1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO oil temperature

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather,
0°F (- 1 S’C) or colder,
the engine coolant
heater can help. You’ll
get easier starting and
better
fuel economy
during engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt AC outlet.
’ .A CAUTION:
1 - - -+* ,
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach,
use a heavy-duty three-prong extension cord
rated for
at least 15 amps.
4.
After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to store
the cord
as it was before to keep it away from moving
engine parts. If you don’t, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to
list everything here, we ask that you contact
your Chevrolet dealer in
the area where you’ll be
parking your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best
advice for that particular area.
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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.
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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 .

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Fluid Engine Coolant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index.
If the fluid
level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring
it to the proper level. It doesn’t
take much fluid, generally less than
a pint (OSL).
Don ’t overfill. We recommend you use only fluid
labeled DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that
label is made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON@-I11
is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
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. The cooling
system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL
TM (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
or if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your Chevrolet will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Maintenance Schedule
I Short Trip/City Definition
Follow the Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule if any
one of these conditions is true for your vehicle:
0 Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
0 Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
0 Most trips are through dusty areas.
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
0 If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police,
One of the reasons you shouldjollow this schedule ifyou
operate your vehicle under any of these conditions is that
these conditions cause engine oil to break down sooney:
your vehicle.
taxi, or other commercial application.
I Short Trip/City Intervals I
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or
3 months, whichever occurs first).
Short Trip/City Definition
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 km): Chassis Lubrication
(or
6 months, whichever occurs first).
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.
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Replacement.
Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection.
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic Transaxle
Service (severe conditions only).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection.
At 60,000 Miles (100 000 km), Then Every
15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Camshaft Timing Belt
Inspection
(3.4L Code X engine only).
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
Spark Plug Wire Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
These intervnls only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete maintenance schedule
on the following pages.
7-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I I
I Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule I
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90" F
(32°C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
If you do m use your vehicle under nny of tlwse
conditions, the*fluid
mdfilter do not require changing.
51,000 Miles (85 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
AFT Emission Control Service.
I DATE I ACTUALMILEAGE I SERVICED BY: I
7-15