2010 CHEVROLET EXPRESS oil dipstick

A. Battery. SeeBattery on page 6-43.
B. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System on
page 6-28.
C. Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System on
page 6-28.
D. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick. See
“Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (4-Speed Transmission)
on page 6-21orAutomatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission) on page 6-24.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 6-15.
F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 6-15.
G. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 6-20.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 6-38.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 6-40.
J. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 6-39.Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see “Engine Oil” in the
DURAMAX®Diesel manual.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each
fuel fill. 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 6-14
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 this is not done, 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.
6-15

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area 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
Specications on page 6-116.
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 6-14
for the location of the
engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level somewhere in the proper
operating range. Push the dipstick all the way back in
when through.
6-16

How to Check Automatic Transmission
Fluid
Because this operation can be difficult, it is recommended
to have this check done at the dealer/retailer service
department, which can monitor the transmission
temperature. The transmission fluid level increases
with temperature. To obtain a highly accurate fluid level
check, the transmission temperature must be measured.
If it is decided to check the fluid level, be sure to follow
all the instructions here, or a false reading on the
dipstick may occur.
Notice:Too much or too little uid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the uid could come 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.
Wait at least 30 minutes with the engine Off, before
checking the transmission fluid level if the vehicle has
been driven:
•In hot weather, when outside temperatures are
above 32°C (90°F).
•The vehicle is heavily loaded.
•At high speed for quite a while in hot weather.
•In heavy traffic and hot weather.
•While pulling a trailer.
After driving under these conditions, a hot check can
be performed. The fluid should be Hot, which is
71°C to 93°C (160°F to 200°F).
A cold fluid level check can be performed after the vehicle
has been sitting for eight hours or more with the engine
Off, but this is used only as a reference. Let the engine
run at idle for five minutes if outside temperatures is
between 15°C to 32°C (60°F to 90°F). Should the fluid
level be low during this cold check, the fluid must be
checked Warm or Hot before adding fluid. If the outside
temperature is colder than 15°C (60°F) or hotter than
32°C (90°F), a cold check cannot be performed.
A warm fluid level check can be performed by driving
the vehicle under lightly loaded conditions and outside
temperatures between 10°C to 27°C (50°F to 80°F).
The vehicle should be driven for at least 15 miles before
performing a warm check. Checking the fluid Warm or
Hot will give a more accurate reading of the fluid level
than a cold check.
Because the vehicle is equipped with a high-efficiency
air-to-oil cooler, the transmission fluid temperature
may not reach the required Hot fluid level checking
temperature under normal lightly loaded driving vehicle
conditions.
6-25