Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2010
8-20 Driving and Operating
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the acceleratorpedal, turn the ignition key to
START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed
will go down as the engine
warms. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Allow the oil to warm up and
lubricate all moving parts.
The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in
starting the engine and protects
components. If the ignition key is
turned to the START position,
and then released when the
engine begins cranking, the
engine will continue cranking
for a few seconds or until the
vehicle starts. If the engine does
not start and the key is held
in START for many seconds, cranking stops after 15 seconds
to prevent cranking motor
damage. To prevent gear
damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine
is already running. Engine
cranking can be stopped by
turning the ignition switch
to ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF.
Notice: Cranking the engine for
long periods of time, by returning
the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after 5‐10 seconds, especially in very
cold weather (below 0°F or
−18°C), it could be flooded with
too much gasoline. Push the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as you hold the key in START for a
maximum of 15 seconds. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each
try, to allow the cranking motor
to cool. When the engine starts,
let go of the key and accelerator.
If the vehicle starts briefly but
then stops again, repeat the
procedure. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the
engine and transmission gently
until the oil warms up and
lubricates all moving parts.
Notice: The engine is designed to
work with the electronics in the
vehicle. If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates.
Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer. If you do not, the engine
might not perform properly. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2010
9-12 Vehicle Care
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
(V8 Engines)
Look for three things:
.GM4718M
This vehicle's engine requires a
special oil meeting GM Standard
GM4718M. Oils meeting this
standard may be identified as
synthetic. However, not all
synthetic oils will meet this GM
standard. Use only an oil that
meets GM Standard GM4718M.
Notice: Using oils that do not
have the GM4718M Standard
designation can cause engine
damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
.SAE 5W-30
SAE 5W-30 is best for the
vehicle. These numbers on
an oil container show its
viscosity, or thickness. Do not
use other viscosity oils such
as SAE 20W-50.
.American Petroleum Institute
(API) starburst symbol
Oils meeting these requirements
should have the starburst
symbol on the container. This
symbol indicates that the oil has
been certified by the American
Petroleum Institute (API).
This vehicle's engine was filled at
the factory with a Mobil 1
®synthetic
oil meeting all requirements for this
vehicle.
Substitute Engine Oil: When adding
oil to maintain engine oil level, oil
meeting GM Standard GM4718M might not be available. You can add
substitute oil designated SAE 5W-30
with the starburst symbol at all
temperatures. Substitute oil not
meeting GM Standard GM4718M
should not be used for an oil
change.
Engine Oil Additives / Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil.
The recommended oils with the
starburst symbol that meet GM
standards are all that is needed
for good performance and engine
protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2010
Vehicle Care 9-15
Hydraulic Clutch
It is not necessary to regularly
check brake/clutch fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the
system. Adding fluid will not correct
a leak. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What
to Use
The brake/hydraulic clutch fluid
reservoir cap has this symbol on it.
The common hydraulic clutch and
brake master cylinder fluid reservoir
is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on
page 9‑6for reservoir location.
How to Check and Add Fluid
Visually check the brake/clutch fluid
reservoir to make sure the fluid level
is at the MIN (minimum) line on the
side of the reservoir. The brake/
hydraulic clutch fluid system should
be closed and sealed.
Do not remove the cap to check
the fluid level or to top‐off the fluid
level. Remove the cap only when
necessary to add the proper fluid
until the level reaches the MIN line.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
See Engine Compartment Overviewon page 9‑6for the location of the
engine air cleaner/filter.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/filter at the
Maintenance IIintervals and replace
it at the first oil change after each
50,000 mile (80 000 km) interval. See
“Schedule Maintenance” in
Service and Maintenance for more
information. If driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the filter at each
engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/filter,
remove the filter from the vehicle
and lightly shake the filter to release
loose dust and dirt. If the filter
remains caked with dirt, a new filter
is required.
To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter:
1. Open the hood. See Hood
on
page 9‑5.
2. Locate the air filter housing on the front of the driver side
of the engine compartment.
See Engine Compartment
Overview on page 9‑6.
Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2010
9-18 Vehicle Care
The coolant level should be
between the MIN and MAX lines.
If it is not, you may have a leak at
the radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump, or somewhere
else in the cooling system.
{WARNING
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is
a leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak,
with the engine on, check to see
if the electric engine cooling fans
are running. If the engine is
overheating, the fans should be
running. If it is not, your vehicle
needs service. Turn off the engine. Notice:
Using coolant other
than DEX-COOL
®can cause
premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition,
the engine coolant could require
changing sooner, at 50 000 km
(30,000 miles) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Any
repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free)
coolant in the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle
is filled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for five years
or 240 000 km (150,000 miles),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating
on
page 9‑23.
What to Use
{WARNING
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 you
would not get the overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2010
10-4 Service and Maintenance
.Windshield wiper blade
inspection for wear, cracking,
or contamination and windshield
and wiper blade cleaning,
if contaminated. SeeExterior
Care
on page 9‑90. Worn
or damaged wiper blade
replacement. See Wiper Blade
Replacement on page 9‑32.
.Body hinges and latches,
key lock cylinders, folding
seat hardware, and sunroof
(if equipped) lubrication.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
on page 10‑8.
More frequent lubrication may
be required when vehicle is
exposed to a corrosive
environment. Applying silicone
grease on weatherstrips with
a clean cloth makes them last
longer, seal better, and not stick
or squeak.
.Restraint system component
check. See Safety System
Check on page 2‑21.
.Automatic transmission fluid
level check and adding fluid,
if needed. See Automatic
Transmission Fluid
on
page 9‑14.
.Rear axle fluid level check and
adding fluid, if needed. See Rear
Axle on page 9‑29.
.Engine air cleaner filter
inspection. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 9‑15.
.Passenger compartment air
filter replacement (or every
12 months, whichever occurs
first). More frequent replacement
may be required if vehicle is
driven regularly under dusty
conditions.
Additional Required Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.Engine oil level check.
See Engine Oil on page 9‑10.
.Engine coolant level check.
SeeEngine Coolanton
page 9‑18.
.Windshield washer fluid level
check. See Washer Fluidon
page 9‑26.
Once a Month
.Tire inflation check. See Tire
Pressure on page 9‑56.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire
Inspection on page 9‑63.
Once a Year
.See Starter Switch Checkon
page 9‑31.
.See Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control System
Check on page 9‑31.
.See Ignition Transmission Lock
Check on page 9‑32.
.See Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Checkon
page 9‑32.
.Engine cooling system and
pressure cap pressure check.
Radiator and air conditioning
condenser outside cleaning.
See Cooling System
on
page 9‑17.