1982 CHEVROLET CAMARO Repair Guide

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 777

Fig. 2: While holding the dipstick le vel, read the oil mark on the stick

Fig. 3: Remove the oil filler cap from the valve cover. Most filler caps are
marked with the proper type of fluid

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Fig. 4: Add clean oil to the engine to ac hieve the correct level, indicated on
dipstick. Do not overfill
Your engine oil should be checked at regular intervals (such as every fuel stop).
Check the engine oil as follows:
1. Make sure the car is parked on level ground.
2. When checking the oil le vel it is best for the engine to be at normal
operating temperature, although checking the oil immediately after
stopping will lead to a false reading. Wa it a few minutes after turning off
the engine to allow the oil to drain back into the crankcase.
3. Open the hood and locate the dipsti ck which should be on either the
passenger's side for the V8 engine or driver's side for the L4 and V6
engines. Pull the dipstick fr om its tube, wipe it clean and then reinsert it.
4. Pull the dipstick out agai n and, holding it horizontally, read the oil level.
The oil should be between the FULL and ADD marks on the dipstick. If
the oil is below the ADD mark, add oil of the prop er viscosity through the
capped opening in the top of the cylinder head cover.
5. Replace the dipstick and check the o il level again after adding any oil. Be
careful not to overfill the crankcase. Approximately 1 quart (0.9L) of oil
will raise the level from the ADD mark to the FULL mark. Excess oil will
generally be consumed at an accelerated rate.

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ENGINE OIL AND FILTER CHANGE
Under normal operating conditions, the oi
l is to be changed every 7,500 miles
(12,000km) or 12 months, whichever occurs first.
Although the manufacturer recommends changing the f ilter at the first oil
change and then at every other oil c hange, (unless 12 months pass between
changes), The editors of this informat ion recommend changing the filter with
each service. It is a small price to pay for extra protection.
When driving conditions frequently include dusty or polluted areas, trailer
towing, idling for long periods of ti me, or low speed operation, or when
operating at temperatures below freezing or driving short distances (under 4
miles or 6.4km), change t he oil and filter more frequently. Under these
circumstances, oil has a greater chance of building up sludge and contaminants
which could damage your engine. If your v ehicle use fits into one or more of
these categories, (as it does for most vehicles), it is suggested that the oil and
filter be changed every 3, 000 miles (1361km) or 3 months, whichever comes
first.
The oil should be disposed of properly after it is drained from the vehicle. Store
the oil in a suitable container and take the container to an official oil recycling
station. Most gas stations or oil and lube facilities will take the used oil at little or
no expense to you.
Oil should always be changed after the engine has been running long enough to
bring it up to normal operating temperature. Hot oil will flow more easily and will
carry more contaminants than will cold oi l. The oil drain plug is located on the
bottom of the oil pan (bottom of the engi ne, underneath the car). The oil filter is
located on the left side of most engines covered by this information. To change
the oil and filter:
1. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.
2. Raise the front of the vehicle and s upport it safely using a suitable pair of
jackstands.
3. Slide a drain pan of a least 6 quar ts capacity under the oil pan. Wipe the
drain plug and surrounding area clean using an old rag.
CAUTION - The EPA warns that prolonged contact with used engine oil may
cause a number of skin disorders, incl uding cancer! You should make every
effort to minimize your exposure to used engine oil. Pr otective gloves should be
worn when changing the oil. Wash y our hands and any other exposed skin
areas as soon as possible after exposure to used engine oil. Soap and water, or
waterless hand cleaner should be used.
4. Loosen the drain plug using a ratc het, short extension and socket or a
box-wrench. Turn the plug out by hand, using a rag to shield your fingers
from the hot oil. By keeping an in ward pressure on the plug as you
unscrew it, oil won't escape past the threads and you can remove it
without being burned by hot oil.

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If the drain plug is equipped with a re
movable washer or gasket, check its
condition and replace, if necessary , to provide a leakproof seal.
5. Quickly withdraw the plug and move your hands out of the way. Allow the
oil to drain completely into the pan, then install and carefully tighten the
drain plug. Be careful not to overtighten the drain plug, otherwise you'\
ll
be buying a new pan or a replacem ent plug for stripped threads.

Fig. 5: Use a wrench or a socket to l oosen the oil pan drain plug, but use care,
the engine oil may be very hot
Although some manufacturers recommend c hanging the oil filter every other oil
change, we recommend the filter be chan ged each time you change your oil.
The old filter will contain up to a quart of dirty oil, which will contaminate the
clean oil. Also, the benefit of clean oil is quickly lost if the old filter is clogged.
The added protection for your engine far outweighs the few dollars saved by
using an old filter.
6. Move the drain pan under the oil filter. Use a strap-type or cap-type filter
wrench to loosen and remove the oil f ilter from the engine block. Keep in
mind that it's holding about one quart of hot, dirty oil.
7. Empty the old f ilter into the drain pan and proper ly dispose of the filter.
8. Using a clean rag, wipe off the filt er adapter on the engine block. Be sure
that the rag doesn't leave any lint which could clog an oil passage.
9. Coat the rubber gasket on the filter with fresh oil, then spin it onto the
engine by hand; when the gasket touches the adapter surface, give it
another
1/3-1/2 turn, (but no more, or you'll squash the gasket and it will
leak).

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Fig. 6: Use an oil filter wrench to loosen, but not to install a filter

Fig. 7: Before installing a new oil filt er, lightly coat the rubber gasket with clean
oil

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10. Refill the engine with the correct amount
of fresh oil. Please refer to the
Capacities chart at the end of this section.
11. Check the oil level on the dipstick. It is normal for the level to be a bit
above the full mark. Start the engine and allow it to idle for a few
minutes.
CAUTION - Do not run the engi ne above idle speed until it has built up oil
pressure, as indicated w hen the oil light goes out
12. Shut off the engine and allow the oil to flow back to the crankcase for a
minute, then recheck the oil level. C heck around the filter and drain plug
for any leaks, and correct as necessary.
MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS
FLUID RECOMMENDATIONS
• 1982-85 4-speed manual transmissi ons - SAE 80W/90 GL-5 gear
lubricant
• 1986-87 4-speed manual transmission - Dexron®®II automatic
transmission fluid
• 1982-84 5-speed manual transmissions - use SAE 80W/90 GL-5 gear
lubricant (SAE 80W GL-5 in Canada)
• 1985-92 5-speed manual transmissi ons - Dexron®II automatic
transmission fluid
LEVEL CHECK
The oil in the manual tr ansmission should be check ed every 12 months or
15,000 miles.
1. Raise the car and support on jackstands as close to level as possible. \
2. Remove the filler plug from the side of the transmission housing.
3. If lubricant begins to trickle out of the hole, there is enough and you need
not go any further. Otherwise, carefully insert your finger (watch out for
sharp threads) and check to see if the oil is up to the edge of the hol\
e.
4. If not, add oil through the hole until the level is at the edge of the hole.
Most lubricants come in a plasti c squeeze bottle with a nozzle; making
additions simple.
5. Install and tighten the filler plug.
DRAIN AND REFILL
The fluid in the manual transmission do es not require changing. If you do
choose to change the transmission fluid, the fluid can be drained out through
the lower drain plug hole on the side of the transmission. Fill the transmission
with the recommended lubricant to the bottom of the filler plug hole and install
the filler plug.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 783
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID RECOMMENDATIONS
Use only Dexron®II Automati
c Transmission Fluid.
LEVEL CHECK

Fig. 1: Read automatic transmission flui d level on dipstick and add, as required
Check the automatic transmission fluid le vel at each oil change. Driving with too
much or too little transmission fluid ca n damage the transmission. The dipstick
can be found in the rear of the engine compartment. The fluid level should be
checked only when the transmission is at normal operating temperature. If your
Camaro has been driven at highway speeds fo r a long time, in city traffic in hot
weather, or pulling a trailer, wait for about 30 minutes for the fluid to cool down
so a correct reading can be read.
1. Park the car on a level surface, with the parking brake on. Start the
engine and let it idle for about 15 minutes. Move the transmission
through all the gears and then back to P.
2. Remove the dipstick and carefully touch the wet end of the dipstick to see if the fluid is cool, warm, or ho t. Wipe it clean and then reinsert it
firmly. Be sure that it has been pushed all the way in. Remove the
dipstick again and check the fluid leve l while holding it horizontally.
a. If fluid is cool (room temper ature), the level should be about
1/8-3/8
in. (3-10mm) below the ADD mark.

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b. If fluid is warm, the le
vel should be close to the ADD mark, either
above or below.
c. If fluid is too hot to touc h, the level should be at the FULL mark.
3. If the fluid level is low, add Dexr on®II automatic transmission fluid (ATF)
through the dipstick tube. This is eas ily done with the aid of a funnel.
Check the level often as you are f illing the transmission. Be extremely
careful not to overfill it. Overfilling will cause slippage, seal damage and
overheating. Approximately 1 pint (0.473L) of ATF will raise the fluid level
from one notch/line to the other.
If the fluid on the dipstick appears discolored (brown or black), or smells burnt,
serious transmission troubles, probably due to overheating, should be
suspected. The transmission should be inspected by a qualified technician to
locate the cause of the burnt fluid.
DRAIN AND REFILL
Please refer to the "PAN AND FILTER SERVICE" procedure listed in this
section.
PAN AND FILTER SERVICE

Fig. 2: Typical automatic transmiss ion oil pan and oil filter assembly.

Fig. 3: Automatic transmission oil pan bolt and conical washer assembly