cooling CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 2004 User Guide

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir.
SeeWindshield Washer Fluid on page 5-48.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-53.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
SeeJump Starting on page 5-54.
D. Upper Underhood Fuse Block.
See “Upperhood Fuse Block (Upper)” under
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-104.
E. Lower Underhood Fuse Block.
See “Underhood Fuse Block (Lower)” under
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-104.
F. Radiator Pressure Cap.
SeeRadiator Pressure Cap on page 5-34.
G. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank.
SeeCooling System on page 5-37
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
(low in engine compartment).
SeePower Steering Fluid on page 5-47.I. Electric Cooling Fan.
SeeCooling System on page 5-37.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick.
See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 5-18.
K. Engine Oil Fill Cap.
See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 5-18.
L. Bleed Valves (underneath engine shield).
See “How to Add Coolant to the Radiator”
underCooling System on page 5-37.
M. Transaxle Fluid Dipstick.
SeeAutomatic Transaxle Fluid on page 5-28.
N. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir.
SeeBrakes on page 5-50.
O. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.
SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-26.
5-15

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir.
SeeWindshield Washer Fluid on page 5-48.
B. Battery.
SeeBattery on page 5-53.
C. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal.
SeeBattery on page 5-53.
D. Underhood Electrical Center.
SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-104.
E. Radiator Pressure Cap.
SeeCooling System on page 5-37.
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank.
SeeCooling System on page 5-37.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Below Generator).
SeePower Steering Fluid on page 5-47.H. Electric Cooling Fan.
SeeCooling System on page 5-37.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick.
SeeEngine Oil on page 5-18.
J. Engine Oil Fill Cap.
SeeEngine Oil on page 5-18.
K. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick.
SeeAutomatic Transaxle Fluid on page 5-28.
L. Brake Fluid Reservoir.
SeeAutomatic Transaxle Fluid on page 5-28.
M. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.
SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-26.
5-17

Notice:Use of automatic transaxle uid labeled
other than DEXRON®-III may damage your vehicle,
and the damages may not be covered by your
warranty. Always use DEXRON
®-III labeled automatic
transaxle uid.
3. After adding uid, recheck the uid level as described
under “How to Check” earlier in this section.
4. When the correct uid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled 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 rst, 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 or if you need to add coolant to
your radiator, seeEngine Overheating on page 5-34.A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-31

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-halfclean, drinkable waterand
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which won’t damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as 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 would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not 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.
Notice:If you use the proper coolant, you do not
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful.
5-32

Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery tank
is located between the
power steering uid
reservoir and the
underhood fuse block in
the engine compartment
on the passenger’s side of
the vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for more
information on location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the COLD
mark or a little higher. When your engine is warm,
the level should be up to the HOT mark or a little higher.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixtureat the coolant recovery tank,but be
careful not to spill it.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant to the radiator. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 5-34.
{CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. With the coolant recovery tank, you will
almost never have to add coolant at the
radiator. Never turn the radiator pressure
cap — even a little — when the engine and
radiator are hot.
{CAUTION:
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.
Occasionally check the coolant level in the radiator.
For information on how to add coolant to the radiator,
seeCooling System on page 5-37.
5-33

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
C. Radiator CapA. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
C. Radiator Pressure Cap
3800 V6 Engine
5-37

{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood
can start up even when the engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface.
The coolant level
should be at or above
the COLD mark on
the coolant recovery tank.
To check the coolant
level, look for the COLD
mark on the side of
the coolant recovery tank
that faces the engine.Check to make sure that the coolant level is up to the
COLD ll level on the side of the coolant recovery tank.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak at the pressure cap or
in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump
or somewhere else in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
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 re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak xed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both fans should be
running. If they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
5-38

Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty.
See “Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode” in the Index for information on driving to
a safe place in an emergency.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at the COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture ofclean,
drinkable waterand DEX-COOL
®engine coolant at
the coolant recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-31for more information.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as 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 would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
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.
5-39

The coolant recovery tank is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for more information on location.
{CAUTION:
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.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at the
COLD 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.
5-40

{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator
pressure cap — even a little — they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever have
to turn the pressure cap.
5-41