Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
198 Driving and Operating
.Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
. Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
Driving and Operating 201
2.0L (LTG) Turbo Engine
Keep the oil level at or near 1 L
(1 qt) above the upper mark on the
engine oil dipstick which shows the
proper operating range.
6.2L (LT1) Engine
Keep the oil level at or near the
upper mark on the engine oil
dipstick which shows the proper
operating range.
Change the engine oil to 0W-40 or
5W-40 that meets the dexos2
specification. If this oil is not
available, the following oils can be
used as an alternative: Valvoline
SYNPOWER MST 5W-40, Mobil 1
ESP Formula M 5W-40. See
Capacities and Specifications0351.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Have the transmission fluid set to
the track specific oil level prior to
track usage. Transmission fluid
should be changed after every
15 hours of track usage. Any
transmission level set or change
should be performed at your dealer.
Manual Transmission Fluid
Manual transmission fluid should be
changed after every 15 hours of
track usage.
Rear Axle Fluid
Axles must have 2 400 km
(1,500 mi) before being used in
track driving.
The rear axle fluid temperatures
may be higher than when driving in
severe conditions. Drain and refill
with new fluid after the first racing or
competitive driving event, and then
after every 24 hours of racing or
competitive driving. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0346.
Caution
During a first time track or racing
event, high rear axle
temperatures can occur. Damage
could be caused to the rear axle
and would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Do not drive as
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
long or as fast the first time the
vehicle is driven on the track or
raced.
Brake Fluid
For track events or competitive
driving, it is recommended that the
brake fluid be replaced with a high
performance brake fluid that has a
dry boiling point greater than 279 °C
(534 °F). After conversion to the
high performance brake fluid, follow
the brake fluid service
recommendations outlined by the
fluid manufacturer. Do not use
silicone or DOT-5 brake fluids.
Brake Burnishing
To prepare the Camaro brake
systems for track events and racing,
complete the appropriate high
performance brake burnishing
procedure described below.
New brake pads must be burnished
before racing or competitive driving.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
Driving and Operating 205
14. After a track event, repeat thesteps to reinstall the original
lower control arm deflectors
and splash shields.
15. Reinstall the tire deflectors.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road. There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.
Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires0291.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.
Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 223
Caution (Continued)
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is needed for
passing, press the accelerator
pedal down.
Powertrain Braking
When driving on steep descents
with the shift lever in D (Drive)
where frequent braking is required, the transmission will shift down a
gear to help hold vehicle speed and
reduce brake wear. If the brake
continues to be pressed, the
transmission will downshift until
3 (Third) gear is reached.
If the brake is released for some
time, the transmission will upshift a
gear. If the road levels out and the
accelerator pedal is pressed, the
transmission will upshift until the
appropriate gear is reached.
Caution
If the vehicle does not shift gears,
the transmission could be
damaged. Have the vehicle
serviced right away.
Performance Shifting
While driving in Sport Mode
(L4, if equipped or V6, if equipped),
or Sport Mode and Track Mode
(V8, if equipped), if Tap Shift has not
been activated, the transmission
determines when the vehicle is
being driven in a competitive
manner. The transmission may
remain in a gear longer than it
would in the normal driving mode
based on throttle input and vehicle
lateral acceleration. If there is a
rapid reduction in throttle from a
heavy throttle position at high rpm,
the transmission will maintain the
current gear up to near redline rpm.
While braking, the transmission will
automatically downshift to the next
lower gear keeping engine speed
above approximately 3000 rpm.
If the vehicle is then driven for a
short time at a steady speed, and
without high cornering loads, the
transmission will upshift one gear at
a time until the highest available
gear is reached. After shifting to the
highest available gear, the
transmission will return to normal
Sport Mode shifting.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
Driving and Operating 239
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
Vehicles with a limited-slip rear axle
can give more traction on snow,
mud, ice, sand, or gravel. When
traction is low, this feature allows
the drive wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle. The
limited-slip rear axle also gives the
driver enhanced control when
cornering hard or completing a
maneuver, such as a lane change.
For vehicles with limited-slip
differential, driven under severe
conditions, the rear axle fluid should
be changed. SeeCompetitive
Driving Mode 0237 and
Maintenance Schedule 0337.
Cruise Control
If equipped with cruise control, the
vehicle can maintain a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more
without keeping your foot on the
accelerator. Cruise control does not
work at speeds below 40 km/h
(25 mph).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads. If equipped with a manual
transmission, the cruise control will
remain active when the gears are
shifted. The cruise is disengaged if
the clutch is pressed for several
seconds.
If the StabiliTrak
®system begins to
limit wheel spin while using cruise
control, the cruise control
automatically disengages. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0232. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it
again, cruise control can be turned
back on.
Cruise control will disengage if
either TCS or StabiliTrak is
turned off.
Cruise control is not available when
using Competitive Driving Mode,
if equipped. See Competitive Driving
Mode 0237.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
252 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 253
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 254
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 263
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 265
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 265
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 272
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 Battery - North America . . . . . . 276
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 277
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 278
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 278
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 279
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Front Turn Signal Lamps (Passenger Side Only) . . . . . . 281
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 283
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 284
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 285 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 257
1. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 273.
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0267.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0261.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0261. 5. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir.
See Brake Fluid 0275 and
Hydraulic Clutch 0265.
6. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0265.
7. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 267. 8.
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0285.
9. Negative (–) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0320.
10. Positive (+) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North
America 0320.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 259
1. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 273.
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0267.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0261. 4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
Engine Oil 0261.
5. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0275 and
Hydraulic Clutch 0265.
6. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0265.
7. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 267. 8.
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0285.
9. Negative (–) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0320.
10. Positive (+) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North
America 0320.