1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER oil

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service & Appearance Care
Engine Oil (CONT.)
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
the
Index under Capacities &
SpeciBcations.
1
Don’t add too much oil. If your
engine has so much oil that the oil
level gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the prope
operating range, your engine could
be damaged.
i
Just fill it enough to put the level
somewhere
in the proper operating
range. Push
the dipstick all the way
back
in when you’re through.
2.2L L4: Adding Engine Oil
i-¤
3.1L V6: Adding Engine Oil
What Kind of Oil to Use I
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.
If you use oils that don’t have
“SG” designation, you
can cause
engine damage not covered by your
warranty.
= = 206

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SAE 5W-30
As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE
5W-30 is best for your vehicle.
However, you can use
SAE 1OW-30 if
it's going to be 0" F (-18" C) or above.
These numbers on
an oil container show
its viscosity, or thickness. Do not use
other viscosity oils such as
SAE 1OW-40
or SAE 20W-50.
Energy Conserving II
Oils with these words on the container
will help you save fuel.
This doughnut-shaped logo (symbol) is
used on most
oil containers 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
Chevrolet dealer is ready to advise if
you think something should be added.
207
.

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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).
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
(5 OOO 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.
208
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 the
index under Engine Block Heater.
What to Do with Used Oil
CAUTION
A
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 cleaner. Wash or
properly throw away clothing or
rags containing used engine oil.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 oil by 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.
Air Cleaner
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to replace the air filter.
See the
Index under Scheduled
Maintenance Services.
A Opemting the engine with the
1 air cleaner off can cause you
nr others to be burned. The air
mer 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
candid working on the engine with
the air cleaner off.
I
I ~~~~ NOTIC€ ~~
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire
can cause a damaging engine fire.
And, dirt can easily get into your
engine, which will damage it.
Always have the air cleaner
i~
place when you’re driving.
209 I

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automaric Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic
transaxle fluid level is when the engine
oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See the
Index under
Scheduled Maintenance Services.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Chevrolet 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 transaxle. Too much
can mean that some of the fluid
could come out and fall
on hot
engine parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading
if
you check your transaxle fluid. Wait
at least 30 minutes before checking
the transaxle fluid level if you have been
driving:
When outside temperatures are above
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot
To get the right reading, the fluid should
be at normal operating temperature,
which is 180°F to 200°F (82°C to
93" C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about 15 miles (24
km) when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10OC). If
it's colder than 50" F (10" C), you may
have to drive longer.
90°F (32°C).
weather.
21 I

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Fluid: Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of transaxle fluid to use. See
the
Index under Fluids & Lubricants. If
the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper fluid to bring the level into
the cross-hatched area on the dipstick.
It doesn't take much fluid, generally less
than a pint
(0.5 L). Don't overfill. We
recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-IIE, because fluids with that
label are made especially for your
automatic transaxle. Damage caused
by fluid other than DEXRON@-IIE is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid
level as described under
How to Check.
When the correct fluid level is obtained,
push the dipstick back in all the way.
2.2L L4: Adding Automatic
Transaxle Fluid
3.1L V6: Adding Automatic
Transaxle Fluid
Manual Transaxle Fluid
When to Check:
A good time to have it checked is when
the engine oil is changed. However, the
fluid in your manual transaxle doesn't
require changing.
213

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 888
Service rance Care
Hydraulic Clutch (CONTJ
How to Check:
The proper fluid should be added if the
level is at or below the
ADD mark on
the reservoir.
See the instructions on the
reservoir cap.
216
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling
system and how to add coolant when it
is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating,
see the Index under
Engine Overheating.
The proper coolant for your Chevrolet
will:
Give freezing protection down to
Give boiling protection up to 262°F
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
Let the warning lights work as they
-34" F (-37" C).
(128" C).
temperature.
should.
What to Use: Use a mixture of one-half
clean water (preferably distilled) and
one-half antifreeze that meets "GM
Specification 1825-M," which won't
damage aluminum parts.
You can also
use a recycled coolant conforming to
GM Specification 1825-M with a
complete coolant flush and refill.
If you
use this mixture, you don't need to add
anything else.
If you have a 2.2L LA engine, your
engine coolant system will have a
coolant recovery
tank. If you have a
3.1L V6 engine, your engine coolant
system will have a coolant surge
tank.
There are important differences between
these two cooling systems. Read this section carefully.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine L Adding only plain water to - your cooling system can be
dangerous. Plain water,
or some
other liquid like alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant
mix will.
Your vehicle's coolant warning
system
is set for the proper coolant
mix. With plain water or the
wrong mix, your engine could get
too hot but
you wouldn't get the
overheat warning. Your engine
could catch
fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a
50150 mix
of clean water and a proper
antifreeze.
Adding Coolant-2,21 L4 Engine
To Check Coolant:
When your engine
is cold, the coolant
level should be at
FULL COLD, or a
little higher. When your engine
is warm,
the level should be up to
mJLL HOT,
or a little higher.
To Add Coolant:
If you need more coolant, add the
proper
mix at the coolant recovery
tank.