Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
196 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 205
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 205
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 207
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 212
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Active Fuel Management . . . . . 219
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 221
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 226
Active Rev Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 229
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 231
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 234
Competitive Driving Mode . . . . 237 Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . . 239
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 242
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 242
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 245
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 248
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
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
208 Driving and Operating
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
seeTowing the Vehicle 0323.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may show how much weight it may
properly carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
reduce stopping distance,
damage the tires, and shorten
the life of the vehicle. Tire and Loading Information
Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the vehicle's center
pillar (B-pillar). The Tire and
Loading Information label shows
the number of occupant seating
positions (1), and the maximum
vehicle capacity weight (2) in
kilograms and pounds.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
Driving and Operating 209
The Tire and Loading
Information label also shows the
tire size of the original
equipment tires (3) and the
recommended cold tire inflation
pressures (4). For more
information on tires and inflation
seeTires 0291 andTire
Pressure 0299.
There is also important loading
information on the Certification
label. It may show the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for the front and
rear axle. See “Certification
Label” later in this section.
“Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit–
1.Locate the statement "The
combined weight of
occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs." on your vehicle’s
placard.
2.Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kg or
XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals
the available amount of
cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the
"XXX" amount equals
1400 lbs. and there will be
five 150 lb passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs.)
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your
trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how
this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.”
This vehicle is neither designed
nor intended to tow a trailer.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
212 Driving and Operating
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Caution
Follow these recommended
guidelines during the first
2 414 km (1,500 mi) of driving this
vehicle. Parts have a break-in
period and performance will be
better in the long run.. Avoid full throttle starts and
abrupt stops.
. Do not exceed 4000
engine rpm.
. Avoid driving at any one
constant speed, fast or slow.
. Do not drive above
129 km/h (80 mph).
. Avoid downshifting to brake
or slow the vehicle when the
engine speed will exceed
4000 rpm.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Do not let the engine labor.
Never lug the engine in high
gear at low speeds. With a
manual transmission, shift
to the next lower gear. This
rule applies at all times, not
just during the break-in
period.
. Do not participate in racing
events, sport driving
schools, or similar activities
during this break-in period.
. Check engine oil with every
refueling and add if
necessary. Oil and fuel
consumption may be higher
than normal during the first
2 414 km (1,500 mi).
. To break in new tires, drive
at moderate speeds and
avoid hard cornering for the
first 322 km (200 mi). New
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
tires do not have maximum
traction and may tend
to slip.
. New brake linings also need
a break-in period. Avoid
making hard stops during
the first 322 km (200 mi).
This is recommended every
time brake linings are
replaced.
. Should the vehicle be used
for racing or competitive
driving (after break-in), the
rear axle lubricant must be
replaced beforehand.
See Track Events and Competitive
Driving 0200.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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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 277
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly
check the rear axle fluid, unless a
leak is suspected or an unusual
noise is heard. A fluid loss could
indicate a problem. Have it
inspected and repaired by your
dealer.
Starter Switch Check
{Warning
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Apply both the parking brake and the regular brake.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it
starts.
3. For automatic transmission vehicles, try to start the engine
in each gear. The vehicle
should start only in P (Park) or
N (Neutral). If the vehicle starts
in any other position, contact
your dealer for service. For manual transmission
vehicles, put the shift lever in
Neutral, push the clutch pedal
down halfway, and try to start
the engine. The vehicle should
start only when the clutch
pedal is pushed down all the
way to the floor. If the vehicle
starts when the clutch pedal is
not pushed all the way down,
contact your dealer for service.
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
{Warning
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.