2011 CHEVROLET CAMARO engine oil

Black plate (57,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-57
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
automatic transmission in P (Park)
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. For vehicles with manual
transmissions, let the engine run
while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission out of
gear and the parking brake applied,
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. If the overheat warning
comes on, seeEngine Overheating
on page 10‑25.Parking on Hills
{WARNING
Parking the vehicle on a hill
with the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet for
vehicles with an automatic
transmission, or into gear
for vehicles with a manual
transmission. Turn the wheels
into the curb if facing downhill
or into traffic if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels. 3. When the wheel chocks are in
place, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park) for vehicles with an
automatic transmission or into
gear for vehicles with a manual
transmission.
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal while you:
.start the engine,
.shift into a gear, and
.release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.

Black plate (58,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
9-58 Driving and Operating
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See this
manual's Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. Things
that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 10‑25.
Trailer Towing
Before pulling a trailer, there are
three important considerations that
have to do with weight:
.The weight of the trailer.
.The weight of the trailer tongue.
.The total weight on your
vehicle's tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
454 kg (1,000 lbs). But even that
can be too heavy.
It depends on how the rig is used.
For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature, and
how much the vehicle is used to
pull a trailer are all important. It can
depend on any special equipment
on the vehicle, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry.
See “Weight of the Trailer Tongue”
later in this section for more
information. Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in
the tow vehicle and it has all the
required trailering equipment.
The weight of additional optional
equipment, passengers and cargo in
the tow vehicle must be subtracted
from the maximum trailer weight.
Ask your dealer for our trailering
information or advice, or you can
write us at our Customer Assistance
Offices. See
Customer Assistance
Offices (U.S. and Canada) on
page 13‑4 orCustomer Assistance
Offices (Mexico) on page 13‑5 for
more information.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total gross
weight of the vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes
the curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo carried in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-14
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-16 Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-25
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-27
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-32
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-34
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Windshield Replacement . . . 10-35
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38 Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking Lamps
(Base Vehicle) . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps
(Up-Level Vehicle) . . . . . . . . 10-40
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-42
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-7
A. Underhood Electrical Center.See Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑44.
B. Engine Coolant Recovery Bottle and Cap. See Engine Coolant
on page 10‑20.
C. Engine Cover on page 10‑9.
D. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System on
page 10‑18.
E. Radiator Fill Cap (Out of View). See Engine Coolant on
page 10‑20.
F. Power Steering Reservoir and Cap (Out of View). See Power
Steering Fluid on page 10‑27.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑10. H. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of
View). See Engine Oil on
page 10‑10.
I. Brake Master Cylinder and Hydraulic Clutch Reservoir
(if equipped with manual
transmission). See Brakes on
page 10‑29 orHydraulic Clutch
on page 10‑16.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Battery on page 10‑31.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑16.
L. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑28.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-9
A. Underhood Electrical Center.See Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑44.
B. Engine Coolant Recovery Bottle and Cap. See Engine Coolant
on page 10‑20.
C. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑10.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap (Out of View). See Engine Oil on
page 10‑10.
E. Engine Cover on page 10‑9.
F. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System on
page 10‑18.
G. Power Steering Reservoir and Cap (Under Engine Cover).
See Power Steering Fluid on
page 10‑27. H. Brake Master Cylinder and
Hydraulic Clutch Reservoir
(if equipped with manual
transmission). See Brakes on
page 10‑29 orHydraulic Clutch
on page 10‑16.
I. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Battery on page 10‑31.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑16.
K. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑28.
L. Radiator Fill Cap (Out of View). See Engine Coolant on
page 10‑20.Engine Cover
3.6 L V6 Engine Cover
To remove:
1. Remove the engine oil fill cap (B).
2. Lift the engine cover (A) to disengage one front attachment
point.
3. Pull engine cover forward to disengage from two rear tabs.
4. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to reinstall engine cover.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
10-10 Vehicle Care
6.2 L V8 Engine Cover (L99
Engine shown LS3 similar)
To remove:
1. Remove the engine oilfill cap (A).
2. Lift the engine cover (B) to disengage two front attachment
points.
3. Pull engine cover forward to disengage from horizontal rear
attachments.
4. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to reinstall engine cover.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine
oil. Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and
of the proper viscosity grade.
See “Selecting the Right Engine
Oil” in this section.
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine
Oil Life System on page 10‑14.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
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 vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle
is a yellow loop. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for the location of
the engine oil dipstick.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-11
Obtaining an accurate oil level
reading is essential:
1. If the engine has been runningrecently, turn off the engine and
allow several minutes for the
oil to drain back into the oil pan.
Checking the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading.
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.When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick,
add 1 L (1 qt) of the recommended
oil and then recheck the level.
See “Selecting the Right Engine
Oil” in this section for an explanation
of what kind of oil to use. For engine
oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2. Notice:
Do not add too much
oil. Oil levels above or below
the acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that
you have an oil level above the
operating range, i.e., 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. You should
drain out the excess oil or limit
driving of the vehicle and seek a
service professional to remove
the excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6 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.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
10-12 Vehicle Care
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade:
Specification
Use and ask for engine oils with
the dexos™certification mark.
Oils meeting the requirements of
the vehicle should have the dexos™
certification mark on the container.
This certification mark indicates that
the oil has been approved to the
dexos™ specification.
This vehicle was filled at the factory
with dexos™ approved engine oil. Notice:
Use only engine oil
that is approved to the dexos™
specification or an equivalent
engine oil of the appropriate
viscosity grade. Engine oils
approved to the dexos™
specification will show the
dexos™ symbol on the container.
Failure to use the recommended
engine oil or equivalent can
result in engine damage not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If you are unsure whether the
oil is approved to the dexos™
specification, ask your service
provider.
Use of Substitute Engine Oils if
dexos™ is unavailable: In the event
that dexos™ approved engine oil
is not available at an oil change
or for maintaining proper oil level,
you may use substitute engine oil
displaying the API Starburst symbol
and of SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade.
Use of oils that do not meet the
dexos™ specification, however,
may result in reduced performance
under certain circumstances. Specification When dexos™
Oil
Not Available (V6 Engine)
Use only an oil that meets GM
Standard GM6094M. 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).
Specification When dexos™ Oil
Not Available (V8 Engine)
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.