1973 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO check oil

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Detroit, Michigan 48202 (or in
Canada by writing to General
Moto rs of Canada Limited,
Owner
Relations Department , Oshawa,
Ontario) .
To assist in attaining good han­
dling of the car-trailer combina­
tion, it
is important that the trailer
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 highest inflation
pressures shown on the
placard affixed to the left front
door . The allowable passenger 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:
• Automatic transmission fluid
each
12 ,000 miles ,
• Rear axle fluid each 12,000
miles,
• Engine oil each 60 days or 3,000
12
miles , whichever occurs first.
• Positive crankcase ventilation
valve each 12 months or
12,000
miles, whichever occurs first.
Break-in Schedule
In addition to the new ca r
break-in instructions in this man­
ual, it
is recommended that your
new Monte Carlo 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. The same
precautions should be observed
whenever a new engine, transmis­
sion or axle
is installed in your car.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Clock
Reset the clock , by pulling out
the knob and turning the hands
clockwise
if slow, counterclockwise
if fast. This will, if the clock error
is five minutes or more, automati­
cally compensate for time gain or
lag . Several resettings, several days
apart, may be needed to propertly
adjust the clock mechanism. Have
your clock cleaned and oiled by a
competent clock serviceman at
least every two years.
Cigarette Lighter
The cigarette lighter is located
on the instrument panel face.
To
operate, push it in. When it be­
comes heated, it automatically pops
out ready for use.
Windshield Wiper and
Washer
The windshield wiping system
operates at two speeds and
is de­
signed to wipe clear specific areas of
the windshield under most in­
clement weather conditions . The
windshield wipers work electrically
and are not affected by engine op­
eration. Push the control lever to the
right to start the electric wind­
shield wiper. The two-speed elec­
tric wiper has both a "low" and a
"high" speed position.
31
Pressing the control will send a
measured amount of water or other
cleaning agent onto the windshield
and will also cause the wiper lever
to move thus starting the wiper
motor. The wiper will continue to
operate until manually turned off
at the wiper lever.
Fill the washer jar only
% full
during the winter to allow for ex­
pansion if the temperature should
fall low enough to freeze the solu­
tion .
• Check washer fluid level regu­
larly-do it frequently when the
weather is bad .
• Use a fluid such as GM OPTI­
KLEEN to prevent freezing
damage, and to provide better
cleaning.
• Do not use radiator anti-freeze
in windshield washer; it could
cause paint damage.
• In cold weather, warm the wind­
shield with defrosters before

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SE oils and quality oil filters. Oil
change intervals longer than those
listed above will seriously reduce
engine life and may affect Chevro­
let's obligation under the provisions
of the New Vehicle Warranty.
A high quality
SE oil was in­
stalled in your engine at the factory.
It is not necessary to change this
facory-installed oil prior
to the rec­
ommended normal change period.
However, check the oil level more
NOTE: Non-detergent and other
low quality oils are specifically not
recommended.
Only the use of SE
engine oils and proper oil and filter
change intervals assure you of con­
tinued proper lubrication of your
Chevrolet engine.
frequently during the break-in pe­
riod since higher oil consumption
is normal until the piston rings be­
come seated.
Recommended Viscosity
Select the proper viscosity from the following chart:
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY NUMBER
I ,.
.... ~.-."'). ... .II ••• :.; I
-30 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE, OF.
NOTE: SAE 5W-30 viscosity oil is recommended for all seasons in
vehicles normally operated in Canada.
SAE 5W-20 oils are not recom­
mended for sustained high-speed driving.
SAE 30 oils may be used at temperatures above 40oP.
The proper oil viscosity helps
assure good cold and hot starting.
NOTE: The oil gauge rod is also
marked,
"Use SE Engine Oil" as
a reminder to use only SE oils.
52
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 accumulation in the engine to

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine drain back in the crankcase. To
check the level, remove the oil
gauge rod (dip stick), wipe
it
clean and reinsert it firmly for an
accurate reading. 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 tak­
ing the reading.
Supplemental Engine Oil
Additives
The regular use of supplemental
additives
is specifically not recom­
mended and will increase operat­
ing costs. However, supplemental
additives are available that can
effectively and economically solve
certain specific problems without
causing other difficulties. For
example, if higher detergency is
required to reduce varnish and
sludge deposits resulting from some unusual
operational difficulty, a
thoroughly tested and approved
additive
- "Super Engine Oil Sup­
plement " -
is available at your
Chevrolet dealer.
In the event of
an operational problem, consult
your dealer for advice before using
supplemental additives.
Drive Belts
Every 6,000 miles or 4 months
-inspect drive belts for wear,
fraying, cracking, and tension.
Belts which are in poor condition
should be replaced immediately.
Check tension by applying
moderate thumb pressure midway
between pulleys.
If the center-to­
center distance · between pulleys
is
13 to 16 inches, the belt should
deflect
1/2 inch. If the center-to­
center distance
is 7 to 10 inches ,
the belt should deflect
~ inch.
Loose belts should be retensioned
to give the correct deflection.
It
is recommended that belts be
53
replaced every 24 months or 24,000
miles, whichever occurs first.
Flame Arrester -Every 12,000
miles-Clean the arrester (located
in the base of the air cleaner) with
kerose:le or a suitable solvent. Dry
with compressed air.
Air Cleaner
Rear
Axle
Standard-Every 4 months or
6,000 miles, whichever occurs first,
check lubricant level and add lubri­
cant, if necessary, to
fill to level of
filler plug hole.
Use SAE 80 or
SAE 90 GL-5 Gear Lubricant.
(For vehicles normally operated in
Canada use
SAE 80 GL-5 Gear
Lubricant.)
Positraction -Drain and refill
after
12,000 miles. Then maintain

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine same as standard axle but use only
the special positraction lubricant
available from your Chevrolet
Dealer.
Manual Transmissions
3-Speed -Every 6,000 miles or
4 months-Check at operating tem­
perature and
fill as necessary to
level of filler plug hole with SAE
80
or SAE 90 GL-5 Gear Lubri­
cant.
(For vehicles normally operated in
Canada use
SAE 80 GL-5 Gear
Lubricant.)
If temperatures below 32°F. are
expected, use
SAE 80 GL-5 Gear
Lubricant only.
Clutch Cross-Shaft -Every
36,000 miles or sooner if necessary
-Remove the plug, install a lubri­
cation fitting and lubricate with
water resistant
EP Chassis Lubri­
cant which meets GM Specific
a-
tion 6031M.
Automatic Transmissions
Fluid Recommendations
Use only automatic transmission
fluids identified with the mark
DEXRON ®. These fluids have been
specially formulated and tested for
use in your automatic transmission,
and are available from your Chev­
rolet dealer or local service station.
Check the fluid level at each
engine oil change period. To make
an accurate fluid level check:
1. Drive car several miles, making
frequent starts and stops,
to
bring transmission up to normal
operating temperature (approxi­
mately
180-190° F).
2. Park car on a level surface.
3. Place selector level in "PARK"
and leave engine running.
4. Remove dipstick and wipe clean.
54
5. Reinsert dipstick until cap seats.
6. Remove dipstick and note read­
ing.
If fluid level is at or below the
ADD mark, add sufficient fluid
to
raise the level to the FULL mark.
One pint raises the level from ADD
to FULL.
Do not overfill.
Under normal driving condi­
tions, the transmission fluid should
be changed every
24,000 miles.
If your car is driven extensively
in heavy city traffic during hot
weather, or
is used to pull a
trailer, {change fluid every
12,000
miles. Likewise, operators of cars
in commercial use (such
as taxicab,
limousine or patrol car service)
where the engine idles for long
periods, should change fluid every
12,000 miles.
Changing Fluid -Remove fluid
from the transmission sump and

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brakes
Brake linings should be periodi­
cally inspected for wear by a quali­
fied technician. The frequency of
this inspection depends upon driv­
ing conditions such
as traffic or
terrain, and also the driving tech­
niques of individual owners. Your
Chevrolet Dealer
is best qualified
to advise you
as to how often this
inspection should be performed.
When replacement
is required,
specify GM and Delco parts.
Master
Cylinder - Every 6,000
miles or 4 months -Check fluid
level in each reservoir and maintain
~ " below lowest edge of each filler opening
with Delco, Supreme No.
11 or DOT-3 Hydraulic Brake
Fluid.
Parking Brake
Pulley, Cables
and Linkage -Every 6,000 miles
or 4 months-Apply water resistant
EP Chassis Lubricant which meets
GM Specification 6031 M, to park­
ing brake cable at cable guides and
at all operating links and levers.
Power
Steering System
Check the fluid level in the
pump reservoir at each oil change
period. Add GM Power Steering
Fluid (or
DEXRON® Automatic
Transmission Fluid)
as necessary
to bring level into proper range on
filler cap indicator depending upon
fluid temperature.
If at operating temperature (ap­
proximately
150 °F - hot to the
56
"HOT" MARK
"COLD" MARK
touch), fluid should be between
"HOT" and "COLD" marks. If at
room temperature (approximately
70°F), fluid should be between
"ADD" and "COLD" marks. Fluid
does not require periodic changing.
Hood
Latches
Every 4 months or 6,000 miles,
whichever occurs first, lubricate

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine hood latch assembly and hood
hinge assembly as follows:
1. Wipe off any accumulation of
dirt or contamination on latch
parts.
2. Apply Lubriplate or equivalent
to latch pilot bolts and latch
locking plate.
3. Apply light engine oil to all
pivot points in release mecha­
nism, as well
as primary and
secondary latch mechanisms.
4. Lubricate hood hinges.
5. Make hood hinge and latch
mechanism functional check to
assure the assembly
is working
correctly.
Air Conditioning
Have your Chevrolet Dealer
check your Air Conditioning
sys­
tem at some time during the winter
months to be sure there has been no
loss in cooling output. During
NOTE: On vehicles equipped with
a
Pour Season Air Conditioning
System, the system will not operate
below ambient temperatures of
300P. regardless of control posi­
tion.
the summer,
see your Chevrolet
Dealer immediately if you suspect
the system
is not performing as it
should .
Cooling System Care
Check the coolant level at each
engine oil change.
Engine Cooling System
The recovery type cooling sys­
tem is standard on all Chevrolet
passenger cars and
is designed to
maintain the engine at proper op-
57
erating temperatures. The recovery
tank collects coolant that expands
with rising temperature that would
otherwi se overflow from the sys­
tem. When the system temperature
drops, the coolant
is drawn from
the recovery tank back into the
radiator by the suction created by
coolant contraction. The cooling
system has been filled at the factory
with a high-quality , inhibited, year­
around coolant that meets the stan­
dards of General Motors Specifica­
tion 1899-M. This coolant solution
provides freezing protection to
-20oP (-32° P in Canada), and
it has been formulated to be used
for two full calendar years or
24,000 miles, whichever first oc­
curs, of normal operation without
replacement.
Cooling System Care
Check the coolant level in the
'see thru' coolant recovery tank

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine and in the radiator at least as fre­
quently
as engine oil changes.
NOTE: Do not remove radiator
cap when coolant
is hot and under
pressure.
Level should be at the
"FULL
COLD"
mark on the recovery tank
and at the bottom of the radiator
filler neck when the system
is cold.
During normal warm weather op­
eration the coolant should be at
the
"FULL HOT" mark on the re­
covery tank.
If the recovery tank is
empty or coolant is below the
"FULL COLD" mark the radiator
level should be checked and cool­
ant added to the radiator and re­
covery tank
as needed. Use a 50/50
mixture of high-quality ethylene gly­
col antifreeze and water for coolant
additions.
If regular additions are
required see your dealer for a cool­
ing system check.
NOTE: If recommended quaIily
antifreeze is used, supplemental in­
hibitors or additives claiming to
provide increased capability are
not necessary. They may be detri­
mental
to the efficient operation of
the system, and represent an un­
necessary operating expense.
Every year, the cooling system
should be serviced
as follows:
1 . Wash radiator cap and filler
neck with clean water.
2. Check coolant for proper
level and freeze protection.
3. Pressure test system and radi­
ator cap for proper pressure
holding capacity (15 psi).
If
replacement of cap is re­
quired, use the special AC
cap designed for coolant re­
covery systems, specified for
your car model.
4. Tighten hose clamps and in­
spect all hoses. Replace hoses
58
whenever swollen, checked or
otherwise deteriorated.
5. Clean frontal area of radiator
core and air conditioning
condenser.
Every two years or
24,000 miles,
whichever first occurs, the cooling
system should be flushed and re­
filled using the following recom­
mended procedure:
1. Run engine, with radiator cap
removed, until normal operat­
ing temperature
is reached
and upper radiator hose
is hot
(indicates thermostat
is open.)
2. Stop engine and open radiator
drain valve to drain coolant.
(To speed this operation, the
drain plugs in the block can
also be removed.)