Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
9-2 Driving and Operating
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Gasoline Specifications (U.S.and Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . 9-58
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-58
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-58
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-63
Driving Information
Driving for Better Energy
Efficiency
Use the following tips to help
maximize energy efficiency
and range.
Driving Style
Efficiency Gauge
(Instrument Cluster)
The ball indicator should be kept
green and in the center of the
gauge.
Inefficient acceleration is indicated
when the ball turns yellow and
travels above the center of the
gauge.
Aggressive braking is indicated
when the ball turns yellow and
travels below the center of the
gauge. Acceleration/Braking/Coasting
Avoid unnecessary rapid
accelerations and decelerations.
Electric range is maximized at
80 km/h (50 mph) and below.
Higher speeds use more energy
and can significantly reduce
electric range.
Use cruise control when
appropriate.
Plan ahead for decelerations
and coast whenever possible.
For example, do not rush to
traffic signals.
Do not shift to N (Neutral) to coast.
The vehicle recovers energy while
coasting and braking in D (Drive)
or L (Low).
Black plate (58,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
9-58 Driving and Operating
Gasoline Specifications
(U.S. and Canada Only)
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specification
D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB‐3.5 or 3.511 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeFuel Additives
on page 9‑59 for additional
information.
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards,
it is designed to operate on fuels
that meet California specifications.
See the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance might
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle might fail a smog‐check test.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑21. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer for diagnosis.
If it is determined that the condition
is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs might not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
Never use leaded gasoline or any
other fuel not recommended in the
previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask
an auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
Black plate (59,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-59
Fuel Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines
in the United States are now
required to contain additives that
help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing the
emission control system to work
properly. In most cases, nothing
should have to be added to the fuel.
However, some gasolines contain
only the minimum amount of
additive required to meet U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
regulations. To help keep fuel
injectors and intake valves clean
and avoid problems due to dirty
injectors or valves, look for gasoline
that is advertised as TOP TIERDetergent Gasoline. Look for the
TOP TIER label on the fuel pump
to ensure gasoline meets enhanced
detergency standards developed
by the auto companies. A list of
marketers providing TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline can be found
at www.toptiergas.com.
For customers who do not use
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
regularly, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment PLUS, added
to the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help clean deposits
from fuel injectors and intake
valves. GM Fuel System Treatment
PLUS is the only gasoline additive
recommended by General Motors.
It is available at your dealer.Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol,
and reformulated gasolines
might be available in your area.
We recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed
for those fuels.
Notice:
This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty.
Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
i-4 INDEX
E
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Electric Drive UnitMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Electric Drive Unit Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Electric Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . 5-25
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-63
Electrical Requirements for Battery Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Electrical System Engine Compartment
Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 10-42, 10-43
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Electronic Stability Control . . . . . 9-39
Energy Efficiency Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25, 9-2
Energy Information . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41 Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Check and Service Engine
Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Compartment Overview . . . . . 10-10
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Cooling System . . . . . . 10-18, 10-20
Cooling System Messages . . . 5-47
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-3
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 9-31
Engine Oil
Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Engine Unavailable Out of Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . 13-26
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Extended Range Mode . . . . . . . . 9-25
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
F
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 6-4
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-69
Floor Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-96
Fluid Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . 9-58
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . 9-58
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16