2007 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO fuel additives

Service........................................................ 296
Accessories and Modications................... 296
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 297
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 297
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 298
Fuel............................................................. 298
Gasoline Octane........................................ 298
Gasoline Specications.............................. 299
California Fuel........................................... 299
Additives................................................... 300
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)............................ 301
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 302
Filling the Tank......................................... 303
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 305Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 306
Hood Release........................................... 307
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 308
Engine Oil................................................. 311
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 314
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 316
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 317
Engine Coolant.......................................... 320
Pressure Cap............................................ 323
Engine Overheating................................... 323
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 325
Cooling System......................................... 326
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 331
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 332
Brakes...................................................... 333
Battery...................................................... 336
Jump Starting............................................ 337
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
293

If your vehicle has the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN
Code C), use premium unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 91 or higher. You may
also use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration
may be slightly reduced, and you may notice a
slight audible knocking noise, commonly referred
to as spark knock. If the octane is less than
87, you may notice a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher and you hear heavy knocking, your engine
needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). General Motors recommends against the
use of gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives
on page 300for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate
on fuels that meet California specications.
See the underhood emission control label.
If this fuel is not available in states adopting
California emissions standards, your vehicle will
operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp may turn on and your vehicle may
fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 181. If this occurs, return to
your authorized GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is caused by the
type of fuel used, repairs may not be covered
by your warranty.
299

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the
United States are now required to contain additives
that will help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing your emission
control system to work properly. In most cases,
you should not have to add anything to your
fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves
clean, or if your vehicle experiences problems due
to dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that
is advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Also, your dealer has additives that will help
correct and prevent most deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may
be available in your area. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other fuels
containing more than 10% ethanol must not
be used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not use
fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also damage
the plastic and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT.
General Motors recommends against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn on. If this
occurs, return to your dealer for service.
300

To ensure quick starts in the wintertime, the
E85 fuel must be formulated properly for your
climate according to ASTM specication D 5798.
If you have trouble starting on E85, it may be
because your E85 fuel is not properly formulated
for your climate. If this happens, switching to
gasoline or adding gasoline to your fuel tank
may improve starting. For good starting and
heater efficiency below 32°F (0°C), the fuel mix
in the fuel tank should contain no more than
70% ethanol. It is best not to alternate repeatedly
between gasoline and E85. If you do switch
fuels, it is recommended that you add as
much fuel as possible — do not add less than
three gallons (11 L) when refueling. You should
drive the vehicle immediately after refueling for
at least seven miles (11 km) to allow the vehicle to
adapt to the change in ethanol concentration.
E85 has less energy per gallon than gasoline,
so you will need to rell your fuel tank more
often when using E85 than when you are using
gasoline. SeeFilling the Tank on page 303.Notice:Some additives are not compatible
with E85 fuel and may harm your vehicle’s fuel
system. Damage caused by additives would
not be covered by your new vehicle warranty.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not use
fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also damage
the plastic and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be
hard to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other
fuel not recommended in the previous text on fuel.
Costly repairs caused by use of improper fuel would
not be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business
in the country where you will be driving.
302

A
Accessories and Modications..................... 296
Accessory Power Outlet(s).......................... 162
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-
Equipped Vehicle....................................... 83
Additives, Fuel............................................ 300
Add-On Electrical Equipment....................... 395
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine............................. 316
Air Conditioning........................................... 164
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator....................... 175
Readiness Light....................................... 174
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic
Module (SDM).......................................... 434
Airbag System............................................... 68
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle......................... 83
How Does an Airbag Restrain?.................. 75
Passenger Sensing System....................... 77
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..... 82
What Makes an Airbag Inate?.................. 75
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?................................................. 76
When Should an Airbag Inate?................. 73
Where Are the Airbags?............................. 71
Antenna, Backglass..................................... 242Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.................................................... 243
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................... 251
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light....... 178
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels.................................... 390
Care of Safety Belts................................ 388
Chemical Paint Spotting........................... 392
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.............. 389
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 385
Fabric/Carpet........................................... 386
Finish Care.............................................. 389
Finish Damage......................................... 392
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.................................... 388
Leather.................................................... 387
Sheet Metal Damage............................... 391
Tires........................................................ 391
Underbody Maintenance........................... 392
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials.......... 393
Washing Your Vehicle .............................. 389
Weatherstrips........................................... 388
Windshield and Wiper Blades................... 390
Ashtray(s).................................................... 164
Audio System(s).......................................... 210
Audio Steering Wheel Controls................. 240
Backglass Antenna................................... 242
443

Fuel............................................................ 298
Additives.................................................. 300
California Fuel.......................................... 299
E85 (85% Ethanol)................................... 301
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.............. 305
Filling Your Tank...................................... 303
Fuels in Foreign Countries....................... 302
Gage....................................................... 185
Gasoline Octane...................................... 298
Gasoline Specications............................ 299
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...................... 395
Instrument Panel Fuse Block................... 396
Underhood Fuse Block............................. 397
Windshield Wiper..................................... 395
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.................... 180
Fuel......................................................... 185
Speedometer........................................... 172
Tachometer.............................................. 172
Garage Door Opener..........................129, 130
Gasoline
Octane..................................................... 298
Specications........................................... 299Gasoline (cont.)
Glove Box................................................... 140
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.......... 427
H
Hazard Warning Flashers............................ 148
Head Restraints............................................ 13
Headlamp
Aiming..................................................... 342
Headlamp Wiring......................................... 395
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement.................................... 342
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic
Headlamp System................................ 158
Delayed................................................... 157
Flash-to-Pass........................................... 151
Halogen Bulbs......................................... 342
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps........... 343
High/Low Beam Changer ......................... 151
Heated Seats................................................ 10
Heater......................................................... 164
Highbeam On Light..................................... 185
Highway Hypnosis....................................... 268
Hill and Mountain Roads............................. 268
448