1995 CHEVROLET TRACKER Owners Manual

What Kind of Oil to Use
Oils of the proper quality for your vehicle can be
identified by looking
for the “Starburst” symbol. The
“Starburst” symbol indicates that the oil has been
certified by the American Petroleum Institute
(API), and
is preferred for use
in your gasoline engine.
If you change your own oil, be sure to use oil that has
the “Starburst” symbol on the front of the oil container.
If you have your oil changed for you, be sure the oil put
into
your engine is American Petroleum Institute
certified
for gasoline engines.
You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your
vehicle,
as shown in the following chart:
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE. __ ~ ~ .~
HOT
WEATHER --
+ 80
+ 60
t 20
-. -. ./ \.. ~ ,.,’ ,
COLD
WEATHER
LOOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
SAE ZW-30 PREFERRED
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER
GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
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As shown in the chart, SAE 5W-30 is best for your
vehicle. However, you can use
SAE 10W-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 20W-50.
NOTICE:
Use only engine oil with the American Petroleum
Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
"Starburst" symbol. Failure to use the proper oil
can result in engine damage not covered by your
warranty.
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/Geo
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 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 krn).
This
is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
driving in stop and
go traffic).
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
You operate your vehicle in dusty areas or off-road
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
frequently.
your vehicle.
If any one
of these is true for your vehicle, then you
need to change your oil and filter every 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever comes first.
If none of them is true, change oil and filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 7.5 months -- whichever
comes first.
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What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? 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. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
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 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.
Air Cleaner
8-Valve Engine
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter and the crankcase ventilation filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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NOTICE:
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 in place when you’re driving. 16-Valve Engine
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Air Filter Replacement (8-Valve Engine) Air Filter Replacement (16-Valve Engine)
To check or replace the filter:
1. Remove the screws on the cover.
2. Lift up the cover.
3. Pull out the filter.
To check or replace the filter:
1. Remove the screws on the cover.
2. Lift the cover up.
3. Pull out the filter.
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Automatic Transmission Fluid
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 your Chevrolet/Geo dealer
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 damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 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).
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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 ( 10°C), drive the vehicle in
DRIVE (D) 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 OF ( 10 " C) or more. If it's colder
than
50°F (10°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. Keep the engine
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in
PARK (P).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
running.
in
PARK (P).
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Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these
steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
paper towel.
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.
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