engine coolant CHEVROLET ASTRO 1998 2.G User Guide
Page 239 of 414
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE: 
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.  You 
can be burned  if you sl I coolant  on  hot 
engine  parts.  Coolant  contains  ethylene  glycol 
and  it  will burn 
if the  engine  parts  are  hot 
enough.  Don’t  spill  coolant  on 
a hot  engine. 
When  the coolant  in  the  coolant  recovery  tank is  at  the 
ADD mark,  start  your  vehicle. 
If the overheat warning continues,  there’s one more 
thing 
you can  try.  You can add  the proper  coolant 
mixture  directly 
to the  radiator,  but  be  sure the cooling 
system  is 
cool before you do  it. 
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Page 241 of 414
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Coolant  to  the  Radiator 
1. 
I 
You can remove the 
radiator pressure  cap 
when the cooling  system, including the 
radiator pressure  cap and 
upper radiator hose,  is 
no  longer  hot. Turn the 
pressure  cap slowly 
counterclockwise until it 
first stops. (Don’t press  down while turning the 
pressure cap.) 
2. 
If  you  hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means 
there  is still  some  pressure left.  Then keep turning 
the pressure cap, but  now  push  down as you 
turn 
it. Remove the 
pressure cap. 
1 I 
I 5-19   
Page 242 of 414
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. Fill  the  radiator  with  the proper DEX-COOL@ 
coolant mixture,  up  to  the  base of the  filler  neck. 
(See “Engine  Coolant”  in 
the Index for more 
information  about the  proper  coolant  mixture.) 
4. Then fill the  coolant  recovery tank to the ADD mark. 
5. Put the cap  back on the coolant  recovery  tank,  but 
leave  the  radiator  pressure  cap off. 
5-20   
Page 243 of 414
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. Start the engine  and  let  it  run until you  can feel the 
upper  radiator  hose getting hot.  Watch out for  the 
engine  cooling  fan. 
filler  neck  may  be  lower. 
If the  level  is  lower,  add 
more 
of the  proper DEX-COOL@ coolant  mixture 
through  the filler  neck 
until the  level  reaches  the 
base 
of the  filler  neck. 
7. By this time,  the  coolant  level  inside  the  radiator 
8. Then  replace the pressure  cap. At  any  time  during 
this  procedure  if coolant  begins  to 
flow out of the 
filler  neck,  reinstall  the  pressure  cap. 
Be sure  the 
arrows  on  the  pressure  cap line  up  like  this. 
5-21   
Page 263 of 414
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 6 Service  and  Appearance  Care 
Here you will  find information about  the care of your  vehicle.  This section begins  with service  and fuel information, 
and  then it shows  how to check  important fluid  and  lubricant levels. There is also  technical  infc lation about your 
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6-35  vehicle, 
and a part devoted to its appearance care. 
Service 
Fuel 
Filling  Your Tank 
Filling  a Portable  Fuel Container 
Checking Things Under  the  Hood 
Engine Oil  Engine Cover 
Air Cleaner 
Automatic Transmission Fluid 
All-Wheel  Drive 
Rear  Axle 
Engine Coolant 
Radiator Pressure  Cap 
Thermostat 
Power Steering Fluid 
Windshield  Washer  Fluid 
Brakes 
Battery  6-36 
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6-68 
6-69  Bulb 
Replacement 
Halogen  Bulbs 
Windshield  Wiper  Blade Replacement 
Tires 
Appearance Care 
Cleaning  the Inside  of  Your  Vehicle 
Cleaning  the  Built-in  Child  Restraint 
Cleaning  the Outside 
of Your  Vehicle 
Cleaning  Tires 
Finish  Damage 
Underbody  Maintenance 
Appearance Care Materials Chart 
Vehicle  Identification  Number (VIN) 
Service Parts  Identification  Label 
Electrical  System 
Capacities  and Specifications 
Air  Conditioning Refrigerants 
Normal  Maintenance  Replacement  Parts 
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Page 269 of 414
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I 
NOTICE: 
If you need  a  new  cap,  be  sure  to  get  the  right 
type.  Your  dealer  can  get  one  for  you. 
If you  get 
the  wrong  type,  it  may  not  fit  properly.  This  may  cause  your  malfunction  indicator  lamp  to  light  and  your  fuel  tank  and  emissions  system  may  be 
damaged.  See “Malfunction  Indicator  Lamp”  in 
the  Index. 
Filling a Portable  Fuel Container 
A CAUTION: 
Never  fill  a  portable  fuel  container  while it is in 
your  vehicle.  Static  electricity  discharge  from  the 
container  can  ignite  the  gasoline  vapor. 
You can 
be  badly  burned  and  your  vehicle damaged  if this 
occurs. 
To help  avoid  injury to you  and  others: 
Dispense  gasoline  only  into 
approved  containers. 
CAUTION:  (Continued) 
I 
Do not fill a  container  whilc : is inside a 
vehicle,  in  a vehicle’s  trunk,  pickup  bed  or 
on  any  surface  other  than  the  ground. 
inside  of the  fill opening  before  operating 
the  nozzle.  Contact  should  be  maintained 
until  the  filling 
is complete. 
0 Bring  the  fill nozzle  in  contact  with the 
Don’t  smoke  while pumping  gasoline. 
Checking Things Under  the Hood 
A CAUTION: I 
Things  that  burn  can  get  on hot  engine  parts  and 
start  a  fire.  These  include  liquids  like  gasoline, 
oil,  coolant,  brake fluid,  windshield  washer  and 
other  fluids,  and  plastic 
or rubber. You or  others 
could  be  burned.  Be careful  not  to  drop  or  spill 
things  that  will burn  onto  a  hot  engine. 
6-7   
Page 271 of 414
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you open the hood, this is  what you will see: 
A.  Windshield  Washer  Fluid Fill  Location 
B. Coolant  Fill  Location 
C.  Oil  Dipstick  Location 
D. Transmission  DipsticWill Location 
E. Air Cleaner 
F. hngine  Oil b111 Location 
G. Brake  Master  Cylinder Reservoir 
H. Power Steering  Fluid  Reservoir 
I. Battery 
6-9   
Page 287 of 414
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rear  Axle 
When to Check  and  Change  Lubricant 
Refer to the  Maintenance  Schedule to determine  how 
often 
to check  the lubricant  and  when to change it.  See 
“Scheduled Maintenance Services”  in  the Index. 
How to Check  Lubricant 
If the level  is  below the bottom  of the filler plug  hole, 
you’ll  need  to add  some lubricant.  Add enough  lubricant 
to  raise  the level to  the  bottom 
of the filler  plug hole. 
What  to  Use 
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine  what 
kind  of  lubricant 
to use. See “Recommended  Fluids  and 
Lubricants”  in the Index. 
Engine Coolant 
The cooling s stem  in  your  vehicle  is filled  with 
DEX-COOL  engine coolant. This coolant 
is designed 
to remain  in your vehicle  for 
5 years or 150,000 miles 
(240 
000 km)  whichever  occurs first,  if  you  add  only 
DEX-COOL’  extended life coolant. 
The following explains  your cooling system  and how  to 
add  coolant  when it is  low.  If  you  have  a problem  with 
engine overheating, 
see “Engine Overheating”  in 
the  Index. 
A 50/50 mixture  of  water  and DEX-COOL@ 
coolant  will: 
Give  freezing  protection  down to -34°F (-37°C). 
0 Give boiling  protection  up  to 265  “F ( 129°C). 
0 Protect  against rust  and  corrosion. 
Help keep  the  proper engine temperature. 
Let  the  warning  lights and gages  work as 
B 
they should. 
6-25   
Page 288 of 414
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE: 
When  adding  coolant,  it is important  that  you use 
only 
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free)  coolant. 
If’ coolant  other  than  DEX-COOL  is added  to  the 
system,  premature  engine, heater  core  or 
radiator  corrosion  may  result.  In  addition,  the 
engine  coolant  will require  change  sooner 
-- at 
30,000 miles (50 000 km)  or 24 months, 
whichever  occurs  first.  Damage  caused  by the  use 
of  coolant  other  than  DEX-COOL@  is  not 
covered  by your  new vehicle  warranty. 
I 
What to Use 
Use a mixture  of  one-half clean water (preferably 
distilled)  and  one-half 
DEX-COOL@ coolant  which 
won’t  damage  aluminum  parts. 
If you  use  this  mixture, 
you  don’t  need 
to add  anyth‘ ; else. 
Adding  only plain  water  to  your  cooling system 
can  be  dangerous.  Plain  water, or some  other 
liquid  like  alcohol, can boil  before  the  proper 
coolant  mixture  will.  Your  vehicle’s  coolant 
warning  system is set  for  the  proper  coolant 
mixture.  With  plain  water  or  the  wrong  mixture, 
your  engine  could  get  too  hot  but you  wouldn’t 
get  the  overheat  warning.  Your engine  could 
catch  fire  and  you or  others  could  be burned. 
Use  a 
50/50 mixture  of clean  water  and 
DEX-COOL@ coolant. 
6-26   
Page 289 of 414
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE: 
If you  use an  improper  coolant  mixture,  your 
engine  could  overheat  and  be  badly  damaged. 
The  repair  cost  wouldn’t  be covered 
by your 
warranty. 
Too much  water  in  the  mixture  can 
freeze  and  crack  the  engine,  radiator,  heater  core 
and  other  parts. 
If you  have to add  coolant  more  than  four times  a year, 
have  your dealer check your cooling system. 
I NOTICE: 
If you use  the  proper  coolant,  you  don’t  have  to 
add  extra  inhibitors  or  additives  which  claim  to 
improve  the  system.  These  can  be  harmful. 
Checking Coolant 
.. 
When  your engine is cold, the  coolant  level should  be at 
ADD, or a little  higher.  When your engine is warm,  the 
level  should  be up  to 
FULL HOT, or a little  higher. 
6-27