2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER oil temperature

CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the pointer of the Coolant Tempera-
ture Gage rises to the H (red) mark, the instrument
cluster will sound a chime. When safe, pull over and
stop the vehicle. Turn off the air conditioning and
wait until the pointer drops back into the normal
range. If the pointer remains on the H (red) mark for
more than a minute, turn the engine off immediately
and call for service.
NOTE: There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition:
•If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The A/C
system adds heat to the engine cooling system and
turning the A/C off can help remove this heat.
•You can also turn the temperature control to maximum
heat, the mode control to floor and the blower control
to high. This allows the heater core to act as a
supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the engine cooling system.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, refer to “Cooling System Pressure
Cap” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” and follow the
warnings under the paragraph.
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 261

The best time to check the engine oil level is about five
minutes after a fully warmed engine is shut off. Do not
check oil level before starting the engine after it has sat
overnight. Checking engine oil level when the engine is
cold will give you an incorrect reading.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground, will
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Maintain
the oil level between the MIN and MAX markings on the
dipstick. Adding one quart of oil when the reading is at
the MIN mark will result in a MAX reading on these
engines.
CAUTION!
Overfilling the crankcase as indicated by an oil level
above the “MAX” mark on the engine oil dipstick
will cause oil aeration, which can lead to loss of oil
pressure and an increase in oil temperature. This
could damage your engine.
Change Engine Oil
Road conditions and your kind of driving affects the
interval at which your oil should be changed. Check the
following list to decide if any apply to you.
•Day and night temperatures are below 32°F (0°C).
•Stop and go driving.
•Extensive engine idling.
•Driving in dusty conditions.
•Short trips of less than 10 miles (16 km).
•More than 50% of your driving is at sustained high
speeds during hot weather, above 90°F (32°C).
•Trailer towing.
•Taxi, Police, or delivery service (commercial service).
•Off-road or desert operation.
282 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade) – 2.4L Engine
SAE 5W-30 engine oil is recommended for all operating
temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature
starting and vehicle fuel economy.
The engine oil filler cap also shows the recommended
engine oil viscosity for your engine. For information on
engine oil filler cap location, refer to “Engine Compart-
ment” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for further informa-
tion.
Lubricants which do not have both, the engine oil certi-
fication mark and the correct SAE viscosity grade num-
ber, should not be used.
Synthetic Engine Oils
You may use synthetic engine oils, provided the recom-
mended oil quality requirements are met, and the recom-
mended maintenance intervals for oil and filter changes
are followed.
Materials Added to Engine Oils
The manufacturer strongly recommends against the ad-
dition of any additives (other than leak detection dyes) to
the engine oil. Engine oil is an engineered product and its
performance may be impaired by supplemental
additives.
Disposing of Used Engine Oil and Oil Filters
Care should be taken in disposing of used engine oil and
oil filters from your vehicle. Used oil and oil filters,
indiscriminately discarded, can present a problem to the
environment. Contact your authorized dealer, service
station, or governmental agency for advice on how and
where they can be safely discarded in your area.
Engine Oil Filter
The engine oil filter should be replaced with a new filter
at every engine oil change.
284 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Change the automatic transmission fluid and filter every
60,000 miles (100 000 km) if the vehicle is usually
operated under one or more of the conditions marked
with an\b.
•Day and night temperatures are below 32°F (0°C).
•Stop and go driving.
•Extensive engine idling.
•Driving in dusty conditions.
•Short trips of less than 10 miles (16.2 km).
•More than 50% of your driving is at sustained high
speeds during hot weather, above 90°F (32°C).
•Trailer towing.†\b
•Taxi, police, or delivery service (commercial ser-
vice).†\b
•Off-road or desert operation.
•If equipped for and operating with E-85 (ethanol) fuel.
NOTE:
•If ANY of these apply to you, then change your engine
oil every 3,000 miles (5 000 km) or three months,
whichever comes first, and follow ’Maintenance
Schedule B” in this section.
•If ANY of these apply to you, then flush and replace
the engine coolant every 102,000 miles (170 000 km) or
60 months, whichever comes first, and follow “Main-
tenance Schedule B” in this section.
If none of these apply to you, then change your engine oil
at every interval shown on “Maintenance Schedule A” in
this section.
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M A I
N T
E
N A
N CE
S
C
H E
D
U L
E
SMAINTENANCE SCHEDULES 323

Coolant (Antifreeze).................... 292
Cooling ............................. 292
Exhaust Gas Caution .................. 74,241
Fuel Requirements ..................... 237
Jump Starting ......................... 268
Oil ........................... 281,316,317
Oil Change Interval .................... 282
Oil Filler Cap ...................... 277,284
Oil Filter ............................ 317
Oil Selection .......................... 283
Oil Synthetic ......................... 284
Overheating .......................... 260
Temperature Gauge .................... 143
Ethanol ............................... 238
Exhaust Gas Caution ..............34,74,241,290
Exhaust System ....................... 74,290
Exterior Lights .......................... 77 Filler Location Fuel
.................... 143,242
Filters Air Cleaner .......................... 285
Automatic Transaxle .................... 301
Engine Oil ........................ 284,317
Flashers .............................. 260
Hazard Warning ....................... 260
Turn Signal ........................ 77,149
Flooded Engine Starting ................... 193
Fluid Capacities ......................... 316
Fluid Leaks ............................. 77
Fluid Level Checks Automatic Transaxle .................... 300
Brake .............................. 298
Cooling System ....................... 292
Power Steering ........................ 206
Fluids ................................ 317
Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts .......... 317
Fog Light Service ........................ 314
354 INDEX

Engine Fails to Start.................... 193
Starting and Operating .................... 192
Starting Procedures ...................... 192
Steering Power ........................... 205,206
Tilt Column .......................... 110
Wheel Lock ........................... 14
Storage ............................ 126,311
Stuck, Freeing .......................... 272
Sun Roof .............................. 121
Sun Visor Extension ....................... 84
Supplemental Restraint System - Airbag ........ 46
Synthetic Engine Oil ...................... 284
Tachometer ............................ 144
Temperature Gauge, Engine Coolant .......143,261
Tether Anchor, Child Restraint ............... 68
Theft Alarm (Security Alarm) ................ 18
Theft System (Security Alarm) ............... 18Tilt Steering Column
..................... 110
Tire and Loading Information Placard ......... 219
Tire Identification Number (TIN) ............. 217
Tire Markings .......................... 214
Tire Safety Information .................... 214
Tires ............................ 77,223,346
Aging (Life of Tires) .................... 229
Air Pressure .......................... 223
Chains .............................. 231
Changing ............................ 262
Compact Spare ........................ 226
General Information .................... 223
High Speed .......................... 226
Inflation Pressures ..................... 224
Jacking ............................. 262
Life of Tires .......................... 229
Load Capacity ..................... 219,220
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ........... 232
Pressure Warning Light .................. 144
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INDEX 363