1993 CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER service

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Checking Things Under the Hood
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the handle inside the vehicle.
Then
go to the front of the vehicle and release the secondary hood release.
PO469
K3605
Lift the hood, release the hood prop from its retainer and pu\
t the hood prop
into the
slot in the hood.
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K3608
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to drain back down into
the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick might not show the actual level\
.
To Check Engine Oil: Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again, keeping the tip
lower.
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When to Add Oil: If the oil is at or below the ADD line, then you’ll need to
add some oil. But you must use the right kind. This section \
explains what
kind
of oil to use. For crankcase capacity see ‘Capacities and Speci\
fications’’
in the Index.
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KO704
What Kind of Oil to Use:
Look for three things:
SG
SG must be on the oil container, either by itself or combined with other
quality designations, such as
SG/CC, SG/CD, SF, SG, CC, etc. These
letters show American Petroleum Institute (API) levels of quality.
NOTICE I
you use oils that don’t have the SG dl
3maae not covered bv vour warrantv.
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Energy Conserving II
Oils with these words on the container will help you save fuel.
The doughnut-shaped logo (symbol) is used on most oil contain\
ers to
help you select the correct oil.
You should look for this on the oil container, and use
only those oils
that display the logo.
GM Goodwrench@ oil (in Canada, GM Engine Oil) meets all the \
requirements for your vehicle.
Engine Oil Additives: Don’t add anything to your oil. Your General
Motors dealer is ready to advise
if you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil: See if any one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than
4 miles (6 km).
It’s below freezing outside and most trips are less than 10 miles
(16 km).
The engine is at
low speed most of the time (as in door-to-door delivery,
or in stop-and-go traffic).
You
tow a trailer often.
Most trips are through dusty places.
If any one of these is true for your vehicle, then you need to change
your
oil and filter every 3,000 miles (5000 km) or 3 months-whichever
comes first.
If none of them is true, change the oil every 7,500 miles (12 500 km) or
12 months-whichever comes first. Change the filter at the first oil
change and at every other oil change after that.
Engine Block Heater: An engine block heater can be a big help if you have
to park outside in very cold weather,
0°F (-18°C) or colder. If your vehicle
has this option, see “Engine Block Heater” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What to Do with Used Uii:
I
Used engine oil contains things that have caused skin cancer in
laboratory animals. Don’t let used oil stay on your skin for very long.
Clean your skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand
used engine oil.
I cleaner. Wash or properly throw away clothing or rags containing
m -m
Used oil can be a real threat to the environment. If you change your own oil,
be sure
to drain all free-flowing oil from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever
dispose
of it by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers,
or into streams
or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by taking it to a place
that collects used oil.
If you have a problem properly disposing of your used
oil, ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center\
for help,
Engine Cover
In order to replace your air cleaner filter, you will have to re\
move your engine
cover.
It is inside your vehicle behind the instrument panel extension.
To Remove the Engine Cover:
1. Move both front seats as far back as they will go.
2. Remove the instrument panel extension by removing the two screw\
s and
two nuts. The screws are on each side at the top of the extension. The
nuts are on the
bottom of the extension.
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PO383
3. Grasp the bottom of the extension. Lift up and then pull out.
4. Disconnect the electrical connector for the cigarette lighter. S\
et the
extension aside.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 8. Grasp the bottom of the instrument panel extension and install the top
9. Install the two nuts and two screws on the extension.
into the groove first. Then, push the bottom
of the extension into place.
Air Cleaner
To Remove the Air CIeaner Filter:
If you have the 4.3L engine (VIN Code Z) with the round air cleaner, you
must first remove the engine cover before changing the filter. \
(See “Engine
Cover” earlier in this section.) After removing the engine cover, unscrew the
wing nut to take the cover off the air cleaner. After changing the filter,\
put
the cover back on and be sure the wing nut is properly tight\
ened. Be sure air cleaner lid is correctly positioned to seal out dust and contaminants that
are harmful to your engine.
If you have the
4.3L engine (VIN Code W) with the square air cleaner, you
can change the air cleaner filter without removing the engine cover. Just lift
the hood, unsnap both clips and remove the top. After changing the filter,
snap both clips to secure the air cleaner. Be sure air cleaner lid
is correctly
positioned to seal out dust and contaminants that are harmful to your engine.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to replace the air
cleaner filter. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can cause you or other!
to be burned. The air cleaner not only cleans the air, it stops flame
if the engine backfires. If it isn’t there, and the engine backfires, you
could be burned. Don’t drive with it off, and be careful working on
the engine with the air cleaner off.
If the air cleaner is off, a backfir
dirt can easily get into your engine,
air cleaner in place when you’re drivin $use a damaging engir
hicl
vill damage it. Na)
Automatic Transmission Nuid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid level is when the
engine oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine when
to change your fluid. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may choo\
se to have this
done at a
GM dealership Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions here, or you could
get a false reading on the dipstick.
Too much or too little fluid can damage your transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine part-
starting a fire. Be sure to get an accurate reading
if you check your
transmission fluid.
I
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Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transmission fluid level if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
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