection to
-20°F (-32°F
in Canada).
Every two years, the cooling sys
tem should be serviced as follows:
1. Drain coolant, when hot,
through the radiator drain valve.
2. Close valve and add sufficient
plain· water to
fill system.
3. Run engine until normal operat
ing temperature
is reached.
4. Drain and refill the system as
described in steps 1, 2, and 3 a
sufficient number of times until
the drained liquid
is colorless.
5. Allow system to drain com
pletely and then close radiator
drain valve tightly.
6.
Add the necessary amount of
high quality inhibited glycol
base coolant meeting GM
Speci
fication 1899-M to provide the
required freezing and corrosion
protection
(at least to O°F.)
7. Run engine until normal oper
ating temperature
is reached.
8. Check and adjust level of cool
ant after system has cooled
suffi
ciently to remove radiator cap.
60
NOTE: Addition of supplemental
additives and other available ma
terials which have not been specifi
cally approved by GM are not nor
mally required in your car. Use of
these materials will result in un
warranted operating expense.
It is the owner's responsibility to
keep the freeze protection at a level
commensurate with the tempera
tures which may occur in the area
in which the vehicle will be oper
ated. Regardless of whether freez
ing temperatures are
or are not ex
pected, cooling system protection
should be maintained at least to
OaF to provide adequate corrosion
protection. When coolant addi
tions are required because of cool
ant loss or to provide additional
protection against freezing at tem
peratures lower than
-20°F,
(-32°F in Canada), a sufficient
amount of an ethylene glycol base
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine a bobby pin) between the rubber
cup at the end of the spark plug
wire
and the tubular metal con
nector inside of it. If the spark plug wire is wet or oily, wipe it
dry. Wrap a dry handkerchief or facial tissue, folded several thick·
nesses, around the wire at least
three inches back from the end
and grasp the wire at this point.
Hold the bare wire about 1f4 inch
from the
bare tip of the spark
plug from which you removed the Checking Spark
wire. When the engine is "turned over" a spark should jump across
the 1f4 inch space, indicating ample current supply. If no spark
jumps, the difficulty is probably caused by a defective ignition part
and should be corrected by. your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer.
COOLING SYSTEM
When the car will run but evidences serious overheating on the temperature gauge in the instrument panel, there are several items
which may be checked.
(L) Engine overheating will occur when the OIL LEVEL falls dangerously low. Check the oil level as a matter of course.
(M) Low COOLANT LEVEL will, of course, cause engine over
heating. Determine the cause of the low coolant level and have
it corrected if necessary.
(N) Check the RADIATOR CORE. Clean it if it is plugged with
bugs, leaves or other foreign material.
71
(0) Condition of the FAN BELT is very important, not only for engine cooling but also for proper
generator operation. Check the
condition of the belt. Replace it if it is worn or frayed. Loosen the generator toward the engine to remove and replace the belt. Tighten the belt, whether new or old, by loosening the generator bolts, prying with a bar on the generator until the belt is ten
sioned properly, then retighten
the
generator bolts.
(P) Another cause of engine overheating may be an inoperative COOLING SYSTEM THERMOSTAT. If the thermostat should fail in the closed position, it will not
permit coolant to circulate through
the system.
In such an emergency the thermostat may be removed
but should be replaced with a properly functioning thermostat as soon as possible.
Fan Belt Tension
Thermostat
Installation
