oil level CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER 1993 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Featuves & Controls
Oil Pressure Gage
Standard Cluster Digital Cluster
The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure in psi (\
pounds per square inch) when the engine is running. Canadian vehicles ind\
icate pressure
in kPa (kilopascals). Oil pressure may vary with engine speed\
, outside
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings above the low press\
ure zone indicate the normal operating range.
A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a dangerous\
ly low oil
level or other problem causing oil pressure.
On the digital cluster, a box around the oil pressure symbol \
will begin to flash
when the
oil pressure is low.
CAUTION
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your engine
can become
so hot that it catches fire. You or others could be
burned. Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehi\
cle
serviced.
NOTIC-
Damage to yo/
not covered b)
2-62

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving On a Long nip
Although most long trips today are made on freeways, there are still many
made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular highways is the same in some
ways. The trip has to be planned and the vehicle prepared, you drive at
higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns behind the wheel. You’ll
enjoy your trip more
if you and your vehicle are in good shape. Here are
some tips for a successful long trip.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re
not fresh-such as after a day’s work-don’t plan to make too many miles
that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can
easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained,
it’s ready to
go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of
course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
GM dealerships all
across North America. They’ll be ready and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread
good enough for long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system?
inside and outside?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
On the Road
Unless you
are the only driver, it is good to share the driving task with
others. Limit turns behind the wheel to about
100 miles (160 km) or two
hours- at a sitting. Then, either change drivers or stop for some refres\
hment
like coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up. But
do stop and move
around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier meals tend to make some people
sleepy.
4-33

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L
......... ..... -&-.A- -
I 5, "9
. .
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 information about
your vehicle. and a section devoted to its appearance care
.
Service ........................................................................\
........................................... 6-3
Fuel
........................................................................\
................................................ 6-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
....................................................................... \
6-8
Hood Release
........................................................................\
............................ 6-8
Engine
Oil ........................................................................\
.................................. 6-9
Engine Cover
........................................................................\
........................... 6-15
Air Cleaner
........................................................................\
............................... 6-19
Automatic Transmission Fluid
........................................................................\
. 6-20
Rear Axle
........................................................................\
................................. 6-23
All-Wheel Drive
........................................................................\
........................ 6-23
Transfer Case
........................................................................\
.......................... 6-23
Front Axle
........................................................................\
................................. 6-24
Engine Coolant
........................................................................\
........................ 6-26
Power Steering Fluid
........................................................................\
............... 6-30
Windshield Washer Fluid
........................................................................\
......... 6-31
Brake Master Cylinder
........................................................................\
............. 6-32
6-1

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Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and start a fire. These
include liquids like gasoline, oil, coolant, brake fluid, windsh\
ield
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.
I I
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on properly.
I
~
K3607
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.
Engine Oil
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.
6-9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service dk Appearance Care
K3608
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to drain back down into
the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick might not show the actual level\
.
To Check 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
lower.
K3609
When to Add Oil: If the oil is at or below the ADD line, then you’ll need to
add some oil. But you must use the right kind. This section \
explains what
kind
of oil to use. For crankcase capacity see ‘Capacities and Speci\
fications’’
in the Index.
6-1 0

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KO704
What Kind of Oil to Use:
Look for three things:
SG
SG must be on the oil container, either by itself or combined with other
quality designations, such as
SG/CC, SG/CD, SF, SG, CC, etc. These
letters show American Petroleum Institute (API) levels of quality.
NOTICE I
you use oils that don’t have the SG dl
3maae not covered bv vour warrantv.
6-1 2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service & Appearance Care
h
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can cause you or other!
to be burned. The air cleaner not only cleans the air, it stops flame
if the engine backfires. If it isn’t there, and the engine backfires, you
could be burned. Don’t drive with it off, and be careful working on
the engine with the air cleaner off.
If the air cleaner is off, a backfir
dirt can easily get into your engine,
air cleaner in place when you’re drivin $use a damaging engir
hicl
vill damage it. Na)
Automatic Transmission Nuid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid level is when the
engine oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine when
to change your fluid. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may choo\
se to have this
done at a
GM dealership Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions here, or you could
get a false reading on the dipstick.
Too much or too little fluid can damage your transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine part-
starting a fire. Be sure to get an accurate reading
if you check your
transmission fluid.
I
I
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transmission fluid level if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
6-20

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service & Appearance Care
braking system-for example, when your brake linings wear down and you
have
to have new ones put in-be sure you get new genuine GM
replacement parts.
If you don’t, your brakes may no longer work properly. For
example,
if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the
balance between your front and rear brakes can change, for the\
worse. The
braking performance you’ve come to expect can change in many\
other ways
if someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Hydro-Boost Brake System (Hydraulic Pump)
The power steering pump is also used as the Hydro-Boost pump. \
Refer to
“Power Steering Fluid” in this section when. checking the fluid level or adding
fluid.
Fluid Leak Check
After the vehicle has been parked for awhile, inspect the surf\
ace beneath the
vehicle for water, oil, fuel or other fluids. Water dripping f\
rom the air
conditioning system is normal. If you notice fuel leaks or fumes, the causes
should be found and corrected at once.
Battery
Every new GM vehicle has
add water
to one of these,
a Delco Freedom@ battery.
the original battery’s label. a Delco Freedom@ battery. You never have
to
When it’s time for a new battery, we recommend
Get one that has the catalog number shown on
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more, take off the
black, negative
(-) cable from the battery. This will help keep your battery
from running down.
I CAUTION
For more informarlon on vehicle storage, contact your dealer’\
s service
department, or write to:
Adistra Corporation 171 Hamilton Street Plymouth,
MI 48170
General Motors
of Canada, Limited
Customer Services Department
Oshawa, Ontario L1 J5Z6
In
Canada, write
to:
6-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Scheduled Maintenance Services
Explanation Of Scheduled Maintenance Services
Below are explanations of the services listed in the maintenance charts.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in this section. Make sure
whoever services your vehicle uses these. All parts should be \
replaced and
all necessary repairs done before you or anyone else drives th\
e vehicle.
1. ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER CHANGE* -ALWAYS USE SG OR
SG/CE QUALITY, ENERGY CONSERVING II OILS OF THE PROPER
VISCOSITY.
To determine the preferred viscosity oil for your vehicle’s
engine (e.g. SAE 5W-30). See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
bushings, steering linkage, transfer case shift linkage, parking \
brake cable
guides, propshaft splines, universal joints and brake pedal spri\
ngs at the
intervals specified on the proper maintenance schedule or at ev\
ery
engine oil change, whichever comes first.
2.
CHASSIS LUBRICATION -Lubricate the front suspension, king pin
Ball joints and king pin bushings should not be lubricated unl\
ess their
temperature is
10°F (-12”C), or higher. When the weather is cold, let
them warm up before lubrication or they could be damaged.
Also, be sure to check all the vehicle fluid levels at this time.
3.
COOLING SYSTEM SERVICE* -Drain, flush and refill system with new
coolant. See the Index under “Engine Coolant” for the pro\
per coolant and mixture to use in your vehicle.
Also inspect the hoses and replace them
if they are cracked, swollen, or
deteriorated. Tighten all hose clamps. Clean the outside of the radiator
and air conditioning condenser. Wash the radiator neck.
To ensure proper
operation, pressure test the radiator and cap.
4. AIR CLEANER FILTER REPLACEMENT* -Replace at specified
intervals. Replace more often under dusty conditions. Ask your \
dealer for
the proper replacement intervals for your driving conditions.
5. FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPACK (2-WHEEL DRIVE ONLY) -Clean
and repack the front wheel bearings at each brake relining, or at the
specified interval, whichever comes first.
* An Emission Control Service

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 13. TIRE AND WHEEL ROTATION AN- INSPECTION -For proper wear
and maximum tire life, rotate tires at the first
6,000 miles (1 0 000
kilometers) for Schedule I or 7,500 miles (12 500 kilometers) for
Schedule
II and then every 7,500 miles (12 500 kilometers) thereafter.
Follow the instructions and patterns shown in Section
6. Check tires for
uneven wear or damage.
If irregular or premature wear is apparent,
check wheel alignment.
Also, check for damaged wheels. See “Tires” in
the Index for more information.
14.
DRIVE AXLE SERVICE -Check readfront axle fluid level and add as
needed. Check constant velocity joints and axle seals for leaki\
ng.
Locking differential -Drain fluid at first oil change and refill. Check
fluid level and add as needed at subsequent oil changes. In d\
usty areas, or trailer towing applications drain fluid at every 15,000 miles
(24 135 kilometers) and refi1l.t
Standard differential -Check fluid level and add as needed at
every oil change. In dusty areas, or trailer towing application\
s, drain
fluid every
15,000 miles (24 135 kilometers) and refi1l.t
15.
BRAKE SYSTEM INSPECTION -When the engine oil is changed,
inspect the lines and hoses for proper hookup, binding, leaks, \
cracks,
chafing, etc. Check the parking brake adjustment, and the fluid\
level in
the master cylinder.
A low fluid level can indicate worn disc brake pads
which may need
to be serviced$
When the wheels are removed for rotation, inspect disc brake p\
ads for
wear and rotors for surface condition.
Also inspect drum brake linings for
wear and cracks. Inspect other brake parts, including drums, wh\
eel
cylinders, parking brake, etc., at the same time.
Inspect brakes more often if driving habits or conditions result in
frequent braking.
tA fluid loss in these systems may indicate a problem. Have them inspected
and repaired at once.
7-1 0