2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 3800 engine

Engine Oil
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.
The engine oil dipstick handle is the yellow loop located
near the front of the engine. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for more information on location.
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 Engine
3800 (Code K) Engine
3400 (Code E) V6 Engine
3800 (Code K) V6 Engine
5-16

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the cross-hatched area at the tip
of the dipstick, 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
Capacities and Speci®cations on
page 5-98.
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.
The engine oil ®ll cap is located toward the front of the
engine near the yellow-looped engine oil dipstick
handle. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for more information on location.
Be sure to ®ll it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range in the cross-hatched
area. Push the dipstick all the way back in when
you're through.3400 (Code E) V6
Engine
3800 (Code K) V6
Engine
5-17

As in the chart shown previously, if you have the
3400 V6 engine, SAE 5W-30 is the only viscosity grade
recommended for your vehicle. You should look for
and use only oils which have the API Starburst symbol
and which are also identi®ed as SAE 5W-30. If you
cannot ®nd such SAE 5W-30 oils, you can use an
SAE 10W-30 oil which has the API Starburst symbol, if
it's going to be 0ÉF (-18ÉC) or above. Do not use
other viscosity grade oils, such as SAE 10W-40 or
SAE 20W-50 under any conditions.
As shown in the following chart, if you have the
3800 V6 engine, SAE 10W-30 is the viscosity grade
recommended for your vehicle. However, you can use
SAE 5W-30 if it's going to be colder than 60ÉF
(16ÉC) before your next oil change. When it's very cold,
colder than 0ÉF (-18ÉC), you should use an SAE 5W-30
oil. These numbers on an oil container show its
viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other viscosity grade
oils, such as SAE 10W-40 or SAE 20W-50 under any
conditions.
3800 (Code K) V6 Engine
5-19

Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
·Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.
·With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
·With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK (P).
·Let the engine run at idle for three to ®ve minutes.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:The transaxle ¯uid dipstick handle is the black loop near
the rear of the engine compartment, toward the
center. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for more information on location.
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the
lower level. The ¯uid level must be in the
cross-hatched area.
4. If the ¯uid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way. 3400 (Code E)
V6 Engine
3800 (Code K)
V6 Engine
3400 (Code E)
V6 Engine3800 (Code K)
V6 Engine
5-25

Cooling System
When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
C. Radiator CapA. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
3800 V6 Engine
5-32

2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
{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. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.3. If you have the 3800 V6 engine, remove the
3800 Series II V6 engine cover shield to access
the bleed valve.
A. Clean the area around the engine oil ®ll tube
and cap before removing. Twist the oil ®ll
tube, with cap attached, counterclockwise and
remove it.
B. Lift the engine cover shield at the front, slide
the catch tab out of the engine bracket and
remove the cover shield.
C. Put the oil ®ll tube, with cap attached, in the
valve cover oil ®ll hole until you're ready to
replace the cover shield.
5-38

4. After the engine cools, open the coolant air bleed
valve or valves.
3400 V6 engine: There are two bleed valves. One is
located on the thermostat housing. The other is
located on the thermostat bypass tube.
3800 V6 engine: There is one bleed valve. It is
located on the thermostat housing. 3400 V6 Bleed Valve #1
3400 V6 Bleed Valve #2
3800 V6 Bleed Valve
5-39

5. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOLž
coolant mixture, up to the base of the ®ller
neck. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-26for more
information about the proper coolant mixture.
If you see a stream of coolant coming from an air
bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise, close
the valves after the radiator is ®lled.
6. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the engine
and the compartment.7. If you have the 3800 V6 engine, replace the
3800 Series II V6 engine cover shield.
7.1. Remove the oil ®ll tube, with cap attached,
from the valve cover.
7.2. Insert the catch tab on the cover shield
under the bracket on the engine.
7.3. Place the hole in the cover shield over the
hole in the valve cover. Install oil ®ll tube and
cap by twisting clockwise.
8. Then ®ll the coolant recovery tank to the
COLD mark.
9. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.
5-40