Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13556304) - 2020 - CRC - 5/10/19
Driving and Operating 155
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
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering
system, do not drive over curbs,
parking barriers, or similar objects
at speeds greater than 3 km/h
(1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane
dividers and speed bumps.
Damage caused by misuse of the
vehicle is not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
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.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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158 Driving and Operating
Caution (Continued)
Be sure to check the oil level
often during racing or other
competitive driving and keep the
level at or near the upper mark
that shows the proper operating
range on the engine oil dipstick.
3.6L (LGX) V6 Engine
Change the engine oil to 0W-40 or
5W-40 that meets the dexos2
specification. If this oil is not
available, the following oil can be
used as an alternative: Valvoline
SYNPOWER MST 5W-40.
For LS/LT 1LE, add 0.9 L (1.0 qt) of
oil over the nominal fill level for a
track event. After the competitive
driving, remove the excess oil so
that the level on the dipstick is not
above the upper mark that shows
the proper operating range.
During track usage, do not follow
the Engine Oil Life System status.
Change the engine oil after four
hours of accumulative track usage.
Fuel
Use premium unleaded gasoline
with a posted octane rating of 93 at
a track event. Unleaded gasoline
with a posted octane rating of
91 may be used, but performance
will be degraded.
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
0316.
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
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
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13556304) - 2020 - CRC - 5/10/19
Driving and Operating 159
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.
Caution
These procedures are specific to
the Camaro SS, or LT with Y4Q
Heavy Duty Cooling System that
is equipped with J55 brakes. This
procedure should not be run on
other Camaro models as damage
may result.
Caution
The new vehicle break-in period
should be completed before
performing the brake burnishing
procedure or damage may occur
to the powertrain/engine. See
New Vehicle Break-In0173.
When performed as instructed, this
procedure will not damage the
brakes. During the burnishing
procedure, the brake pads will
smoke and produce an odor. The
braking force and pedal travel may
increase. After the procedure is
complete, the brake pads may
appear white at the rotor contact.
Run this procedure in a safe
manner and in compliance with all
local and state ordinances/laws
regarding motor vehicle operation.
Run this procedure only on dry
pavement. Racing/Track Brake Burnishing
ProcedureCaution
Brake fade will occur during this
track burnish procedure and can
cause brake pedal travel and
force to increase. This could
extend stopping distance until the
brakes are fully burnished.
1. Apply the brakes 25 times starting at 100 km/h (60 mph) to
50 km/h (30 mph) while
decelerating at 0.4 g. This is a
medium brake application.
Drive for at least 1 km (0.6 mi)
between applying the brakes.
This first step may be skipped
if there are more than 320 km
(200 mi) on the brake pads.
2. Repeatedly apply the brakes from 100 km/h (60 mph) to
25 km/h (15 mph) while
decelerating at 0.8 g. This is a
hard brake application, without
activating the Antilock Brake
System (ABS). Drive for at
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 167
{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.
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 iswet 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 Tires0259.
. 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.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
(Continued)
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13556304) - 2020 - CRC - 5/10/19
184 Driving and Operating
lever button must be pressed before
shifting from P (Park) when the
ignition is on. If you cannot shift out
of P (Park), ease pressure on the
shift lever, then push the shift lever
all the way into P (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then
press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever into another
gear. SeeShifting out of Park 0180.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0169. N :
In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
(Continued)
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,
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13556304) - 2020 - CRC - 5/10/19
202 Driving and Operating
Competitive Driving Mode and
Launch Control are systems
designed for a closed course race
track and not intended for use on
public roads. The systems are not
intended to compensate for lack of
driver experience or familiarity with
the race track.
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 (SS, ZL1 and 1LE
Models Only) 0200 and
Maintenance Schedule 0306.
Cruise Control
When using 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/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system begins to limit
wheel spin while using cruise
control, the cruise control
automatically disengages. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control
0194. 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/ESC is
turned off.
Cruise control is not available when
using Competitive Driving Mode,
if equipped. See Competitive Driving
Mode (SS, ZL1 and 1LE Models
Only) 0200.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 219
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 220
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 221
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 232
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 234
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Engine Air Filter Life System (2.0L LTG and 3.6L LGX
Engines Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 235
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 241 Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Battery - North America . . . . . . 246
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 247
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 247
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 248
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 249
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . 250
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 252
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 252
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 253 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 263
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 225
1. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 243.
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0237.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0229.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0229.
5. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0244 and
Hydraulic Clutch 0234.
6. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0235.
7. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 237.
8. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0253.
9. Negative (–) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0289.
10. Positive (+) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North
America 0289.