1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO maintenance

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE: (Continued)
If your tires have too
much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
0 Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell
if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping
out dirt
and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
( 10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires or
wheels.
See “When It’s Time for New Tires” and
“Wheel Replacement’’ later in this section for
more information.
The purpose
of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is
the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in
the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
3
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
6-44

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material
to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can
be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust control
can collect on
the underbody. If these are not removed,
accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur
on the underbody
parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan and exhaust system even though they have corrosion protection. At
least every spring,
flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody car washing system can do
this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conamons can create
a chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon
and attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This
damage can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched
into
the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this,
GM
will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles
(20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs first.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Normal Maintenance
Replacement Parts
Replacement part numbers listed in this section are
based on the latest information available
at the time of
printing, and are subject to change. If a part listed in this
manual is not the same as
the part used in your vehicle
when
it was built, or if you have any questions, please
contact your GM truck dealer.
Engine Oil Filter
................ AC Type PF52
Air Cleaner
................. AC Type A1 163C
Positive Crankcase
Ventilation (PCV) Valve
....... AC Type CV746C
Spark Plugs
................... AC Type 4 1-932
Spark Plug Gap
.......... 0.060 inches ( 1.52 mm)
Fuel Filter
..................... AC Type GF481
Thermostat
............... GM Part No. 12551472
Wiper Blades (Front)
, , . . , Trico 22110158, Pin Type
18 inches (45.7 cm) Length
. Trico 22 154396, Pin Type
14 inches (35.5 cm) Length
Wiper
Blade (Rear)
, ,
Vehicle Dimensions*
Length ............. , . 189.8 inches (482 cm)
Width
................. 77.5 inches (196.8 cm)
Height
................... 76.0 inches (193.0 cm)
Wheelbase
.............. 1 11 .O inches (28 1.9 cm)
Front Tread Width
....... 65.1 inches ( 165.4 cm)
Rear Tread Width
.......... 65.1 inches (165.4 cm)
*Figures reflect base equipment only.
6-69

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
This section covers the maintenance required for your vehicle. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its safety,
dependability and emission control performance.
7-2
7-4
7-5
7-5
7-6
7-7 Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule
Long Trip/Highway Maintenance Schedule
Part
B: Owner Checks and Services
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubric
Part
E: Maintenance Record Its
Introduction
Part
A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
Short Trip/City Definition
Short Trip/City Intervals
Long Trip/Highway Definition
Long Trip/Highway Intervals 7-a
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7-4 1
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7-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Introduction
IMPORTANT-
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE A$
RECOMMENDED
Plan
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements
your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet, or your GM
dealer for details.
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 maintenance 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.
7-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part
A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows
what
to have done and how often. Some of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary equipment,
you should
let your dealer’s service department or another qualified
service cpqter do these
job.
I
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can
be dangerous. In trying to do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance
work only if you have the required know-how
and the proper
tools and equipment for the job.
If you have any doubt, have a qualified
technician do the work.
If you are skilled enough to do some work
on your
vehicle, you will probably want to get
the service
information. See “Service and Owner Publications”
in the Index. “Part
B: Owner Checks and Services”
tells you what
should be checked and when.
It also explains what you
can easily do to help keep your vehicle in good condition.
“Part
C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections” explains
important inspections that your dealer’s service department
or another qualified service center should perform.
“Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants’’ lists
some recommended products
to help keep your vehicle
properly maintained. These products, or their
equivalents, should be used whether you do the work
yourself or have it done.
“Part
E: Maintenance Record” provides a place for
you to record the maintenance performed on your
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance is performed, be
sure to write
it down in this part. This will help you
determine when your next maintenance should be done.
In addition,
it is a good idea to keep your maintenance
receipts. They may be needed
to qualify your vehicle for
warranty repairs.
7-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle
in good working condition. But we don’t know
exactly how you’ll drive
it. You may drive very short
distances
only a few times a week. Or you may drive
long distances all
the time in very hot, dusty weather.
You may use your vehicle in making deliveries. Or
you may drive
it to work, to do errands or in many
other ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may even need
more frequent checks and replacements than you’ll find
in the schedules in this section. So please read this
section and note how you drive. If you have any
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good
condition, see your GM dealer.
This part tells you the maintenance services you should
have done and when you should schedule them. If you
go to your dealer for your service needs, you’ll know
that GM-trained and supported service people
will
perform the work using genuine GM parts. The
proper fluids and lubricants
to use are listed in
Part
D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle
uses these. All parts should be replaced and all
necessary repairs done before
you or anyone else
drives the vehicle.
These schedules are for vehicles
that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits.
You will find these limits on your vehicle’s
Certificationmire label. See “Loading Your Vehicle”
in the Index.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
0 use the recommended fuel. See “Fuel” in the Index.
Selecting the Right Schedule
First you’ll need to decide which of the two schedules is
right for your vehicle. Here’s how to decide which
schedule to follow:
7-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Maintenance Schedule
I Short Trip/City Definition
Follow the Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule if any
one of these conditions
is true for your vehicle:
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
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
If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
One of the reasons you should follow this schedule if
you operate your vehicle under any of these conditions
is that these conditions cause engine oil to
break
down sooneE
0 Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
your vehicle.
or other commercial application.
I 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 first).
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 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.
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic
Transmission Service (normal conditions).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine
Accessory Drive Belt Inspection. Fuel Tank,
Cap and Lines Inspection.
7-5