2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA Owners Manual

6-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
CAUTION:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:

Dispense gasoline only into
approved containers.

Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.

Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.

Don't smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under the Hood
CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.

6-9 Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the handle
located inside
the vehicle near
the parking
brake pedal.
2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and release the
secondary hood latch.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on
properly. Then pull the hood down and close it firmly.

6-10 Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 3400 V6 (Code E) engine, you'll see the following:
A. Windshield Washer
Fluid Reservoir
B. Lower Underhood Fuse Block
C. Upper Underhood Fuse Block
D. Radiator Pressure CapE. Engine Coolant RecoveryTank
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap
H. Engine Oil DipstickI. Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
J. Brake Master
Cylinder Reservoir
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter

6-11
When you open the hood on the 3800 V6 (Code K) engine, you'll see the following:
A. Windshield Washer
Fluid Reservoir
B. Lower Underhood Fuse Block
C. Upper Underhood Fuse Block
D. Radiator Pressure CapE. Engine Coolant RecoveryTank
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
(low in engine compartment)
G. Engine Oil Dipstick
H. Engine Oil Fill CapI. Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
J. Brake Master
Cylinder Reservoir
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter

6-12
Engine Oil
United States Canada
If the LOW ENG OIL LEVEL message or the low
engine oil symbol appears on the instrument cluster, it
means you need to check your engine oil level right
away. For more information, see ªLow Oil Level
Messageº in the Index.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It's a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
3400 (Code E)
V6 Engine3800 (Code K)
V6 Engine
The engine oil dipstick handle is the yellow loop located
near the front of the engine. See ªEngine Compartment
Overviewº in the Index for more information on location.

6-13
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
3400 (Code E)
V6 Engine3800 (Code K)
V6 Engine
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the lower mark, then you'll need
to add at least one quart of oil. But you must use the
right kind. This part explains what kind of oil to use.
For engine oil crankcase capacity, see ªCapacities and
Specificationsº in the Index.
NOTICE:
Don't add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross
-hatched area that shows the proper
operating range, your engine could be damaged.

6-14
3400 (Code E)
V6 Engine3800 (Code K)
V6 Engine
The engine oil fill cap is located toward the front of
the engine near the yellow
-looped engine oil dipstick
handle. See ªEngine Compartment Overviewº in the
Index for more information on location.
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 Engine 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:

6-15
3400 (Code E) V6 EngineAs in the chart shown previously, if you have the
3400 V6 engine, SAE 5W
-30 is best for your vehicle.
However, you can use SAE 10W
-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.