
Chevrolet City Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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182 Vehicle Care
1. Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System 0186.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0182.
3. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 193.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0184.
5. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0199.
6. Battery - North America 0194.
7. Radiator Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0186.
8. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0182.
9. Drive Belt.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 191.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:
.
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
Maintenance Schedule 0246.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially
prior to a long trip. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0181 for the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the
oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
. To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground.
Check the engine oil level after
the engine has been off for at
least two hours. Checking the
engine oil level on steep grades
or too soon after engine shutoff
can result in incorrect readings.
Accuracy improves when

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Vehicle Care 183
checking a cold engine prior to
starting. Remove the dipstick
and check the level.
. If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is
warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out
the dipstick, wipe it with a clean
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
It should be between the H (High)
and L (Low) marks after the engine
has been off for at least 15 minutes,
This is the normal operating oil level
range. If the oil level is below the L (Low) mark, remove the oil filler
cap and pour recommended oil
through the opening. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0181 for
the location of the engine oil fill cap.
Add some 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 0261.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Do not overfill. Push the
dipstick all the way back in when
through.
Caution
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
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
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.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0257.
Specification
Ask for and use engine oils that
meet the dexos1™ specification.
Engine oils that have been
approved by GM as meeting the
dexos1 specification are marked
with the dexos1 approved logo. See
www.gmdexos.com.

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Vehicle Care 187
{Warning
An electric engine cooling fan can
start even when the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, always
keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any engine
cooling fan.
{Warning
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.
Caution
Using coolant other than the
recommended engine coolant can
cause premature engine, heater
core, or radiator corrosion. In
addition, the engine coolant could
require changing sooner. Any
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
the recommended engine coolant.
SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0257.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with long life antifreeze
coolant. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0257.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating 0190.
What to Use
{Warning
Adding water or some other liquid
to the cooling system can be
dangerous. Water and other
liquids can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. The coolant
warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With
water or the wrong mixture, the
engine could get too hot but you
would not get the overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned. Use the recommended
engine coolant. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0257.
Use the recommended engine
coolant. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0257. If using this
coolant, nothing else needs to be
added. This coolant:

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188 Vehicle Care
.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 the 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
recommended engine coolant for
the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0257. Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, by pouring it
on the ground, or by pouring 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 Engine Coolant
Level
{Warning
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
Caution
This vehicle has a specific
coolant fill procedure. Failure to
follow this procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and be
severely damaged.
{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.
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.

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Vehicle Care 189
Check the coolant level in the
reservoir when the engine is cold.
If the coolant level is below the MIN
level, add coolant to the MAX level.
If the reservoir is empty, check the
coolant level in the radiator when
the engine is cold. If there is
insufficient coolant in the radiator, fill
the radiator with coolant up to the
filler opening and also add it to the
reservoir up to the MAX level.
The vehicle contains long life
coolant. The life expectancy of the
factory-fill coolant is 168,000 km
(105,000 miles) or seven years.
Mixing any other type of coolant or
the use of non-distilled water willreduce the life expectancy of the
factory-fill coolant. Refer to the
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
0257 for more details.
The engine coolant reservoir is a
pressurized tank. When installing
the cap, tighten.
If the cooling system frequently
requires coolant, have it checked by
your dealer.
Changing Engine Coolant
A dealer can change the engine
coolant. The service procedure can
be found in the service manual. See
Service Publications Ordering
Information 0272.
Improper servicing can result in
reduced heater performance and
engine overheating.
{Warning
. To avoid the danger of
being scalded, never
change the coolant when
the engine is hot.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Never remove the radiator
or engine coolant reservoir
cap when the engine is hot.
Serious burns could be
caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the
radiator.
. Avoid direct skin contact
with used coolant. If skin
contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or
hand cleaner as soon as
possible.
. Keep coolant out of the
reach of children and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of
properly. Check your local
regulations.

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190 Vehicle Care
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an engine coolant
temperature warning light on the
instrument cluster to warn of engine
overheating. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light 096.
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
but instead get service help right
away, see Roadside Assistance
Program 0267.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, the fans
should be running. If they are not,
do not continue to run the engine
and have the vehicle serviced.
See if the engine cooling fan speed
increases when idle speed is
doubled by pushing the accelerator
pedal down. If it does not, the
vehicle needs service. Turn off the
engine.Caution
Running the engine without
coolant may cause damage or a
fire. Vehicle damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of
steam or coolant before you open
the hood.
If you keep driving when the
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch fire. You or others
could be badly burned. Stop the (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
engine if it overheats, and get out
of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
The engine has an engine
protection mode to reduce the
chance of damage if the coolant
temperature goes too high (for
example, when climbing steep
grades in high temperature with
heavy loads, such as when towing a
trailer). When the engine
temperature reaches a certain level:
.The engine coolant temperature
warning light will illuminate.
. Engine power may be reduced.
. The air conditioning cooling
function may be automatically
turned OFF for a short time (the
blower will continue to operate).

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Vehicle Care 191
Engine power and under certain
conditions, vehicle speed will
decrease. Vehicle speed can be
controlled with the accelerator
pedal, but the vehicle may not
accelerate at the desired speed.
The transmission will downshift or
upshift as it reaches prescribed shift
points. You can also shift manually.
As driving conditions change and
engine coolant temperature is
reduced, vehicle speed can be
increased using the accelerator
pedal, and air conditioning cooling
function will automatically be turned
back ON.
If:1. The engine coolant temperature is not reduced.
2. The air conditioning cooling function does not turn
back ON.
3. The engine oil pressure low/ engine coolant temperature
high warning light illuminates,
this may indicate a malfunction.
Move the vehicle off the road in
a safe area and allow the engine to cool. If after checking
the oil and coolant, the oil
pressure low/engine coolant
temperature high warning light
remains on, do not continue to
drive. Call your dealer.
The malfunction indicator light may
also come on. If only it remains on,
you do not need to have the vehicle
towed, but have it inspected soon
by your dealer. For additional
information, see Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine
Light) 091.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When the vehicle needs windshield
washer fluid, read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an
area where the temperature may fall
below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the reservoir is full. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0181 for
reservoir location.
Caution
. Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can
cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
(Continued)

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Vehicle Care 193
in many other ways if the wrong
replacement brake parts are
installed or if parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0181 for the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir
might go down:
. The brake fluid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes
back up. .
A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system can also cause
a low fluid level. Have the brake
hydraulic system fixed, since a
leak means that sooner or later
the brakes will not work well.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove brake fluid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system. See “Checking Brake
Fluid” in this section. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine when to check the
brake fluid. See
Maintenance
Schedule 0246.
Checking Brake Fluid
Check brake fluid by looking at the
brake fluid reservoir. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0181.
The fluid level should be above
MIN. If it is not, have the brake
hydraulic system checked to see if
there is a leak.