2000 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO oil temperature

2-25
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
In very cold weather, 0
F (-18
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 Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is attached to the underside of the vehicle's
diagonal brace, which is located above the air
cleaner assembly.3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110
-volt AC outlet.
CAUTION:
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
11 0
-volt AC outlet. If the cord won't reach, use a
heavy
-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and 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 dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.

2-77
HOT COOLANT TEMP
This message is displayed
when the cooling system
temperature gets hot.
A chime will sound
continuously, also.
Check the coolant temperature gage and the coolant
level. See ªEngine Coolantº, ªEngine Coolant
Temperature Gageº and ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index for further information.
LOW COOLANT LEVEL
This message is displayed
when the cooling system is
low on coolant. Four chimes
will also sound.
The engine may overheat. See ªEngine Coolantº in the
Index and have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.LOW OIL PRESSURE
This message is displayed
when the engine oil pressure
is low. A chime will sound
continuously, also. See ªOil
Pressure Indicator/Low Oil
Pressure Lightº earlier in
this section.
LOW ENG OIL LEVEL
This message is displayed
for 60 seconds at the start of
each ignition cycle when the
engine oil level is low. Four
chimes will also sound.
See ªEngine Oilº in the Index on how to check the oil
level and for what type of oil to add.

5-9
With current trends in automotive styles and design, it is
essential that the correct towing equipment is used to
tow a vehicle. Your vehicle can be towed with wheel lift
or car carrier equipment. Don't have your vehicle towed
on the drive wheels, unless you must. If the vehicle must
be towed on the drive wheels, do not tow it more than
500 cumulative miles (800 km) or exceed 50 mph
(80 km/h). If these limitations must be exceeded, then
the drive wheels have to be supported on a dolly.
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your vehicle towed. See ªRoadside
Assistanceº in the Index.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a warning
light about a hot engine on your instrument panel. See
ªEngine Coolant Temperature Gageº and ªHot Coolant
Temperatureº in the Index. You also have a low coolant
light on your instrument panel. See ªLow Coolant
Levelº in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your vehicle
to be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation.
Should an overheated engine condition exist, an
overheat protection mode which alternates firing groups
of cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
you will notice a significant loss in power and engine
performance. The low coolant light may come on and
the temperature gage will indicate an overheat condition
exists. Towing a trailer in the overheat protection mode
should be avoided.
NOTICE:
After driving in the overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine damage, allow
the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely degraded. Repair
the cause of coolant loss and change the oil.
See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.

6-16
3800 V6 EngineAs shown in the chart, if you have the 3800 V6 engine,
SAE 10W
-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
-20F (-29C), consider using either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an SAE 0W
-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely low temperatures.

6-17 Engine Oil Additives
Don't add anything to your oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol are all you will need for good
performance and engine protection.
When to Change Engine Oil
Your vehicle has a computer that lets you know when to
change your engine oil. This is not based on mileage,
but on engine revolutions and engine operating
temperature. When the computer has calculated that the
oil needs changing, the GM Oil Life System
will
indicate that a change is necessary. The mileage between
oil and filter changes will vary depending on how you
drive your vehicle
-- usually between 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) and 7,500 miles (12 500 km) since your
last oil and filter change. Under severe conditions, the
system may come on before 3,000 miles (5 000 km).
Never drive your vehicle more than 7,500 miles
(12 500 km) or 12 months (whichever occurs first)
without an oil change.
The system won't detect dust in the oil. So, if you drive
in a dusty area, be sure to change your oil and filter
every 3,000 miles (5 000 km) or sooner. Remember to
reset the Oil Life Indicator whenever the oil is changed.How to Reset the Oil Life Indicator
After changing the engine oil, the system must be
reset. To reset the indicator, use one of the
following procedures:
Using the RDS Radio
1. Turn the ignition to ACC or ON, with the radio off.
2. Press and hold the DISP button on the radio for at
least five seconds until SETTINGS is displayed.
3. Press the SEEK up or down arrows to scroll through
the main menu.
4. Scroll until OIL LIFE appears on the display.
5. Press the PREV or NEXT buttons to enter the
submenu. RESET will be displayed.
6. Press the DISP button to reset. A chime will be heard
to verify the new setting and DONE will be
displayed for one second.
7. Once the indicator has been reset, scroll until EXIT
appears on the display.
8. Press the DISP button to exit programming. A chime
will be heard to verify the exit.

6-21
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
regularly reaches 90F (32C) 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 not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the fluid and filter at
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
See ªScheduled Maintenance Servicesº in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the dealership
service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading
on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle. Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.

6-24 How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid to use. See ªRecommended
Fluids and Lubricantsº 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
one pint (0.5 L). Don't overfill.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON-III, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON
-III
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under ªHow to Check.º
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX
-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX
-COOL extended life coolant.
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 ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
-COOL coolant will:

Give freezing protection down to
-34F (-37C).

Give boiling protection up to 265F (129C).

Protect against rust and corrosion.

Help keep the proper engine temperature.

Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.

6-70 Engine Specifications
3400 (Code E) V6 Engine
Type LA1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Displacement 191 CID. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compression Ratio 9.5:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Firing Order 1
-2-3-4-5-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thermostat Temperature 195
F (91
C) . . . . . . . . . . .
Horsepower 180 @ 5200. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3800 (Code K) V6 Engine
Type L36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Displacement 231 CID. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compression Ratio 9.4:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Firing Order 1
-6-5-4-3-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thermostat Temperature 195
F (91
C) . . . . . . . . . . .
Horsepower 200 @ 5200. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Normal Maintenance
Replacement Parts
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
All Engines A1096C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
All Engines 10406026. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Engine Oil Filter
All Engines PF47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Battery
3400 (Code E) V6 600 CCA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3800 (Code K) V6 690 CCA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Radiator Cap
All Engines RC27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spark Plugs
3400 (Code E) V6 AC Type 41
-940 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gap: 0.060 inches (1.52 mm)
3800 (Code K) V6 AC Type 41
-921 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gap: 0.060 inches (1.52 mm)
Windshield Wiper Blades
Length 22.0 inches (56.0 cm). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Type Shepherd's Hook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle Dimensions
Wheelbase 110.5 inches (280.7 cm). . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tread Width (Front) 62.1 inches (157.6 cm). . . . . . . .
Tread Width (Rear) 61.0 inches (154.9 cm). . . . . . . .
Length 197.9 inches (502.6 cm). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Width 72.3 inches (183.6 cm). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Height 55.2 inches (140.3 cm). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .