
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159371) - 2016 - crc - 5/21/15
226 Driving and Operating
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an
important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. When
driving in the U.S. and Canada, to
help keep the engine clean and
maintain optimum vehicle
performance, we recommend using
TOP TIER Detergent Gasolines.
See www.toptiergas.com for a list of
TOP TIER Detergent Gasolines.
Use regular unleaded gasoline
meeting ASTM specification D4814
with a posted octane rating of 87 or
higher. Do not use gasoline with anoctane rating below 87; as it may
cause engine damage and will lower
fuel economy.
Use of Seasonal Fuels
Use summer and winter fuels in the
appropriate season. The fuels
industry automatically modifies the
fuel for the appropriate season.
If fuel is left in the vehicle tank for
long periods of time, driving or
starting could be affected. Drive the
vehicle until the fuel is at one-half
tank or less, then refuel with the
current seasonal fuel.
Prohibited Fuels
Gasolines containing oxygenates
such as ethers and ethanol, as well
as reformulated gasolines, are
available in some cities. If these
gasolines comply with the
previously described specification,
then they are acceptable to use.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
15% ethanol must be used only in
FlexFuel vehicles.
Caution
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.
Some gasolines, mainly high octane
racing gasolines, can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). Do not use
gasolines and/or fuel additives with
MMT as they can reduce spark plug
life and affect emission control
system performance. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn
on. If this occurs, see your dealer
for service.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If planning to drive in countries
outside the U.S. or Canada, the
proper fuel might be hard to find.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159371) - 2016 - crc - 5/21/15
Driving and Operating 227
Check regional auto club or fuel
retail brand websites for availability
in the country where driving. Never
use leaded gasoline, fuel containing
methanol, manganese, or any other
fuel not recommended. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper
fuel would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline is
recommended. SeeFuel0226.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is
not available, one bottle of Fuel
System Treatment PLUS added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. Fuel System
Treatment PLUS is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.
Filling the Tank
{Warning
Fuel vapors and fuel fires burn
violently and can cause injury or
death. . To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow
all the instructions on the
fuel pump island.
. Turn off the engine when
refueling.
. Keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away
from fuel.
. Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended.
. Do not use a cell phone
while refueling.
. Do not reenter the vehicle
while pumping fuel.
. Keep children away from
the fuel pump and never let
children pump fuel.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Fuel can spray out if the fuel
cap is opened too quickly.
This spray can happen if the
tank is nearly full, and is
more likely in hot weather.
Open the fuel cap slowly
and wait for any hiss noise
to stop then unscrew the
cap all the way.
The fuel cap is behind a hinged fuel
door on the right rear side of the
vehicle.
If equipped, the fuel door is locked
when the vehicle doors are locked.
Press
Kon the RKE transmitter to
unlock.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159371) - 2016 - crc - 5/21/15
228 Driving and Operating
To open the fuel door, push and
release the rearward center edge of
the door.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it
slowly counterclockwise. The fuel
cap has a spring in it; if the cap is
released too soon, it will spring back
to the right.
While refueling, hang the fuel cap
from the hook on the fuel door.
{Warning
Overfilling the fuel tank by more
than three clicks of a standard fill
nozzle may cause:. Vehicle performance issues,
including engine stalling and
damage to the fuel system.
. Fuel spills.
. Potential fuel fires.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not
top off or overfill the tank and wait a
few seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the
nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care 0298.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn it
clockwise until it clicks. Make sure
the cap is fully installed. The
diagnostic system can determine if
the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. This would
allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine
Light) 0101.
{Warning
If a fire starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Caution
If a new fuel cap is needed, be
sure to get the right type of cap
from your dealer. The wrong type
of fuel cap may not fit properly,
may cause the malfunction
indicator lamp to light, and could
damage the fuel tank and
emissions system. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0101.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159371) - 2016 - crc - 5/21/15
Vehicle Care 231
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 232
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 232
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 240
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 242
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 242
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 247
Power Steering Fluid (1.4L L4 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Power Steering Fluid (1.8L L4
Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Battery - North America . . . . . . 252
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 253
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 254
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 255
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 257
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 258
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 259
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 260 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 268
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159371) - 2016 - crc - 5/21/15
234 Vehicle Care
1. Pull the hood release handleinside the vehicle. It is located
on the lower left side of the
instrument panel.
2. Go to the front of the vehicle
and move the secondary hood
release lever toward the right
side of the vehicle.
3. Lift the hood and release thehood prop from its retainer,
above the radiator. Securely
place the hood prop into the
slot on the underside of
the hood.
To close the hood: 1. Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are on
properly. Then, lift the hood to
relieve pressure on the hood
prop. Remove the hood prop
from the slot in the underside
of the hood and return the prop
to its retainer. The prop rod must click into place when
returning it to the retainer to
prevent hood damage.
2. Lower the hood 30 cm (12 in) above the vehicle and release
it so it fully latches. Check to
make sure the hood is closed
and repeat the process if
necessary.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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238 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0242.
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering
Fluid (1.4L L4 Engine) 0248 or
Power Steering Fluid (1.8L L4
Engine) 0248.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0238.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 243.
5. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0238.
6. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0243.
7. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0251 and
Hydraulic Clutch 0242.
8. Auxiliary Fuse Block. See Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0260.
9. Battery - North America 0252.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 249. 11.
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0260.
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 0240.
. 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 loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
0 235 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 the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159371) - 2016 - crc - 5/21/15
Vehicle Care 245
Warning (Continued)
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/
50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts.
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Caution
If improper coolant mixture,
inhibitors, or additives are used in
the vehicle cooling system, the
engine could overheat and be
damaged. Too much water in the
mixture can freeze and crack
engine cooling parts. The repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Use only the
proper mixture of engine coolant
for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0317.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
It is normal to see coolant moving in
the upper coolant hose return line
when the engine is running.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge 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 mark
pointed to, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean drinkable water and
DEX-COOL coolant.
Be sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159371) - 2016 - crc - 5/21/15
246 Vehicle Care
If no coolant is visible in the coolant
surge tank, add coolant as follows:
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge TankCaution
This vehicle has a specific
coolant fill procedure. Failure to
follow this procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and be
severely damaged.
If no problem is found, check to see
if coolant is visible in the coolant
surge tank. If coolant is visible but
the coolant level is not at the
indicated level mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure the
cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap, is
cool before you do it.
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the surge tank pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling
system and surge tank pressure
cap to cool.
Caution
In cold weather, water can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator,
heater core, and other parts. Use
the recommended coolant and
the proper coolant mixture.
{Warning
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
1.4L Engine Shown, 1.8L EngineSimilar
1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.