
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service  and  Appearance  Care 
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4 
To Check  Engine  Oil 
(3.4L L32 (Code S) Engine) 
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,  and  check  the level. 
IC 
To Check  Engine  Oil 
(5.7L LTl (Code P) Engine) 
Pull  out the  dipstick  slightly.  Pinch  the 
end 
of the  dipstick  tube  as you  remove 
the  dipstick  to  wipe  the  oil  from it.  Then 
push  it  all  the  way  back  in.  Now  remove 
it  without  pinching  the tube, keeping  the 
tip  lower. 
3.4L L32 (Code S) 
When to Add  Oil: 
f the  oil is at or  below  the “ADD” line, 
hen you’ll  need  to add some oil. But  you 
nust  use  the  right  kind. This section 
:xplains  what kind 
of oil to  use.  For 
:rankcase  capacity,  see “Capacities  and 
ipecifications”  in  the  Index. 
. . .I88   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service  and  Appearance  Care 
Automatic  Transmission FIuid 
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  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. 
NOTICE: 
Too  much  or too little fluid can dam- 
age your transmission. 
Too much  can 
mean  that  some of the fluid could 
come  out  and  fall on hot engine parts 
or  exhaust system, starting  a  fire. Be 
sure  to get an accurate reading  if  you 
check your transmission fluid. 
. . ,194 
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). 
0 At high  speed  for quite  a while. 
0 In  heavy  traffic - especially  in  hot 
weather. 
While pulling  a trailer. 
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). 
To check  transmission  fluid hot: Get 
the  vehicle  warmed  up 
by driving 
about 
15 miles (24 km) when  outside 
temperatures are above  50°F  (10°C). If 
it’s  colder  than 
50°F (lO”C),  drive the 
vehicle 
in “D” (Third Gear)  until  the 
engine temperature gage moves  and  then 
remains steady for ten minutes. Then 
follow  the  hot  check procedures. 
To check  transmission  fluid cold: A cold 
check is  made after the vehicle has  been 
sitting  for eight hours  or more  with  the 
engine  off  and  is  used  only as  a reference. 
Let  the  engine run  at  idle  for five minutes 
if  outside temperatures are  50°F 
( 10°C) 
or more. If it’s colder  than 50°F (lO”C), 
you  may have to idle the engine longer.  Should the fluid level 
be 
low during a 
cold check,  you  must perform a hot check 
before  adding  fluid  This will give  you a 
more accurate reading 
of the fluid level. 
To check  the  fluid  hot or cold: 
Park your vehicle on a  level place. 
With  the parking brake applied, place 
With your foot on  the brake pedal, 
the shift lever 
in 
“P’ (Park). 
move  the shift lever through each gear 
range, pausing for about three seconds  in  each range. Then, position  the shift 
lever  in 
“F’” (Park). 
minutes  or more. 
Let  the engine run at idle  for three   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3.4L L32 (Code S) 
Then,  without shutting off the engine, 
follow  these 
steps: 
1. Pull  out  the dipstick  and  wipe  it  with  a 
clean  rag or paper towel. 
5.7L LT1 (Code P) 
2. Push it back in all  the  way,  wait  three 
seconds  and  then  pull 
it back  out 
again. 
3. Check  both sides of the dipstick,  and 
read  the lower level.  The fluid level 
must  be 
in the  “COLD’  area  for  a  cold 
check  or 
in the “HOT” area or 
cross-hatched  area  for  a hot check. 
4. If the fluid  level is in the acceptable 
range,  push the dipstick  back 
in all the 
way. 
How to Add  Fluid: 
Refer  to the Maintenance Schedule to 
determine  what  kind  of transmission fluid 
to  use.  See “Recommended Fluids  and 
Lubricants”  in the Index. 
195 ...   

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If  the fluid level  is  low,  add  only  enough 
of  the  proper  fluid  to bring  the  level  up  to 
the  “COLD’  area for a cold  check or the 
“HOT” area for a  hot check.  It doesn’t 
take  much  fluid, generally  less  than  a pint. 
Don’t  overfill.  We recommend  you 
use 
only fluid  labeled  DEXRON@-III  or 
DEXRON@-IIE, because 
fluids with  that 
label  are  made especially  for your 
automatic  transmission.  Dama e caused 
by  fluid  other  than DEXRON 
-111 or 
DEXRON@-IIE is not covered  by your 
new  vehicle  warranty. 
After  adding  fluid, recheck  the  fluid 
level as described  under 
“How to 
Check.” 
obtained,  push  the dipstick back  in  all 
the  way. 
D 
When the correct  fluid  level is 
Manual  Transmission Fluid 
How to Check: 
Because this operation  can  be 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. 
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  parts 
or  exhaust system, starting a fire.  Be 
sure  to  get  an  accurate  reading  if  you 
check  your  transmission  fluid. 
Check  the  fluid  level  only  when  your 
engine  is off, the  vehicle  is  parked  on  a 
level  place  and  the  transmission  is cool 
enough  for you  to rest  your  fingers on 
the 
transmission  case. 
Then, follow these  steps: 
1. Remove the filler  plug. 
2. Check  that  the  lubricant  level  is  up  to 
the  bottom  of 
the filler plug  hole. 
3. If the fluid  level is good, install the 
plug  and  be  sure  it 
is fully seated.  If 
the  fluid  level  is low,  add  more fluid 
as  described  in  the  next  steps. 
How to Add Fluid: 
Here’s  how  to  add  fluid. Refer to the 
Maintenance Schedule  to determine  what 
kind 
of fluid to use.  See “Recommended 
Fluids  and  Lubricants”  in  the  Index. 
1. Remove  the filler  plug. 
2. Add fluid  at  the  filler plug hole.  Add 
only  enough  fluid  to  bring  the  fluid 
level  up  to the  bottom  of 
the filler 
plug  hole. 
3. Install  the  filler plug.  Be  sure  the plug 
is  fully  seated. 
,. 196   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hydraulic Clutch 
The hydraulic clutch in your  vehicle is 
self-adjusting.  The  clutch master cylinder 
reservoir  is filled  with hydraulic  clutch 
fluid. 
It isn’t  a good  idea  to  “top off’ your 
clutch fluid. Adding  fluid  won’t correct a 
leak. 
A fluid loss in this  system  could  indicate 
a  problem. Have  the  system  inspected  and 
repaired. 
When  to Check  and  What  to Use: 
Refer  to the  Maintenance Schedule  to 
determine  how  often  you  should  check 
the  fluid  level 
in your  clutch  master 
cylinder reservoir  and for the  proper  fluid. 
See “Owner Checks  and Services”  and 
“Recommended Fluids  and Lubricants” 
in the  Index. 
How  to  Check: 
The  proper  fluid  should  be  added if the 
level  is  below  the 
“STEP” mark  on  the 
reservoir.  See the instructions  on  the 
reservoir cap. 
Rear  Axle 
When to Check  and  Change  Lubricant: 
Refer  to  the  Maintenance Schedule to 
determine  how  often  to  check  the 
lubricant  and  when 
to change  it. See 
“Periodic Maintenance  Inspections’’ 
in 
the Index. 
How  to Check  Lubricant: 
If the  level  is  below  the  bottom  of  the 
filler  plug  hole,  you’ll  need  to add  some 
lubricant.  Add  enough  lubricant to raise 
the  level  to the  bottom  of the  filler  plug 
hole. 
What  to Use 
Standard  Differential 
Use  Axle  Lubricant  (GM Part No. 
105227 1 ) or SAE 80W-90  GL-5 gear 
lubricant. 
Limited-Slip  Differential 
To  add  lubricant  when  the  level  is  low, 
use  Axle  Lubricant  (GM Part 
No. 
105227 1 ) or SAE 80W-90 GL-5  gear 
lubricant.  To completely  refill  after 
draining,  add 
4 ounces (1 18 ml) of 
Limited-Slip  Differential  Additive 
(GM Part No. 1052358). Then fill to the 
bottom  of  the  filler plug hole with Axle 
Lubricant  (GM Part 
No. 12345977)  or 
SAE  80W-90  GL-5 gear lubricant. 
197 ...   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Adding Coolant 
To  Check  Coolant: 
When  your engine  is 
cold,  check the  dipstick on the  cap  of the 
coolant  recovery tank.  The  coolant level 
should  be at 
“COLD,” or a little  higher. 
When  your engine 
is warm,  the  level  on 
the dipstick should  be  up to 
“HOT,” or  a 
little  higher. 
If you have the 5.7L LTI (Code P) engine 
and  this light  comes  on, 
it means you’re 
low on engine  coolant. 
To Add Coolant  to  the Recovery Tank: 
If you  need  more  coolant, add the proper 
mix at the  coolant  recovery  tank, but only 
when  your engine 
is cool. If the tank is 
very low or empty,  also add coolant  to the 
radiator, see  “Engine  Overheating”  in the 
Index  for information. 
199 ...   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service  and  Appearance  Care 
e CAUTION: 
Turning  the  radiator  pressure  cap when  the  engine  and  radiator 
are hot 
can  allow steam  and scalding  liquids 
to 
blow out and burn you badly. 
Never 
turn the  pressure cap - even  a 
little 
- when  the  engine  and  radiator 
are hot. 
Add  coolant  mix at the recovery tank,  bul 
be  careful  not  to spill 
it. 
A CAUTION: 
You can be burned if you spill 
coolant on hot engine  parts.  Coolant 
contains  ethylene  glycol, 
and it will 
bum if the  engine parts are hot 
enough. Don't  spill coolant 
on a 
hot  engine. 
Radiator  Pressure Cap (All Engines) 
NOTICE: 
Your  radiator  cap is a 18 psi 
(1 24  kPa) pressure-type  cap and 
must  be  tightly installed to  prevent 
coolant 
loss and  possible  engine 
damage  from overheating.  Be sure 
the arrows 
on the  cap  line  up with 
the overflow  tube  on the radiator 
filler  neck. 
When  you  replace your radiator pressure 
cap,  an 
AC@ cap is recommended. 
Thermostat 
Engine  coolant temperature  is controlled 
by a thermostat in the  engine  coolant 
system.  The thermostat stops the  flow of 
coolant  through  the  radiator until  the 
coolant  reaches  a preset  temperature. 
When 
you replace your thermostat,  an 
AC@ thermostat is recommended. 
f 
I I 
3.4L L32 (Code S) 
Power  Steering  Fluid 
How to  Check  Power  Steering  Fluid: 
Unscrew the cap and wipe  the dipstick 
with a clean  rag. Replace  the cap and 
completely  tighten it. Then remove  the 
cap again  and  look 
at the fluid level on 
the dipstick. 
. . .200   

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NOTICE: 
0 
0 
0 
0 
When  using concentrated washer 
fluid, follow the manufacturer’s 
instructions  for  adding water. 
Don’t  mix  water with 
ready-to-use  washer fluid.  Water 
can cause  the solution 
to freeze 
and  damage  your washer fluid 
tank  and other  parts of the washer 
system. Also, water doesn’t clean 
as  well  as washer fluid. 
Fill your washer fluid tank only 
314 full  when  it’s  very  cold.  This 
allows for expansion, which  could 
damage  the tank 
if it is completely 
full. 
Don’t use radiator antifreeze  in 
your windshield washer. 
It can 
damage your washer system and 
paint. 
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3rake  Masfer  Cylinder 
‘our  brake master cylinder  is here.  It is 
dled  with  DOT-3  brake fluid. 
‘here  are only two reasons  why the brake 
luid  level 
in your master cylinder  might 
o down. The first is that the brake fluid 
oes  down  to an  acceptable level during 
ormal brake lining  wear.  When  new 
nings 
are put  in, the fluid level  goes 
ack 
up. The  other reason  is that fluid  is 
:aking 
out of  the brake system.  If it is, 
ou should have your brake system fixed, 
mce  a leak  means  that sooner or later 
our brakes won’t work well,  or won’t 
lork  at  all. 
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your 
brake fluid. Adding brake fluid  won’t 
correct  a leak.  If  you  add  fluid when  your 
linings  are worn, then you’ll have  too 
much  fluid when  you  get new  brake 
linings. 
You should  add (or remove) 
brake fluid,  as necessary, only  when work 
is  done  on the  brake hydraulic system. 
Refer  to the  Maintenance Schedule  to 
determine  when to check your brake 
fluid.  See “Periodic Maintenance 
Inspections”  in the Index. 
. . .1u1