CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 2007 6.G Owners Manual

Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
The 8th digit of your Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN) shows the code letter or number
that identies your engine. You will nd the VIN at
the top left of the instrument panel. SeeVehicle
Identication Number (VIN) on page 394.
If your vehicle has the 3.5L V6 engine (VIN
Code K only), you may use either regular unleaded
gasoline or ethanol fuel containing up to 85%
ethanol (E85); also seeFuel on page 298.Inall
other engines, including the 3.5L V6 (VIN Code N),
use only regular unleaded gasoline.
Only vehicles that have the 3.5L V6 engine
(VIN Code K) may use 85% ethanol fuel (E85).
General Motors encourages the use of E85
in vehicles that are designed to use it. The ethanol
in E85 is a “renewable” fuel, meaning it is made
from renewable sources such as corn and
other crops.Many service stations will not have an 85% ethanol
fuel (E85) pump available. The U. S. Department
of Energy has an alternative fuels website
(www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/infrastructure/
locator.html) that can help you nd E85 fuel. Those
stations that do have E85 should have a label
indicating ethanol content. Do not use the fuel if the
ethanol content is greater than 85%.
At a minimum, E85 should meet ASTM
Specication D 5798. By denition, this means
that fuel labeled E85 will have an ethanol content
between 70% and 85%. Filling the fuel tank
with fuel mixtures that do not meet ASTM
specications can affect driveability and could
cause the check engine light to come on.
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To ensure quick starts in the wintertime, the
E85 fuel must be formulated properly for your
climate according to ASTM specication D 5798.
If you have trouble starting on E85, it may be
because your E85 fuel is not properly formulated
for your climate. If this happens, switching to
gasoline or adding gasoline to your fuel tank
may improve starting. For good starting and
heater efficiency below 32°F (0°C), the fuel mix
in the fuel tank should contain no more than
70% ethanol. It is best not to alternate repeatedly
between gasoline and E85. If you do switch
fuels, it is recommended that you add as
much fuel as possible — do not add less than
three gallons (11 L) when refueling. You should
drive the vehicle immediately after refueling for
at least seven miles (11 km) to allow the vehicle to
adapt to the change in ethanol concentration.
E85 has less energy per gallon than gasoline,
so you will need to rell your fuel tank more
often when using E85 than when you are using
gasoline. SeeFilling the Tank on page 303.Notice:Some additives are not compatible
with E85 fuel and may harm your vehicle’s fuel
system. Damage caused by additives would
not be covered by your new vehicle warranty.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not use
fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also damage
the plastic and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be
hard to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other
fuel not recommended in the previous text on fuel.
Costly repairs caused by use of improper fuel would
not be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business
in the country where you will be driving.
302

Filling the Tank
{CAUTION:
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel re
can cause bad injuries. To help avoid
injuries to you and others, read and follow
all the instructions on the pump island.
Turn off your engine when you are
refueling. Do not smoke if you are near
fuel or refueling your vehicle. Keep
sparks, ames, and smoking materials
away from fuel. Do not leave the fuel
pump unattended when refueling your
vehicle. This is against the law in some
places. Keep children away from the fuel
pump; never let children pump fuel.The tethered fuel cap is located behind a hinged
fuel door on the driver’s side of the vehicle. If
the vehicle has E85 fuel capability, a yellow cap
with the words “E85/gasoline” can be seen.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly
counterclockwise. The fuel cap has a spring in
it; if the cap is released too soon, it will spring
back to the right.
303

While refueling, hang the tethered fuel cap on the
hook on the inside of the fuel door.
{CAUTION:
If you spill fuel and then something
ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Fuel can spray out on you if you open
the fuel cap too quickly. This spray can
happen if your tank is nearly full, and is
more likely in hot weather. Open the fuel
cap slowly and wait for any hiss noise to
stop. Then unscrew the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overll
the tank and wait a few seconds after you have
nished pumping before removing the nozzle.
Clean fuel from painted surfaces as soon as
possible. SeeWashing Your Vehicle on page 389.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn it clockwise until
it clicks. Make sure the cap is fully installed. 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.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 181.The TIGHTEN GAS CAP message will be displayed
on the Driver Information Center (DIC) if the fuel cap
is not properly installed. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 195for more information.{CAUTION:
If a re starts while you are refueling, do
not remove the nozzle. Shut off the ow
of fuel by shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant. Leave the
area immediately.
Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to
get the right type. Your dealer can get one
for you. If you get the wrong type, it may not
t properly. This may cause your malfunction
indicator lamp to light and may damage
your fuel tank and emissions system. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 181.
304

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll 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.
Do not ll a container while it is
inside a vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk,
pickup bed, or on any surface other
than the ground.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Bring the ll nozzle in contact with
the inside of the ll opening before
operating the nozzle. Contact should
be maintained until the lling is
complete.
Do not smoke while pumping
gasoline.
305

Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric 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.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine
parts and start a re. These include
liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake uid,
windshield washer and other uids, 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.
306

Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the interior
hood release handle
with this symbol
on it. It is located
to the left of
the parking brake
pedal.
2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and
release the secondary hood latch, located
near the center of the hood front, by pushing
the latch to the right.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the ller caps
are on properly. Then pull the hood down and
close it rmly.
307

Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 3.5L V6 engine, this is what you will see:
308

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 332.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 336.
C. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse
Block on page 397.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 337.
E. Coolant Recovery Tank. See “Checking
Coolant” underCooling System on page 326.
F. Pressure Cap. SeePressure Cap on page 323.
G. Power Steering Fluid Cap. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 331.H. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 311.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 311.
J. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick (Out of
View). See “Checking the Fluid Level” under
Automatic Transaxle Fluid on page 317.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 333.
L. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 316.
309

When you open the hood on the 5.3L V8 engine, this is what you will see:
310