CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1996 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label),
it
is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications.
If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp
on
your instrument panel may turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized GM dealer for diagnosis to determine the
cause
of hilure. In the event it is determined that the
cause
of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may
not be covered by your warranty.
In Canada, some gasolines contain an octane-enhancing
additive called
MMT. If you use such fuels, your
emission control system performance may deteriorate
and the malfunction indicator lamp
on your instrument
panel
may turn on. If this happens, return to your
authorized GM dealer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines are now required to
contain additives that will help prevent deposits from
forming
in your engine and fuel system, allowing your
emission control system to function properly. Therefore,
you should
not have to add anything to the fuel. In
addition, gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be
available
in your area to help clean the air. General
Motors recommends that
you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it.
It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
6-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuels in Foreign Countries
-- Gasoline Engines
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States
or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other
fuel not
recommended in
the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
~ To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
1 contact a major oil company that does business in the
j country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write
us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation,
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H
8P7
Filling Your Tank
I
1 C ,U ION: I
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke if you’re near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away.from gasoline.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine While refueling, hang the cap inside the fuel door.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and
is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of Your Vehicle” in the Index.
6-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right until
you hear at least three clicks. Make sure you fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed. This would
allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. See
“Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in the Index.
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 or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system
might
be damaged.
Checking Things Under the Hood
To open the hood, first pull
this handle inside the
vehicle. It is just in front of
the driver’s side
door frame
near the floor.
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I

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Lift the hood, release the
hood prop
from its retainer
and put the hood prop into
the slot in the hood hinge.
The underhood
lamp will
automatically come
on
and stay on until the hood
is closed.
Then
go to the front of the vehicle and release the
secondary hood release.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you lift the hood, you’ll see these items:
A. Battery
B. Coolant Recovery Tank
C. Engine Oil Dipstick
D. Engine Oil Fill
E. Transmission Dipstick
6-8
F. Air Cleaner
G. Power Steering Reservoir
H. Brake Master Cylinder
I. Windshield Washer Fluid

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If your vehicle has a 7.4L engine and air conditioning,
your vehicle will have
a auxiliary engine fan in addition
to the belt driven fan.
A CAUTION:
If your vehicle has air conditioning, the auxiliary
engine fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from any
underhood electric fan.
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.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
on properly.
Then lift the hood to relieve pressure
on the hood prop.
Remove the hood prop from the slot in the hood and
return the prop
to its retainer. Then just let the hood
down and close
it firmly.
Noise Control System
The following information relates to compliance with
Federal noise emission standards for vehicles with a
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than
10,000
lbs. (4 536 kg). The Maintenance Schedule
booklet provides information on maintaining the noise
control system
to minimize degradation of the noise
emission control system during the life of your vehicle.
The noise control system warranty is given
in your
Warranty booklet.
These standards apply
only to vehicles sold in the
United States.
6-9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tampering With Noise Control
System Prohibited
Federal law prohibits the following acts or the
causing thereof
1.
2.
The removal or rendering inoperative by any person,
other than
for purposes of maintenance, repair or
replacement,
of any device or element of design
incorporated
into any new vehicle for the purpose of
noise control, prior to its sale or delivery to the
ultimate purchaser or while
it is in use; or
The use
of the vehicle after such device or element
of design has been removed or rendered inoperative
by any person.
Among those acts presumed
to constitute tampering are
the acts listed below.
Insulation:
0 Removal of noise shields or underhood insulation.
Engine:
Removal or rendering engine speed governor (if so
equipped) inoperative so as to allow engine speed to
exceed manufxturer specifications.
Fan and Drive:
Removal of fan clutch (if so equipped) or rendering
clutch inoperative.
Removal of fm shroud (if so equipped).
Air Intake:
0 Removal of air cleaner silencer.
0 Reversing air cleaner cover.
Exhaust:
0 Removal of muffler and/or resonator.
Removal of exhaust pipes and exhaust pipe clamps.
6-10

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Engine Oil
(Diesel Engine)” in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
It’s
a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel.
In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground.
Turn off the engine and give the
oil a few minutes to drain
back
into the oil pan. If you
don’t, the oil dipstick might
not show the actual level.
Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a 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 Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD mark, then you’ll need to
add some
oil. But you must use the right kind. This part
explains what kind
of oil to use. For crankcase capacity,
see “Capacities and Specifications”
in the Index.
I NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil. If’ your engine has so much
oil that the oil level gets above the upper mark that
shows the proper operating range,
your engine
could be damaged.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What Kind of Oil to Use
The engine oil filler cap is located between the air
cleaner and engine oil dipstick.
Just fill
it enough to put the level somewhere in the
proper operating range. Push the dipstick
all the way
back in when you’re through. Oils recommended for your vehicle can be identified
by
looking for the “Starburst” symbol. This symbol
indicates that the
oil has been certified by the American
Petroleum Institute (API).
Do not use any oil which
does not carry this Starburst symbol.
If you change your own oil,
be sure you use oil that has
the Starburst symbol on the
front
of the oil container.
If you have your oil
changed for you, be sure
the
oil put into your engine
is American Petroleum
Institute certified for
gasoline engines.
You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your
vehicle, as shown in the following chart:
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