1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on
properly. Then just pull
the hood down and close it firmly.
Engine Oil
LOW
OIL
If the LOW OIL light on the
instrument panel comes on,
it means
you need to check
your engine oil level right
away. For more
information, see “Low Oil
Level Light”
in the Index.
You should check your
engine oil level regularly;
this is an added reminder.
It’s a good idea to check your engine
oil after you get
fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must be
hot and the vehicle must be on level ground.
3.1 L L82 (Code M) Engine
The engine
oil dipstick handle is the yellow loop near
the front
of the engine.
6-9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ,/ : t
I
I
3.4L LQ1 (Code X) Engine
Checking 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, and check the level.
When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the upper 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.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil 20 minutes to drain
back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick might
not show the actual level. NOTICE:
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 proper
operating range, your engine could be damaged.
6-10

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine : Kind of Oil to
Oils recommended for your vehicle can be identified by
looking for the “Starburst” symbol. This symbol
indicates that the oil has been certified by the American
Petroleum Institute
(API). Do not use any oil which
does not carry this Starburst symbol.
1 If you change your own oil,
i be sure you use oil that has
the Starburst symbol on the
front of the oil container.
3.1
L L82 (Code M) Engine 3.4L LQ 1 (Code X) 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.
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:
6-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
“F
k 100-
+ 80 -
+ 60 -
+ 40 -
+ 20.
0-
i
7
“C
. + 38
- + 27
- + 16
- +4
--7
--18
LOOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
SAE 1OW-30
SAE gW-30 PREFERRED
COLD
WEATHER
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
As shown in the chart, unless you have the 3.4L engine,
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 20W-50.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT ME LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE
OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE. -~ -~
MOT
WEATHER
j SAE 5w-30
COLD
WEATHER
LOOK
FOR MIS
SYMBOL
8- SAE I 1OW-30
PREFERRED above 0°F (-18T)
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
As shown in the chart, if you have the 3.4L engine,
SAE IOW-30 is best for your vehicle. However, you can
use SAE
5W-30 if it’s going to be colder than 60°F
( 16°C) before your next oil change. When it’s very cold,
you should use
SAE 5W-30. These numbers on an oil
container show its viscosity,
or thickness. Do not use
other viscosity
oils, such as SAE 20W-50.
I NOTICE:
Use only engine oil with the American Petroleum
Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
“Starburst” symbol. Failure to use the
recommended oil can result in engine damage
not covered by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
l-7 ngin -
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your Chevrolet dealer is
ready to advise
if you think something should be added.
6-13

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When to Change Engine Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
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.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine oil to
break down sooner.
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
occurs first.
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.
If none of them is true, change the oil and filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months -- whichever
occurs first. Driving
a vehicle with a fully warmed
engine under highway conditions causes engine
oil to
break down slower.
6-14

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Cleaner
To check or replace the air filter, remove the four screws
and pull
off the cover. Pull
out the filter. Be sure to install the air filter and
install the cover tightly when you are finished.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
6-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine -
,A CAUTION:
Operating the engine 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 Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 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.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services’’ in the Index.
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or
higher.
6-16 .