1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER engine coolant

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Overh - -rting
YOU will find a coolant temperature gage and a low coolant
warning light on your Chevrolet’s instrument panel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even
if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it, Just turn it
off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be
badly burned. Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine
is cool.
I NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered
by your warranty.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see:
2.2L Engine
2.4L Engine
A. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap
B, Electric Engine Fan
A CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing and
tools away from
any underhood electric fan.
5-16
-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
don’t
do anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at the
FULL COLD line.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
A CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
do, you can be burned,
Don’t run the engine if there
is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant, That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to
be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fan is running.
If the engine is
overheating, the fan should be running.
If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
5-1
. .

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at the
FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL TM
coolant at the coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling
system, including the coolant surge tank pressure cap,
is
cool before you do it. (See “Engine Coolant” in the
Index for more information.)
Steam and scalding liquids from
a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the coolant
surge tank pressure cap
-- even a little -- they
can come out
at high speed. Never turn the
cap when the cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and coolant surge tank
pressure cap to cool if you ever have to turn
the pressure cap.
!
i’,

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION:
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@coolant.
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
So
use the recommended coolant.
A CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and
it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1. You can remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap
when the cooling system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly about
one-quarter turn to
the left and then stop.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the
pressure cap slowly, and
remove it.
5-20

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. Then fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mix,
up to the FULL COLD mark.
r 1
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start
the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch
out for the
engine fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower.
If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mix to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches the FULL COLD mark.
5-21
. ,.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Chevrolet. This section begins with service and fuel
information, and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information
about your vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6-3
6-6
6-8
6-12
6-17
6-18
6-2
1
6-22
6-24
6-25
6-28 Fuel
Filling
Your Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(Except 2.4L Code T Engine)
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(2.4L Code T Engine Only)
Manual Transaxle Fluid
Hydraulic Clutch
Engine Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap 6-29
6-30
6-3
1
6-35
6-35
6-40
6-52
6-55
6-56
6-56
6-58
6-58
6-64 Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery
Halogen Bulbs Tires
Care of Safety Belts
Cleaning Tires
Finish Damage Underbody Maintenance Service Parts Identification Label
Electrical System Air Conditioning Refrigerants