Page 282 of 488
Engine Oil (Gasoline  Engines) 
It’s a good idea  to  check your  engine oil every time you get fuel. In order to 
get an accurate  reading, the oil must  be  warm  and  the  vehicle must be on 
level ground. 
Turn 
off the engine 
and give  the  oil 
a few 
minutes  to drain back 
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 down. 
I 
6- 16 
ProCarManuals.com 
     
        
        Page 283 of 488

When to Add Oil 
If the  oil  is  at  or below  the ADD mark, then you’ll  need to add  some oil. But 
you must use the right  kind.  This part explains  what kind  of oil  to use.  For 
crankcase  capacity,  see  ”Capacities  and Specifications” 
in the Index. 
NOTICE: 
Don’t  add  too  much  oil. If your engine  has so much oil that  the 
oil  level  gets  above  the  upper 
mark that  shows  the  proper 
operating  range,  your  engine  could  be  damaged. 
The  engine  oil filler  cap  is located  on the  driver’s  side  engine  valve cover. 
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. 
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 prefenced 
for  use  in your  gasoline  engine. 
If 
you change  your  own oil, be sure you  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. 
6- 17 
ProCarManuals.com 
     
        
        Page 287 of 488

Engine  Coolant  Heater 
An engine  coolant heater can be a big help if you  have to  park outside in 
very  cold weather, 0°F (-1 8OC) or colder.  If your vehicle has this  option, 
see  “Engine  Coolant  Heater’’  in the Index. 
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. 
Engine  Oil (Diesel  Engines) 
It’s a good idea to check  your  engine oil level every  time  you get fuel.  In 
order  to get  an accurate  reading, the  oil must  be  warm  and 
the vehicle  must 
be  on level  ground. 
Turn off the  engine 
and  give  the oil 
a few 
minutes 
to drain  back 
into the 
oil pan. If you 
don’t,  the oil dipstick 
might  not show the 
actual level. 
6-21 
ProCarManuals.com 
     
        
        Page 288 of 488
To Check  Engine Oil 
Pull out the dipstick  and  clean it with  a paper towel or a cloth,  then push it 
back  in  all the way. Remove it again, keeping the tip  down. 
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 part explains what  kind of oil to use. For 
crankcase  capacity, see “Capacities  and Specifications” 
in the Index. 
I I 
I NOTICE: I 
Don’t  add  too  much  oil. If your  engine  has so much  oil  that  the 
oil level  gets  above  the  proper  operating  range,  your  engine 
could  be damaged. 
I I 
The  engine oil filler  cap  is  located on a filler  tube  at  the front of the engine. 
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. 
6-22 
ProCarManuals.com 
     
        
        Page 293 of 488

To remove the air  cleaner  filter  on a 6.5 liter turbocharged  diesel  engine, 
first  remove  the rubber  elbow.  Remember  to observe the caution  about 
turbocharger  blades on the rubber elbow. 
Then, unhook the 
cover  retaining  clips 
and  push  the rear 
of 
the cover  toward the 
engine. 
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 
GM 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. 
6-27 
ProCarManuals.com 
     
        
        Page 296 of 488

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. 
Add  fluid only after  checking the transmission fluid 
HOT. (A COLD  check 
is used 
only as  a reference.)  If the fluid level  is  low,  add only enough of the 
proper  fluid to bring the level  up 
to the HOT area for a hot  check.  It doesn’t 
take  much  fluid, generally  less than  a 
int. Don ’t overfill. We recommend 
you use only fluid labeled  DEXRON 
-111, because fluid with that label is 
made  especially  for  your  automatic  transmission.  Damage caused  by fluid 
other  than DEXRON@-I11  is  not  covered by your 
new vehicle  warranty. 
8 
0 After adding  fluid, recheck  the fluid level as described under “How  to 
Check.” 
0 When the correct  fluid level is obtained,  push the dipstick back in all 
the way; then  flip the handle down 
to lock the dipstick in place. 
Manual  Transmission  Fluid 
When to Check 
A good  time  to have it checked is when the engine  oil is changed.  However, 
the  fluid 
in your manual transmission doesn’t require  changing. 
How to Check 
Because this operation  can be  a little difficult, you may  choose to have  this. 
done  at your 
GM dealer  Service  Department. 
If you do it yourself,  be sure  to follow all the instructions  here,  or you  could 
get  a  false  reading. 
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. 
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. 
6-30 
ProCarManuals.com