2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA engine oil

But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle uid (don’t overll),
engine oil, drive belts, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you nd them quickly. If you’re trailering,
it’s a good idea to review this information before you
start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-32.
4-43

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-18
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-21
Supercharger Oil..........................................5-24
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-25
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-26
Engine Coolant.............................................5-29
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-31
Engine Overheating.......................................5-32Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-34
Cooling System............................................5-34
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-43
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-44
Brakes........................................................5-45
Battery........................................................5-48
Jump Starting...............................................5-49
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-54
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-54
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-54
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps..........................................5-55
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps.....................................5-57
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-58
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-58
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-59
Tires..............................................................5-60
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................5-61
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-64
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-66
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-68
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll 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 ll 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 ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the lling is complete.
Do not 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 re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and
other uids, 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.
5-10

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-44.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-48.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-49.
D. Upper Underhood Fuse Block. See “Underhood
Fuse Block (Upper)” underUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-103.
E. Lower Underhood Fuse Block. See “Underhood
Fuse Block (Lower)” underUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-103.
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. See “Checking
Coolant” underCooling System on page 5-34.
G. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-31.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-43.I. Engine Coolant Air Bleed Valves (underneath engine
shield). See “How to Add Coolant to the Radiator”
underCooling System on page 5-34.
J. Electric Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-34.
K. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
L. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
M. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
on page 5-26.
N. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-45.
O. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
5-13

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-44.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-48.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-49.
D. Upper Underhood Fuse Block. See “Underhood
Fuse Block (Upper)” underUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-103.
E. Lower Underhood Fuse Block. See “Underhood
Fuse Block (Lower)” underUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-103.
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. See “Checking
Coolant” underCooling System on page 5-34.
G. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-31.
H. Electric Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-34.I. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (low in engine
compartment). SeePower Steering Fluid on
page 5-43.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
K. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
L. Engine Coolant Air Bleed Valves (underneath engine
shield). See “How to Add Coolant to the Radiator”
underCooling System on page 5-34.
M. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
on page 5-26.
N. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-45.
O. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
5-15

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-44.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-48.
C. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-31.
D. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-103.
E. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeBattery on
page 5-48.
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. See “Checking
Coolant” underCooling System on page 5-34.
G. Electric Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-34.H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (below generator).
SeePower Steering Fluid on page 5-43.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
J. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
K. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
on page 5-26.
L. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-45.
M. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
5-17

Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is 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 a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. 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.
When to Add Engine Oil
3400 V6 Engine
3800 V6 Engine
5-18

If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of
the dipstick, you will need to add at least one quart/liter
of oil. But you must use the right kind. This section
explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, seeCapacities and Specications on
page 5-106.
Notice:Do not add too much oil. If the engine
has so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating
range, the engine could be damaged.SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the
engine oil ll cap.
Be sure to add enough oil 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 are
through.
5-19