1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO engine oil

Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter and the crankcase ventilation filter.
See “Scheduled
N ntenance Services” in the Index.
Operating th, mgine with the air cleaner off
can cause
you or others 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.
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.
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,
Change both the fluid and filter every
15,000 miles
(25 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one
or more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If
you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change
the fluid and filter every
30,000 miles (50 000 km).
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in
the Index.
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or
higher.
6-20

What to Use 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
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” 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. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant
to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to remain in your
vehicle for
5 years or 100,000 miles (166 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If
you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating’’ in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your vehicle will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (1 29°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
6-25

NOTICE:
When adding coolant it is important that you use
DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored, silicate-free)
coolant meeting
GM Specification 6277M.
If silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first.
What to Use
Use a mixture
of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze that meets GM Specification
6277M, which won’t damage aluminum parts. Use GM
Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer)
(GM Part
No. 3634621) with any complete coolant change. If you
use this mixture, you don’t need to add anything else.
A CAUTION:
I
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 50/50 mix of clean
water and DEX-COOL (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze.
6-26

Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just
a few
drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in
the Index.
I A CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
sooner or later your brakes won’t work well.
That could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result
in costly brake repair.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed.
The sound may come and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except
when you are pushing
on the brake pedal firmly). Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly applied.
This does not mean something
is wrong with your brakes.
Free movement
of brake calipers and properly torqued
wheel nuts are necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect brake calipers
for movement, brake pads for wear, and evenly torque
wheel nuts
in the proper sequence to GM specifications.
6-34

1 IMPORTANT.
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE
AS
RECOMMENDED
This section covers the maintenance required for your
vehicle. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its
safety, dependability and emission control performance.
Protection
Plan
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your lzew vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet, or your
GM
dealer for details.
Introduction
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended mainteqance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even
affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase the level
of emissions from your vehicle.
To help protect our
environment, and to keep your vehicle
in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
7-1

Maintenance Schedule
Short TripKity Definition
Follow the Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule if any
one
of these conditions is true for your vehicle:
0
0
0
0
0
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such
as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
your vehicle.
If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
One of the reasons yo~l should follow this schedule if
you operate your vehicle under any of these conditions
is
that these conditions cause engine oil to break
down soonex
Short Trip/City Intervals
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or
3 months, whichever occurs first). Chassis
Lubrication (or
3 months, whichever occurs first). Drive
Axle Service (or
3 months, whichever occurs fust).
At 6,000 Miles (10 000 km) -- Then Every
12,000 Miles
(20 000 km): Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Inspection,
if driving in dusty conditions. Front
Wheel Bearing Repack (2WD only) (or at each brake
relining, whichever occurs first). Automatic
Transmission Service (severe conditions only).
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Replacement.
Fuel Filter Replacement. Automatic
Transmission Service (Normal Conditions).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection. Fuel
Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
Spark Plug Wire Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Valve Inspection.
These intervals only summarize nzaintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete maintenance schedule on
the following pages.
7-4

Maintenance Schedule
Long Tripmighway Definition Long Trip/Highway Intervals
Follow this maintenance schedule only if none of the
conditions from the Short Trip/City Maintenance
Schedule is true.
Driving a vehicle with nf.lly warmed engine under
highway conditions causes engine oil to break
down sloweE
Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Char,ge (or every 12 months, whichever occurs first).
Chassis Lubrication (or every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). Drive Axle Service.
At 7,500 Miles (12 500 km) -- Then Every
15,000 Miles
(25 000 km): Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Automatic
Transmission Service (severe conditions only).
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Fuel Filter
Replacement. Air Cleaner Filter Replacement. Front
Wheel Bearing Repack (2WD only)
(or at each brake
relining, whichever occurs first). Automatic
Transmission Service (Normal Conditions).
Accessory Drive Belt Inspection.
Fuel Tank,
Cap and Lines Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
Spark Plug Wire Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Valve Inspection.
These intervals only swnnzarize maintenance services.
Be sure to
follow the complete maintenance schedule on
the following pages.
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine
7-5

Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(166
000 km) should be performed after 100,000 miles
(166
000 km) at the same intervals.
Footnotes
3- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure
to perform this maintenance item will not nullify
the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior
to the
completion
of the vehicle’s useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance
be recorded.
# Lubricate the front suspension, ball joints and
kingpin bushings, steering linkage and transfer case
shift linkage, parking brake cable guides and brake
pedal springs. Drive
a
a
a
a
lxle service:
Locking Differential
-- Drain fluid and refill at first
engine oil change. At subsequent oil changes, check
fluid level and add fluid as needed. If driving in
dusty areas or towing a trailer, drain fluid and refill
every
15,000 miles (25 000 km).
Standard Differential
-- Check fluid level and add
fluid as needed
at every oil change. If driving in
dusty areas or towing a trailer, drain fluid and refill
every
15,000 miles (25 000 km).
More frequent lubrication may be required for
heavy-duty use.
7-6