2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA checking oil

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-7
A. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid on
page 10‑22.
B. Battery. See Battery on
page 10‑25.
C. Underhood Fuse Block. See Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑34.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting on
page 10‑70. E. Coolant Recovery Tank. See
“Checking Coolant” under
Cooling System on page 10‑15.
F. Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System on page 10‑15.
G. Power Steering Fluid Cap. See Power Steering Fluid on
page 10‑21.
H. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 10‑8.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑8. J. Automatic Transmission Fluid
Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking the Fluid Level”
under Automatic Transmission
Fluid on page 10‑11.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
under Brakes on page 10‑23.
L. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
on page 10‑13.

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
10-8 Vehicle Care
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.”
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See“Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil.”
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System on page 10‑10.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do With
Used Oil.”
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.
Obtaining an accurate oil level
reading is essential:
1. If the engine has been running recently, turn off the engine and
allow several minutes for the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Checking your oil level too soon
after engine shut off 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
one liter/quart of the recommended
oil and then recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” 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

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-17
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the
coolant level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant recovery tank. If the
coolant inside the coolant recovery
tank is boiling, do not do anything
else until it cools down. If coolant is
visible but the coolant level is not at
or above the COLD FILL line, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant at
the coolant recovery tank, but be
sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done.
The coolant recovery tank
is located in the rear of the
engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6. When the engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at or above the
COLD FILL line on the coolant
recovery tank. To check the coolant
level, look for the COLD FILL line on
the side of the coolant recovery tank
that faces the engine. If the level is
not correct, there may be a leak in
the cooling system.
How to Add Coolant to the
Recovery Tank
{WARNING
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.
Notice: This vehicle has a
specific coolant fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely
damaged. If coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL coolant mixture at the
coolant recovery tank.
When the coolant level in the
coolant recovery tank is at the
COLD FILL line, start the vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues,
there is one more thing you can try.
The proper coolant mixture can be
added directly to the cooling system
through the coolant fill neck on the
engine, but be sure the system is
cool before doing it.