2011 CHEVROLET VOLT engine

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-3
General Information
For service and parts needs,
visit your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems,
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-9
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date
of any service work performed.
SeeMaintenance Records on
page 11‑8.
Hood
To open the hood:
1. Turn the vehicle off before opening the hood. If the
vehicle is on, the engine will
start when the hood is opened.
See Electric Mode on page 9‑25
and Extended Range Mode on
page 9‑25.
2. Pull the release handle with this symbol. It is below the
instrument panel to the left
of the steering wheel.
3. Go to the front of the vehicle andlocate the secondary release
lever under the front center of
the hood. Push the secondary
hood release lever to the right
to disengage.
4. Lift the hood and release the hood prop rod from its retainer
above the radiator support.
Place the prop rod securely into
the slotted retainer in the hood. To close the hood:
1. Before closing the hood, check
that all filler caps are properly
installed. Then, lift the hood
to relieve pressure on the
hood prop.
2. Remove the hood prop from the slotted retainer in the hood
and return it to its retainer above
the radiator support. The prop
rod must lock into place when
returning it to the retainer to
prevent hood damage.
3. Lower the hood 20 cm (8 in) above the vehicle and release
it so it fully latches. Check to
make sure the hood is firmly
closed. Repeat the process if
necessary.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
10-10 Vehicle Care
Engine Compartment Overview

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-11
A. Engine Coolant Surge Tankand Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑21.
B. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑16.
C. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑12.
D. High Voltage Battery Coolant Reservoir and Pressure Cap.
See Cooling System (Engine)
on page 10‑18 orCooling
System (High Voltage Battery)
on page 10‑19 orCooling
System (Power Electronics
and Charger Modules) on
page 10‑20. E. Engine Cover.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See
Engine
Oil on page 10‑12.
G. Power Electronics Coolant Reservoir and Pressure Cap.
See Cooling System (Engine)
on page 10‑18 orCooling
System (High Voltage Battery)
on page 10‑19 orCooling
System (Power Electronics
and Charger Modules) on
page 10‑20.
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 10‑25.
I. High Voltage Cables (Orange Color). J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
See Jump Starting on
page 10‑79.
K. Power Electronics Module.
L. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid on
page 10‑24.
M. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. See Jump Starting on
page 10‑79.
N. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑38.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
10-12 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” 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 10‑15.
.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 10‑10 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 propulsion
system and allow several
minutes for the oil to drain back
into the oil pan. Checking the
oil level too soon after engine
shut off will not provide an
accurate oil level reading.
2. Pull 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.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-13
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 10‑10 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.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.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
10-14 Vehicle Care
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.
Viscosity Grade
SAE 5W-30 is the best viscosity
grade for the vehicle. Do not
use other viscosity oils such as
SAE 10W‐30, 10W‐40, or 20W-50.Cold Temperature Operation:
In an area of extreme cold,
where the temperature falls
below−29°C (−20°F), an
SAE 0W-30 oil should be used.
An oil of this viscosity grade
will provide easier cold starting
for the engine at extremely low
temperatures. When selecting an oil
of the appropriate viscosity grade,
be sure to always select an oil that
meets the required specification,
dexos. See “Specification” earlier
in this section for more information.

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-15
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil.
The recommended oils with the
dexos specification and displaying
the dexos certification mark 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.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or
properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer's warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your
own oil, be sure to drain all the
oil from the filter before disposal.
Never dispose of oil by putting
it in the trash or pouring it on the
ground, into sewers, or into streams
or bodies of water. Recycle it by
taking it to a place that collects
used oil.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on a combination of factors which
include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably.
For the oil life system to work
properly, the system must be reset
every time the oil is changed.