1971 CHEVROLET CAMARO oil change

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine tongue load be maintained at ap­
proximately
10% of the loaded
trailer weight. Tongue loads can be
adjusted by proper distribution of
the load in the trailer, and can be
checked by weighing separately the
loaded trailer and then the tongue.
When towing trailers, tires should
be inflated to the standard pressure
shown
on the placard, affixed to
left front door. The allowable pas­
senger and cargo load also shown
on the same placard,
is reduced by
an amount equal to the trailer
tongue load on the trailer hitch.
Maintenance
More frequent vehicle mainte­
nance
is required when using your
car to pull a trailer. Change the:
1. Automatic transmission and rear axle
fluid each
12,000 miles.
2. Engine oil each
60 days or 3000
miles whichever occurs first,
3. Replace the positive crankcase
ventilation valve each 12 months
or 12,000 miles whichever oc­
curs first.
Break .. in Schedule
In addition to the new car break­
in instructions in the
Owners' Man­
ual,
it is recommended that your
new Camaro be operated for
500
miles before trailer towing. If it is
necessary to tow during this period,
avoid speeds over
50 MPH and
full throttle starts.
For cars already in use the above
precautions should be observed
whenever a new engine, transmis­
sion
or axle is installed.
10

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SAFETY CHECKS
Your Camaro not only conforms to all U.S. Fed­
eral Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards applicable at
time of manufacture, but also incorporates other im­
portant General Motors safety features. Even with
these safety features, however, continued safe and
dependable operation depends greatly upon regular
vehicle maintenance.
This section discusses the various components and
systems of your vehicle that should be checked regu-
CHECK OFF EACH ITEM UNDER MIlEAGE AS SERVICE IS PERFORMED. Brakes and Power Steering -Check all lines and hoses. Check condition of brake linings and parking brake adjustment. Chassis lube and check all fluid levels,· Check condition of front and rear suspension and steerine system. Exhaust System -Check condition of system and underbody. Tires and Wheels-Check condition. (Check tire pressure at least monthly.) Engine -Change oil.· Check condition 01 all belts. -Replace oil filter (at 1st oil change and tllen every 2nd chanie). -Check air cleaner every 12,000 miles; replace every 24,000 miles. .-Replace PCV valve. -Service exhaust emission control systems (see Owner's Manual). -Change toolanl every Iwo years. Throttle linkage -Check operation and condition . Headlights -Aim. Transmission (Automatic)-Change fluid and service filter. 0 ,', III · 0
33
larly to help maintain continued safe and dependable
vehicle operation.
Some checks should be made by
your dealer or service station, and can be done con­
veniently while your vehicle
is in the shop for other
regular maintenance services.
Other checks can be
made easily by owners.
CHECKS TO BE PERFORMED BY YOUR
DEALER OR SERVICE STATION
As a service reminder to owners, all 1971 General
Motors passenger cars are equipped with a
"Vehicle
6000 12000 18000 24000 30000 36000 41000 48000 )4000
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• 0 o· 00 0 ·
0

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Safety Maintenance Schedule" on the inside of the
glove box door
as illustrated.
The schedule lists the various safety checks to be
performed at regularly scheduled intervals,
as well
as some of the other important vehicle maintenance
requirements. You are urged to check
off each item
on the schedule after the operation has been per­
formed. Following are further details on the safety
check items:
Checks To Be Made At Oil Change Intervals
(4 months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes
first)
• Brake Lines and Hoses -Check for proper at­
tachments, leaks, cracks, chafing, deterioration,
etc. Any questionable parts noted should be re­
placed or repaired immediately.
• Fluid Levels-Check level of fluid in brake master
cylinder, power steering pump, radiator, engine,
axle and transmission. Any significant
loss could
mean that a malfunction
is developing in the sys­
tem and corrective action should be taken imme­
diately.
On cars with disc brakes, a low fluid level
in the front brake master cylinder reservoir could
34
also be an indicator that disc brake pads need
replacing.
• Front and Rear Suspension and Steering Sys­
tem-Check for damaged or missing parts, or parts
showing visible signs of excessive wear or lack of
lubrication. Questionable parts should be replaced
by a qualified mechanic without delay.
• Exhaust System -Check complete exhaust sys­
tem and nearby body areas and trunk lid for
broken, damaged, missing or mispositioned parts,
open seams, holes, loose connections
or other de­
terioration which could permit exhaust fumes to
seep into the trunk or passenger compartment. Any
defects should be corrected immediately. To help
insure continued integrity, exhaust system pipes
rearward of the
muffler must be replaced whenever
a new
muffler is installed.
• Tires and Wheels -Check tires for excessive
wear, nails, cuts or other damage. Make certain
wheels are not bent
~nd wheel nuts are tight. Un­
even or abnormal tire wear may indicate the need
for alignment service. Check tire inflation pressure
at least monthly, or more often
if daily visual
inspection indicates the need.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine POSITIVE CRANKCASE
VENTILATION (PCV)
~F"'FILnREDAIR --+ B = BLOW BY GASES :lI." HB ~COMBUSTlBlEMIXTURE
pey
VALVE
OPERATION: All General Motors gasoline engine
powered vehicles are equipped with Positive
Crank­
case Ventilation-a system which permits no crank­
case emissions to be discharged into the atmosphere.
To function properly, the system depends on the
43
PCV Valve which returns blow-by gases to the com­
bustion chamber where they are burned.
MAINTENANCE: This valve must be clean in
order to maintain efficient engine operation.
An
inspection of the ventilation filter should be
made at the first oil change
(4 months or 6,000
miles, whichever occurs first). At each subse­
quent oil change, the ventilation filter
should
be inspected and replaced if necessary. Re­
place filter at least every 24,000 miles. Under
normal driving conditions, the PCV Valve should
be replaced every 24 months or 24,000 miles,
whichever occurs first, and
all hoses and fit·
tings
should be inspected and cleaned or re­
placed, as necessary. Replace the PCV Valve
and inspect related parts every 12 months or
12,000 miles when the vehicle is used in a ser­
vice requiring more frequent engine oil change
as covered on page 53.
NOTE: Emission control systems in this section are Illustrated on V-8 engines; systems on 4 and 6 cylinder engines are similar.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CONTROLLED COMBUSTION
SYSTEM
(CCS)
NEW CARBURETOR LEAN MIXTURES, ENGINE IDLE INCREASED
..... HEAlEDUNDEIiHODDAIR q UND£RHOODAJR
@HOTEXHAUST
I THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED INTAKE AIR
HEAT EXCHANGED FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO UNDERHOOD AIR FLOW
44
OPERATION: The Controlled Combustion System
is entirely separate from the Positive Crankcase Ven­
tilation
Sys tem and is designed to reduce pollutants
in the exhau st by altering the combustion process,
CCS is a combination of design features including a
special air cleaner which incorporates thermostatic
control of heated air to the carburetor, a special
calibrated carburetor and distributor and a modified
combustion chamber design,
MAINTENANCE: Complete effectiveness of the
system,
as well as full power and performance,
depend
upon engine idle speed, ignition tim­
ing,
and dwell being set according to the spec­
ifications
shown on a label under the hood.
These adjustments should be checked at the
first oil change
(4 months or 6,000 miles,
whichever comes first). Subsequent checks
should be made at
12 month or 12,000 mile
intervals, whichever comes first. These adjust­
ments are also included
as part of the quality
tune-up recommended at
the same intervals.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine AIR INJECTION REACTOR (AIR)
KEY TO HR. SYSTEM CJ F1LTEREDAIR
.... ~!~:~~A:~~~~I:E ~ TREATED EXHAUST ~(TOUMOS'HERE THMOUGHHHAlIST'II'E)
OPERATION: The Air Injection Reactor system,
(used on vehicles not equipped with
CCS) is de­
signed to reduce air pollution by oxidizing (burning)
the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide after they
45
leave the combustion chamber. A positive displace­
ment air pump, driven by the engine, compresses
filtered air which
is injected at the exhaust port of
each cylinder. This air mixes with the exhaust gases
and promotes further oxidation of both hydro­
carbons and carbon monoxide. The
AIR system also
includes a specially calibrated carburetor and dis­
tributor.
MAINTENANCE: Complete effectiveness of this
system
is dependent on the engine idle speed,
ignition timing and
dwell being set according
to specifications as indicated on a label under
the hood. These adjustments should be
checked at the first oil change (4 months or
6,000 miles, whichever comes first). Subse­
quent checks should be made at 12 months or
12,000 mile intervals, whichever comes first.
These adjustments are
also included as part of
the
quality tune-up recommended at the same
intervals. In addition, all hoses and fittings
should be inspected to make sure they are
properly connected, and the drive belt in­
spected for wear
and tension on the 12 month
or
12,000 mile schedule.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTE: If this cap requires a re­
placement, only· a cap with these
same features should be used. Fail­
ure to use the correct cap can re­
sult in a serious malfunction of the
system. Correct replacement caps
may
be obtained from your Au­
thorized Chevrolet Dealer.
Engine Oil
Recommendations
Use only engine oil which meets
oil quality standard GM 6041-M.
High quality oils which are in­
tended for service
MS and pass car
makers' tests are
of this quality.
The oil change interval (see para­
graph entitled
"Engine Oil Change
Interval") and the new vehicle
warranty are based on the use of
oils that meet these requirements.
NOTE: Non-detergent and other
low quality oils are specifically not
recommended. The use of proper
engine oils and oil change intervals are
your best assurance of contin­
ued reliability and performance
from your Camaro engine.
Checking Oil Level
The engine oil should be main­
tained at proper level. The best
time to check it
is before operating
the engine or as
the last step in a
fuel stop. This will allow the oil ac­
cumulation in the engine to drain
back in the crankcase .
To check
the evel, remove the oil gauge rod
(dip stick), wipe it clean and rein­
sert it firmly for an accurate read­
ing. The oil gauge rod
is marked
"FULL" and "ADD." The oil level
should be maintained in the safety
margin, neither going above the
"FULL" line nor below the "ADD"
line. Reseat the gauge firmly after
taking the reading.
NOTE: The oil gauge rod is also
marked
"Use GM 6041-M Quality
MS Oil" as a reminder to use only
52
high quality oils as prescribed
under "Engine Oil Recommenda­
tions."
Supplemental Engine Oil
Additives
The regular use of supplemental
additives
is specifically not recom­
mended and will increase operat­
ing costs. However, in cases of spe­
cific problems which may arise
under certain conditions, additive
supplements are available that can
effectively and economically solve
these problems without causing
other difficulties.
For example, if
higher detergency
is required to re­
duce varnish and sludge deposits
resulting from some unusual opera­
tional difficulty, a thoroughly tested
and approved concentrate -
"En­
gine Oil Supplement"-is available
at your Chevrolet dealer.
It is sug­
gested that, in the event of
an oper­
ational problem, you consult your
dealer for advice.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil Change Interval
Change oil each 4 months. If
more than 6,000 miles are driven
in a 4-month period, change oil
each
6,000 miles.
In certain types of service in­
cluding:
• operation under dusty condi­
tions,
• trailer pulling,
• extensive idling, or
• short trip operation at freezing
temperatures (engine not
thor­
oughly warmed up),
the oil change interval should not
exceed 2 months, or
3,000 miles,
whichever occurs
first. Operation
in dust storms may require an im­
mediate change of oil. See your
Chevrolet dealer for advice on the
frequency of oil and filter changes under
unusual driving conditions.
The above recommendations
apply to the first change
as well as
subsequent oil changes. The oil
change interval for your Camaro
engine
is based on the use of oils
that
meet. the requirements indi­
cated in the section on "Engine Oil
Recommendations." Oil change in­
tervals longer than those listed
above will result in serious
reduc­
tion in engine life and may affect
Chevrolet's obligation under the
provisions of the
New Vehicle War­
ranty.
A high quality
MS oil meeting
General Motors Standard GM
6041-M was installed in your en­
gine at the factory. It is not neces­
sary to change this factory-installed
oil prior to the recommended
nor­
mal change period. However, the
oil level should
be checked more
frequently during the break-in pe­
riod since somewhat higher oil con-
53
sumption is normal until the piston
rings become seated.
Manifold Heat
Control Valve
Every 6,000 miles or 4 months,
check heat control valve for free­
dom of operation.
If shaft is stick­
ing free it up with GM Manifold
Heat Control Solvent or its equiva­
lent.
Engine
Oil Filter
Replacement
The engine oil filter should be
replaced at the first oil change and
every second oil change thereafter.
This recommendation
is based on
the use of engine oils that meet the
requirements indicated in the
sec­
tion on "Engine Oil Recommenda­
tions," and the use of a quality oil
filter. AC
Oil Filters provide maxi­
mum engine protection.