2009 PONTIAC VIBE oil level

Before Leaving on a
Long Trip
To prepare your vehicle for a long
trip, consider having it serviced
by your dealer/retailer before
departing.
Things to check on your own
include:
Windshield Washer Fluid:
Reservoir full? Windows
clean — inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:In good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:All
levels checked?
Lamps:Do they all work and are
lenses clean?
Tires:Are treads good? Are
tires inated to recommended
pressure?
Weather and Maps:Safe to
travel? Have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention
to your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, nd
a safe place to park your vehicle
and rest.
Other driving tips include:
Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
Keep interior temperature cool.
Keep your eyes moving — scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on at or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
Keep the vehicle serviced
and in good shape.
Check all uid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
Going down steep or long hills,
shift to a lower gear.
{CAUTION
If you do not shift down, the
brakes could get so hot that they
would not work well. You would
then have poor braking or even
none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let the engine
assist the brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
8-28 Driving and Operating
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

A. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
″Checking Engine Oil″under
Engine Oil on page 9-9.
B.Pressure Cap on page 9-22.
C.Windshield Washer Fluid
on page 9-24.
D. Coolant Recovery Tank.
SeeEngine Coolant on
page 9-18.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” underEngine
Oil on page 9-9.
F.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 9-12.G.Brakes on page 9-27and
Hydraulic Clutch on page 9-17
(If Equipped).
H.Engine Compartment Fuse Block
on page 9-39.
I.Battery on page 9-30.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
SeeJump Starting on page 9-71.
K. Automatic Transmission
Fluid Dipstick. See″Checking
the Fluid Level″underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 9-14
(If Equipped) (Out of View).
Vehicle Service and Care 9-7
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

A. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 9-9.
B.Pressure Cap on page 9-22.
C.Windshield Washer Fluid
on page 9-24.
D. Coolant Recovery Tank. See
Engine Coolant on page 9-18.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” underEngine
Oil on page 9-9.
F.Brakes on page 9-27and
Hydraulic Clutch on page 9-17
(If Equipped).
G.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 9-12.
H.Engine Compartment Fuse Block
on page 9-39.I.Battery on page 9-30.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
SeeJump Starting on page 9-71.
K. Automatic Transmission
Fluid Dipstick. See″Checking
the Fluid Level″underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 9-14
(If Equipped) (Out of View).
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the
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 9-6
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.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-9
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the indent at
the tip of the dipstick, add at least
one quart/liter of the recommended
oil. This section explains what kind of
oil to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, seeCapacities and
Specifications on page 10-2.
Notice:Do not add too much oil.
If the engine has so much oil
that the oil level gets above the
upper hole, the engine could
be damaged.SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6for the location of
the engine oil ll cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the
way back in when you are through.
What Kind of Engine Oil
to Use
Look for three things:
GM6094M
Use only an oil that meets
GM Standard GM6094M.
SAE 5W-20
SAE 5W-20 is best for the
vehicle. 1.8L Engine
2.4L Engine
9-10 Vehicle Service and Care
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Manual Transmission
Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have your manual
transmission uid level checked
is when the engine oil is changed.
However, the uid in your manual
transmission does not require
changing.
How to Check
This operation can be difficult, you
may choose to have this done
at your dealer/retailer service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to
follow all the instructions here,
or you could get a false reading.
Notice:Too much or too
little uid can damage your
transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the uid couldcome out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts,
starting a re. Too little uid
could cause the transmission
to overheat. Be sure to get
an accurate reading if you
check your transmission uid.
Check the uid level only when your
engine is off, the vehicle is parked on
a level place and the transmission is
cool enough for you to rest your
ngers on the transmission case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the ller plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is
up to the bottom of the ller
plug hole.
3. If the uid level is good, install
the plug and be sure it is fully
seated. If the uid level is low,
add more uid as described in
the next steps.
How to Add Fluid
Here is how to add uid. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine what kind of uid to
use.Part D: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on
page 11-18.
1. Remove the ller plug.
2. Add uid at the ller plug hole.
Add only enough uid to bring
the uid level up to the bottom
of the ller plug hole.
3. Install the ller plug. Be sure the
plug is fully seated.
9-16 Vehicle Service and Care
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to the
cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water
or the wrong mixture, the engine
could get too hot but would not
get the overheat warning. The
engine could catch re and you
or others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other
parts.Notice:If you use extra
inhibitors and/or additives in
your vehicle’s cooling system,
you could damage your vehicle.
Use only the proper mixture of
the engine coolant listed in this
manual for the cooling system.
SeePart D: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11-18for
more information.
Gives freezing protection down to
−34°F (−38°C).
Gives boiling protection up to
265°F (129°C).
Protects against rust and
corrosion.
Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Lets the warning lights and gages
work as they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL can cause premature
engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the enginecoolant may require changing
sooner, at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL (silicate-free)
coolant in your vehicle.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface. When the engine is cold,
the coolant level should be at LOW,
or a little higher. When the engine
is warm, the level should be up to
FULL, or a little higher. If it is not,
there could be a leak at the pressure
cap or in the radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump, or
somewhere else in the cooling
system.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6Engine Compartment
Overview for the location of the
coolant recovery tank.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-19
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Recovery Tank
If you need more coolant, add the
proper DEX-COOL®coolant mixture
at the coolant recovery tank, but
be careful not to spill it.
Occasionally check the coolant level
in the radiator. For information on
how to add coolant to the radiator,
seeCooling System on page 9-18
Cooling System.
{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.
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to your
cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water
or the wrong mixture, your engine
could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and a proper
coolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core and other
parts. Use the recommended
coolant and the proper coolant
mixture.
How to Add Coolant to the
Radiator
When the coolant in the coolant
recovery tank is at the FULL mark,
start the vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues,
there is one more thing that can
be done. Add the proper coolant
mixture directly to the radiator but
be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.
9-20 Vehicle Service and Care
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

4. Then ll the coolant recovery
tank to the FULL mark.
5. Put the cap back on the coolant
recovery tank, but leave the
pressure cap off.
6. Start the engine and let it run
until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch
out for the engine cooling fan.
7. By this time, the coolant level
inside the radiator ller neck may
be lower. If the level is lower,
add more of the proper coolant
mixture through the ller neck
until the level reaches the base
of the ller neck.
8. Then replace the pressure cap.
At any time during this procedure
if coolant begins to ow out of
the ller neck, reinstall the
pressure cap. Be sure the ears
on the pressure cap are in
line with the vent tube.Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not
tightly installed, coolant loss and
possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6for more information
on location.
Engine Overheating
A coolant temperature gage is
located on the vehicle’s instrument
panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 4-19.
Check to see if the electric engine
cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, the vehicle
needs service.If no problem is apparent, but the
coolant level is not at or above the
FULL mark, add a 50/50 mixture
of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant at the coolant
recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 9-18for more information
about the proper coolant mixture.
If the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank is boiling, do not do
anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on
a level surface.
9-22 Vehicle Service and Care
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual