1981 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cleaning Rear Glass
tf abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear window, any electric
delogger element may be damaged. Avoid placing decats on the inside rear
window since they may later have to be scraped off. II you use a tempcrary
license, take care not to attach
it across the delogger grid.
Cleaning Glass Roof Panels
Never use abrasive cleaners'''on any glass roof panels, such as Vista~Vent as
they may cause scratches. AI,sQ, if you use such cleaners on the inside
surface , the tinted coating may be damaged. Avoid placing decals on the inside
surfa ce which may
later have to be scraped off.
CARE AND CLEANING OF THE EXTERIOR
Exterior Finish
The paint·lii'ish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth 01 color, gloss retention
and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way,lo,preserve your vehicle's finish is to keep it clean by frequent washings. Wash the vehide in lukewarm or cold water.
Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun. Do not
use strong soap or chemical detergents . All cleaning agents should be lIushed
promptly Irom the surface and not allowed to dry on the linish.
J?olis!lil,!9,.~nd Waxing Your Vehicle
Polishing is reCommended to remove built-up residue and eliminate any "weathered" appearanc~.
Your dealer offers several polishes and cleaners which have proven value in
maintaining original finish appearan£e ~ -durabtlity.
Protection of Exterior Bright Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be cleaned regularly to keep their luster. Washing
with. water is all that is usually needed. However, you may use GM Chrome Polish on CHROME or STAINLESS STEEL trim, il necessary.
Use special care with
ALUMINUM trim. Never use auto or chrome polish, steam or caustic soap to clean aluminum. A coating 01 wax , rubbed to a high polish , is recommended lor all bright metal parts.
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
Preserve the original appearance of aluminum wheels (il your vehicle has
them) by keeping them clean and Iree lrom build-up 01 road dirt and/or road
salt. Regular cleaning lollowed by a coat
01 paste wax (such as GM 1 050~37 "Finish Guard") is recommended .
Cleaning White Sidew.all Tires
Use GM White Sidewall Tire Cleaner or a tire cleaner which will not harm
aluminum wheel trim. A stiff brush may be used with the cleaner .
4-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cleaning The Optional Vinyl Top
Wash the top often with neutral soap suds, luk ewarm water and a brush with
soft bristles . Rinse the top with plenty of clear water to remove all trac es of soap.
If the top needs more cleaning , you can use a mild foaming cleanser such as
GM Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner. (Do not use volatile-type cleaners or
household bleaching agents on the top material.)
• Rinse the top with water . Then, on an area of about 0.2 square meters
( two square feet), apply a mild foaming type cleanser.
• Scrub the area with a soft bristle brush, adding water as needed until the
cleanser foams to a soapy consistency .
• Wipe off the Cleanser with a cloth or spOnge. Apply more cleanser to the
area , and scrub until the top is clean.
• To avoid streaking, keep the cleanser from running onto the body finish.
• Rinse top with plenty of. clear water to remove all traces of cleanser.
Corrosion Protection
Generally, your vehicle has been designed and built to resist corrosion . Special
materials and protective finishes were used on most parts of your vehicle when it was built to help maintain good looks, strength and reliable operation .
However , some parts which normally are not visible (s uch as c ertain parts
under the the
hood ) are such that surface rust will not affect their reliability .
Therefore, corrosion protection i's not needed or used on these parts.
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal repair or replac .ement ,
make
sure IheboOY .[epair S \)gJ;l) ll)Plies anti-corrosion material to the part s
repaired or replaced so that corrosibn '''protection is restored. (Also see "Finish
Damage" which follows .)
Foreign Material Deposits
Calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap,
bird droppings, chemicals. from industrial chimneys, and other foreign matter
may damage vehicle finishes
if left on painted surfaces.
Prompt washing
may not completely remove all of these depOSits. Other
cleaners
may be needed . When using chemical cleaners developed for this
purpose , be sure they are safe 'for use on painted surfaces .
FiniSh Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish should be repaired
promptly . Exposed metal will co rrode quickly and may develop into major repair
,expense.
Minor chips and scratches .can be repaired with tQuch-up materials available
from your Chevrolet dealer
or other service outlets . Larger areas of finish
damage can
be corrected in your dealer's body and paint shop.
4-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Underbody Maintenance
Corrosive materials. used for ice and snow removal and dust control can collect on the underbody. If these materials are not removed, accelerated corrosion
(rust)
can occur on underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame , floor pan, and
exhaust system even though they have been provided with corrosion
protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the underbody with plain
water .
Take care to clean well any areas where mud and other debris can
collect. Sedimentpacked in closed areas. of the frame should be loo~ened before being flushed. H desired, your authorized dealer can perform this service
for
you.
I
I
, NOTICE
TO
NEW CHEVROLET OWNERS
REGARDING
CHEMICAL PAINT SPOTTING
Chevrolet believes: that certamweatb'er and atmospheric condi­tions may create a chemical fallout whereby certain airborne pollutants -fall upon and attack _vehicle paint s. Occurrences have taken place primarily in the·-northeastem--se~boardarea."The" paint damagetaJees two forms: Blotchy, ringlet shaped discolora­
tions , and small irregular dark spots etched into the paint 'surfac e.
Paint spotting as a result of the fall~ut is not related to a de fect in paint materialsoE workmanshlp~For this reason, claims arising
from this condition are not considered to be warranty related.
Nevertheless . be_cause -Chew ,oiet shares the pride which our­_o wners lake_ in preserving and _ m.ain(aining the appearance of their vehicles, Chevrolet has authorized _ its dealers to repair, at no charge to .the owner , the surfac es of new vehicles damaged
by this fallout condition within 12 months or 20,000 kilometers (12,000 miles) of pUIchase , whichever ·comes fi~sf.
4·6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine PART NUMBER
1051516
1050017
1052277
1050172
1050173
1050174
1050214
f' 1050237 .... 1050244
1052280
1050427 1050429
1052349
1050729
1051055
1051398
1051515 1051172 1051855 1051858
1052103
1052271 1052272
APPEARANCE CARE AND MAINTENANCE MATERIALS
SIZE DESCRIPTION
32 02. 10.946 U Washer -Solvent and Gas Line De-Icer 3 '2 oz, (0.946 LI Power Steering Fluid 16 oz. (0.473 LI Spray-A-Sq ueak
16 oz. (0.473 L) Tar and Road Oil Remove'r 16 oz . (0.473 L) Chrome Cleaner and Polish 1602.10,473 LI WhiteSidewall Tire Cleaner , 32 oz. 10.946 L) Vinyl/Leather Cleaner 16 oz. 10.473 L) Finish Guard Cleaner 16 oz. (0.473 L) Fabric Cleaner 1'2 oz. 10.354 L) Heat Valve Lubricant 23 oz. (0.680 L) Glass Cleaner 6 lb. 12.72 kg) Multi·Purpose Powdered Cleaner
16 oz. (0.453 kg) Lubriplate (White Grease) 8 oz. 10.237 Ll Vinyl Top Cleaner 16 oz. (0.473 LI Preservatone 8 oz. 10.237 L) Spot Lifter 32 oz, 10.946 LI GM Optikleen 20 oz . (0.567 kg) presofl®ed-Cleaner/wax 32 oz. 10.946 U Dexron II 16 oz. (0.473 1I GM Engine Oil Supplement (E.O.sJ 1 gal. 13.785 L) Anti·Free ze Coolant lethylene glycol base) 23 oz. 10.680 L ) GM Gear Lubricant 15 gal. (60 L) GM Gear Lubricant
USAGE
Washer Solvent and gas line Oe-icer Power Steering Weather Strips -stops squeaks on metal-to-metal and metal-to~ rubber contact Removes old waxes, polishes, tar, and road oil Removes rust and corrosion on chrome and stainless steel
Cleans white imd black tires Spot and stain removal on leather or vil'lyl One step cleaner and wax and aluminum· wheels Spot and stain removal on cloth and fabric Free up sticky heat ri;ers -general purpose penetrant Glasscleaning and spot cleaning on vinyls
Cleans vinyl and cloth on door trim, seats, and carpet-also, tires and mats Grease for hood, trunk and door hinges and latches
Cleaning of vinyl tops Viny l Top Dressing SPOt and stain removal on cloth and fabric
W indshield washer solvent and anti-freeze One step c leaner/wax Automatic transmission Consult your Dealer for specific usage
Year round coolant and anti-freeze Rear axle lubricant Same as 1052271

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SECTION 5
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
CAUTION: As with any mletdne, take car. when making any check, doing any maintenance, or making any repair, to avoid being Injured. Note that some of the materials in this vehicle may be hazardous if used, serviced , or handled improperly. Improper or incomplete servl'c. could alao lead to the vehicle ItMn not working properly which may resuH in personal Injury, or damage to the vehicle or its equipment. n you holy. any question about carrying out some service, hoIv. the service done by a skilled technician.
REPLACEMENT FASTENERS
During vehicle maintenance , any fasteners used to replace older ones must
h ,ave the same measurements and strength as those removed, whether metric or customary. (The numbers on the heads of metric bolts and on the surface s
of metric nuts show their strength . Customary
bolts use radial lines to show
thi s,
while most customa ry nuts do not have strength markings.) Fasteners
taken from the vehicle should be saved for re-use in the same spot when
possible . Where a fastener cannot be used again, take care to choo se a
repla cement that matches the old one. For information and help , see your dealer. .
CAUTION: This vehicle has some parts dimensioned in the metric system as well .. in the customary system. Some fasteners are metric and are very close in dimensnion to well· known customary fasteners in the inch system. Mismatched or incorrect fasteners
can result tnda~tp ~ vehic" or possibly personal Injury.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND WARRANTY
FOLDERS
For owner convenience, a separate folder has been provided with your vehicle which contains a complete maintenance schedule. It also briefly describes the
safety I emission control, lubrication and general service your vehicle requires.
The Maintenance Schedule folder is supplemented by this section of the
Owner 's
Manual.
Two Warranty Folders are also furnished with your Vehicle. These provide
detailed information on the :
• t981 Chevrolet New Vehicle Lim ited Warranty
• 1981 Chevrolet Perforation From Corrosion Limited Warranty
• 1981 Emissions Control Systems Warranties, including:
•
Emission Components Defect Warranty
• Emission Pertormance Warranty
• 1981 Chevrolet Powertrain Lirnited Warranty -Power Protection Plus
Read all four publications for a full understanding of your vehicle 's
maintenance needs.
You can get a replacement Maintenance Schedule from your dealer or send
the
VIN (or serial numbe r) of your vehicle to Consumer Relations, Chevrolet
Cent ral Office, Chevrolet Motor Division, Warren, Michigan 48090.
5-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine FUEL CAP
The fuel cap is.behind the. rear license plate.
NOTICE: tt you need: to repWce the fuel cap, use only a cap with these same features as specifie your dealer.
The fuel tank filler cap has a "screw-on ratcheting type" feature .
• _ To remove -rotate cap counterclockwise to clear the inside of the filler
neck. This will allow any residual pressure to escape .
_ To install -reverse this procedure and tighten cap securely until a
"ratcheting ". clicking sound is heard indicating cap is on properly.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER
.Ttle .cal;!ly:tic converter is an emission control device added to the exhaust system,' to reduce exhaust gas pollutants. The converter contains
a ceramic material coated with noble metal catalysts. To prevent contamination
of the catalysts , unleaded gasol;"" must be used . Unleaded gasoline also
reduces spark plug louling. exhaust system corrosion and engine oil
deterioration.
The catalytiC converter requires the use of unleaded gasoline. Using leaded gasoline wilt cause --the converter to lose its effectiveness as an
emission control device. Leaded gasoline will also damage the Computer
Command Control, system oxygen sensor, which could affect emission control,
fuel economy . and drivability.
~,~.,y..'~,","~ ... :..., To help 'prevent damage:
1. Keep your engine properly maintained . Engine malfunctions involving the electrical, carburetion or ignition systems may result in unusually high
catalytic con verter and exhaust . sy~tem temperatures which, under
extreme malfunctioning conditions·, may ignite interior floor:"'covering
materials above the converter. Do not keep driving your vehicle if you
detect engine misfire, noticeable loss of performance ,or other unusual operating conditions. Instead. have it serviced promptly.
A properly maintained
engine will help avoid malfunctions that could damage
the converter.
~ will also help provide good emission control and fuel economy.
See the Maintenance Schedule , folder for information on inspecling and
maintaining the engine. exhaust system. and other components. .
2. Do not drive through or Idle or park your vehicle over combustible
materials, such as grass or leaves_ They could touch the hot exhaust
system and ignite.
3. Do not push or tow this vehiCle to start it. This may result in unusually
high catalytic converter and exhaust system temperatures which under
extreme conditions may ignite interior floor -covering material above the
converter.
Pushing or towing to start can also damage · the catalytic
converter itself.
Disregarding these
instructions could damage the cataly:tic converter. the
vehicle, or nearby property.
5-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine COMPUTER COMMAND CONTROL SYSTEM
Your new vehicle has a special emission contrOl system, called the Computer
Command Control system. Some vehicleS sold in Canada also have the
Computer Command Control system. II your Canadian vehicle has a "CHECK
ENGINE" light,
it dOes have the Computer Command Control system.)
The Computer Command Control system monitors . the .exhaust stream with
an
oxygen sensor. Based on sensor signals, the electronic control module adjusts
the carburetor air-fuel ratio as needed. It is very important to use only
unleaded gasoline in vehicles equipped with the Computer COmmand Control
system . .Leaded gasoline will damage the oxygen sensor and may affect
. emission controL .
On
all vehicles with the COmpute r Command Control system, a "CHECK
ENGINE" ligtit
on the instrument panel is designed to come on during engine
starting, to
let you knowthe bulb .is working. (The light will stay on a'shdl1iime
after the. engine starts.) If. the light comes on while driving, service to the
Computer Command Control system may be. required. Although your vehicle
may
still be drivable,see yoyr dealer as SOon as possible for an inspection of
the system.
Continued
driving · Without having the Computer Command Control system
serviced could cause damage to the emiSsion control system. It could also aftect fuel economy and drivability. .. ..
ENGINE OIL AND FILTER RECOMMENDATIONS
Checking 011 Level ,>,-.. ,
The engine oil must be kept at the right level to. help assure proper lubrication
of your vehicle' .s engine.
It is the owner's responsibility to' cheCk the oil level at
regular': infervals '{such . 'as . "e~~Y"JHflLstop), according ·to ' the following instruct ions . It is normal for an engine-O to use Some oil, and most engines may
use
more oil when they are new . " .
• The best time to check' the engine Orffevel is when the oil IS warm, such as
during a
fuel stop. First, wait about 5 minutes for the oil to drain back to the oil pan. Then, pull out the dipstick on the side of the engine block (either
right or left). Wipe
it clean and. push the dipstick back down all the way.
Now,
pull out the dipstick and look at the oil level .on the dipstick.
Some dipsticks have "Add" and "Full" lines. Others are marked "Add lOt"
and "OperatlngRange ." In all cases, keep the oil level above the "Add" line_ Push the dipstick .oock down alilheway after taking the reading . Add oil , if needed . . .
• If you check the oil level when the oil is cold, do not iun the engine first.
The
cold oil will not drain back to the pan fast enough to give a tr ue oil
level. . .
Ch '
oosing the Right Quality on
Engine oils are labeled on'the containers with variOus API (Amercian Petroleum Institute) deSignations of·quality. Artewhigher-quality category of engine 011,
designation "SF", was introduced early in 1980. Be sure the oil you use has
the
API designation "SF," either alone or shown with other designations . Do not use oils labeled only SA, SB,SC, SO,' SE, CA, CB,CC, or CD; or oils
with a combination of any of these categories-like SE/CD.
5-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Choosing Oil Viscosity
Engine oil viscosity (thickness) has an effect on fuel economy. Lower viscosity engine oils can provide· better fuel economy; however, higher temperature
weather cOl1ditions. require· higher viscosity .engine. oils· for satisfactory
lubrication.
It is recommended that you select an oil not only of the proper quality and
viscosity, but also. a fuel-saving product.· These oils can be found in Chevrolet dealer serviGe departments, service stati()ns and other retail stores. They are
identified by words such as: "Energy Conserving," "Energy Saving," "Conserves Gasoline," "Gas Saving," "Gasoline Saving," "Friction
Reducing," "Improved Gasoline Mileage," "Improved Fuel Economy" or "Fuel
Saving."
The following chart lists the engine oil viscosities recommended for the
tE3lT1per~ture range you·. expecLbefore your next oil change. For temperatures
above -18'C '(O'F), SAE 10W-30 is the preferred viscosity grade. If cold­weather starting problems are encountered at temperatures below -18'C
(O'F), SAE 5W-30 viscosity oils m?-y be required.
Change Intervals
The oil and oil filter change intervals for your engine are based on the use of SF-quality oils and high-quality filters such as AC oil filters. Using oils other
than
SF-quality, or oil and/or filter change intervals longer than recommended, could reduce engine life.
Damage to engines due to improper maintenance or use of incorrect oil quality
'andl0r"'vi$9()~ity}s .~ot covered by the Chevrolet new car warranties.
Your engine WEIS filled with a high-quality engine oil when it was built. You do
not have to change this oil before the first recommended change
interval.
•
Severe Service-Change the oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles (4 800
kilometers) or three months (whichevefcbmes first) if one or more of the following "severe service" conditions is often encountered:
• Driving in dusty areas.
• Towing a trailer.
• Frequent idling or idling for long periods.
• Oriving 4 miles (6 kilometers) or less in freezing weather.
• Change the oil and oil filter as soon as possible after driving in a dust storm.
~ Norma! Service-If your engine is not a turbo-charged engine and your
normal driving does not include one of the above "severe service" conditions, change the oil every 7,500 miles (12 000 kilometers) or 12
months, whichever comes first. Change the oil
filter at the first oil change,
then every other
oil change, if mileage (7,500 miles or 12 000 kilometers)
determines when you change the oil. If time (12 months) determines when
you change the oil, change the filter with every oil change.
• If you have a turbocharged engine, it is VERY IMPORTANT to change the
oil and oil filter EVERY 3,000 miles (4 800 kilometers).
5-4