1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO oil change

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If
so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when
you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the light
to turn on.
If
you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn
off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Oil Warning Light
73
OIL
If you have a problem with
your oil, this light may stay
on after
you start your
engine, or come
on when
you are driving.
This indicates that oil is not going through your engine
quickly enough to keep it lubricated. The engine could
be low on oil or could have some other oil problem.
Have it fixed right away.
The
oil light could also come on in two other situations:
When the ignition is on but the engine is not running,
the light will come on as a test to show you
it is
working, but the light will go
out when you turn the
ignition to
START. If it doesn’t come on with the
ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse or
bulb. Have it fixed right away.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Change Oil Soon Light
CHG OIL
SOON
The CHANGE OIL
SOON light should come
on as a bulb check when
you start the engine. If this
light stays on for about
20 seconds after you turn
on the ignition, have the
oil changed.
Security Light
SECURITY
This light will come on
when you
turn the key to
START and stay on until the
vehicle starts. It will also
come on and stay on
if your
key is too dirty or wet for
the PASS-Key
I1 system to
read the resistor pellet.
When to change your oil also depends on driving habits
and conditions because they directly affect engine speed,
coolant temperature and vehicle speed. Because of this,
the CHANGE
OIL SOON light may come on as early as
2,000 miles (3,200 km) or less for harsh conditions.
Remember, after changing your engine oil, the system
must be reset; with the ignition key in the RUN position,
but the engine
off, fully push and release the accelerator
pedal three times within five seconds. If the CHANGE
OIL SOON light flashes two times, the system is reset.
However
if the light comes on and stays on for five
seconds, it did not reset. You’ll need
to reset the
system again. If the resistor pellet is
damaged or missing, the light
will flash.
If you’re driving and the light comes on and remains on,
your PASS-Key I1 system is not working properly. Your
vehicle is not protected by PASS-Key
11, and you should
see your dealer.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a Chevrolet dealer or a professional towing
service tow your vehicle.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftermarket
items like fog
lamps, aero skirting or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front or
rear with sling-type equipment.
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
@ The make, model and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to
see them.
1 A CAUTIOIl:
To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not
fully secured.
Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted
by the tow truck.
0 Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.
Never use J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead. being towed.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
A CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it
is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after
a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper towel
to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later, if you need to,
to get all the rust or
dirt off.
I A CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel. could
fall off, causing a serious accident.
1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3100 (Code M) Engine 3.4L DOHC (Code X)
Engine
The engine oil fill cap is located toward the front of the
engine near the yellow-looped engine oil dipstick.
Be sure
to 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 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.
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.
You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your
vehicle,
as shown in the following chart:

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SA€ VISCOSITY GRADE
011 FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER
+loo- - +38
+00- - +27
+60--+16
+40- -+4
t20---7
O---l8
WOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
COLD
WEATHER
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
As shown in the chart, if you have the 3.4L DOHC
engine, SAE 1OW-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.
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.
If you are in an area where the temperature falls below
-20°F (-29”C), consider using either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an
SAE OW-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely low temperatures.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your Chevrolet dealer is
ready to advise if you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
If any one of these is true for you, use the short tripkity
maintenance schedule:
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
0 The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
your vehicle.
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 fiist. (See “Change Oil Soon” Light in
the Index.)
If none of them is true, use the long triphighway
maintenance schedule. 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.
(See “Change Oil Soon” Light 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.
6-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine r--
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.
I 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:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
0 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.