check engine CHEVROLET CAMARO 1974 2.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine provide excellent engine pro­
tection.
See your Chevrolet dealer for ad­
vice on the frequency of oil and
filter changes under unusual driv­
ing conditions.
The above recommendations ap­
ply to the first change
as well as
subsequent oil changes. The oil
change interval for your Camaro
engine
is based on the use of SE oils
and quality oil filters.
Oil change in­
tervals longer than those listed
above will seriously reduce engine
life and may affect Chevrolet obli­
gation under the provisions of the
New Vehicle Warranty.
A high quality SE oil was in­
stalled in your engine at the fac­
tory. It
is not necessary to change
this factory-installed oil prior to the
recommended normal change pe­
riod. However, check the oil level
more frequently during the break­
in period since higher oil consump- tion
is normal
until the piston rings
become seated.
NOTE: Non-detergent and other
low quality oils are specifically
Recommended Viscosity
not recommended. Only the use
of
SE engine oils and proper oil
and filter change intervals assure
you of continued proper lubrica­
tion of your Camaro engine.
Select the proper oil viscosity from the following chart:
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY NUMBER
L 1 ..
1
_.LIl'I,."I_IIl'I'.II_IIl'I'J • ,1_,,1 'l'Irl!.I. IIl'J'611_ ~ ~ ~ .. ...
I I
J 1 I
-30 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE, OF.
NOTE: SAE 5W-20 oils are not recommended for sustained high-speed
driving.
SAE
30 oils may be used at temperatures above 40oP. SAE 5W-30 vis­
cosity oil is recommended for all seasons in vehicles normally operated in
Canada.
The proper oil viscosity helps assure good cold and hot startfng.
48

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Oil Level
The engine oil should be main­
tained at proper level. The best
time to check it
is before operating
the engine or
as the last step in a
fuel stop. This will allow the oil ac­
cumulation in the engine to drain
back in the crankcase.
To check
the level, remove the oil guage rod
(dip stick), wipe it clean and rein­
sert
it firmly for an accurate read­
ing. The oil gauge rod
is marked
"FULL" and "ADD." The oil level
should be maintained in the safety
margin, neither going above the
"FULL" line nor below the "ADD"
line. Reseat the gauge firmly after
taking the reading.
Supplemental Engine Oil
Additives
The regular use of supplemental
additives
is specifically not recom­
mended and will increase operat­
ing costs. However, supplemental additives
are available that can
effectively and economically solve
certain specific problems without
causing other difficulties.
For ex­
ample, if higher detergency
is re­
quired to reduce varnish and
sludge deposits resulting from
some unusual operational diffi­
culty, a thoroughly tested and ap­
proved additive -
"Super Engine
Oil Supplement" -is available at
your Chevrolet dealer.
In the event
of an operational problem, consult
your dealer for advice before
us­
ing supplemental additives.
Drive Belts
Every 6,000 miles or 4 months­
inspect drive belts for wear , fray­
ing, cracking , and tension. Belts
which are in poor condition should
be replaced immediately.
Check tension by applying mod­
erate thumb pressure midway be­
tween pulleys.
If the center-to-
49
center distance between pulleys is
13 to 16 inches, the belt should
deflect
1;2 inch . If the center-to­
center distance
is 7 to 10 inches,
the belt should deflect
1;4 inch.
Loose belts should be retensioned
to give the correct deflection.
It is recommended that belts be
replaced every 24 months or
24,000
miles , whichever occurs first.
Air Cleaner
CAUTIOH:Donot remo.vElfhe f1ngl,,~ al,. cleaner unlesstempo,ary removall$.nec~ essarrdur;ng repair ormaintenal1ce ot the vehicle; When t"ealrC/f1aneri$/~emoved backtlringcan cause tire in the engine
compartment. .',' . '
Flame Arrester -Every 12,000
miles-Clean the arrester (located
in the base of the air cleaner) with
kerosene or a suitable solvent. Dry
with compressed air.
Rear Axle
Standard -Every 4 months or
6,000 miles, whichever occurs

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine first, check lubricant level and add
lubricant, if necessary, to
fill to
level of filler plug hole.
Use SAE
80
or SAE 90 GL-S Gear Lubri­
cant.
(For vehicles normally 0per­
ated in Canada use SAE 80 GL-S
Gear Lubricant.)
Positraction -Drain and refill
after the first
12,000 miles then
maintain same
as standard axle but
use only the special positraction
lubricanf
available from your
Chevrolet Dealer.
Manual Transmissions
3-Speed and 4-Speed -Every
6,000 miles or 4 months-Check
at operating temperature and
fill
as necessary to level of filler plug
hole with
SAE 80 or SAE 90 GL­
S Gear Lubricant.
(For vehicles
normally operated in Canada use
SAE 80 GL-S Gear Lubricant.)
If temperatures of below 32°F.
are expected, use SAE 80 GL-S Gear
Lubricant only.
Clutch Cross-Shaft -Every
36,000 miles or sooner if neces­
sary -Remove the plug, install a
lubrication fitting and lubricate
with water resistant
EP Chassis
Lubricant which meets GM
Speci­
fication 6031 M.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid Recommendations
Use only automatic transmis­
sion fluids identified with the
mark
DEXRON@ II or DEX­
RON®. These fluids have been spe­
cially formulated and tested for use
in your automatic transmission,
and are available from your Chev­
rolet dealer or local service station.
Check the fluid level at each
engine oil change period. To make
an accurate fluid level check:
Check the fluid level at each en­
gine oil change period.
To make an
accurate fluid level check:
50
1. Drive car several miles, making
frequent starts and stops, to
bring transmission up to normal
operating temperature (approxi­
mately
180-190° F.).
2. Park car on a level surface.
3. Place selector level in "Park"
and leave engine running.
4. Remove dipstick and wipe clean.
S . Reinsert dipstick until
cap seats.
6. Remove dipstick and note read­
ing.
If fluid level is at or below the
ADD mark, add sufficient fluid to
raise the level to the
FULL mark.
One pint raises the level from ADD
to FULL.
Do not overfill.
Under normal driving condi­
tions, the transmission fluid should
be changed every 24,000 miles. If
your car is driven extensively in
heavy city traffic during hot weather,
or
is used to pull a trailer , change
fluid every
12,000 miles. Likewise,
operators of cars in commercial use

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine (such as taxicab, limousine or pa­
trol car service) where the engine
idles for long periods, should
change fluid every
12,000 miles.
Changing Fluid-For Turbo Hy­
dra-Matic
350, remove fluid from
the transmission sump and add ap­
proximately 2.5 quarts
U.S. Mea­
sure
(2.0 quarts Imperial Mea­
sure). Operate transmission
through all shift ranges and re­
check fluid level as described
above.
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400-Lubri­
cation of your Turbo Hydra-matic
400 will, except for fluid capacity
and filter change listed below, fol­
low previously stated automatic
transmission recommendations.
After checking transmission fluid
level it
is important that the dip­
stick be pushed all the way into
the filler tube.
Every 24,000 miles -After re- moving
fluid from the transmission
sump, approximately
7V2 pints
U.S. measure (6 pints Imperial
measure) of fresh fluid will be re­
quired to return level to proper
mark on the dipstick.
Every 24,000 miles the transmis­
sion sump filter should be re­
placed.
Transmission Shift and Back­
drive Linkage (Manual and
Automatic) -
Every 6,000 miles
or 4 months lubricate shift link­
age and on manual transmission
floor controls lever contacting
faces with water resistant
EP chas­
sis lubricant which meets GM
Specification 6031M.
Transmission Shift Linkage
(Manual and Automatic)
Every 6,000 miles or 4 months
lubriCate shift linkage and on man­
ual transmission floor controls
lever contacting faces with water
51
resistant EP chassis lubricant
which meets GM Specification
6031M.
Chassis
Front Suspension
Every 6,000 miles or 4 months
-Lubricate 4 fittings with water
resistant
EP Chassis Lubricant
which meets GM Specification
6031M.
Ball jOints should not be lu­
bricated unless their tempera­
ture
is 10°F. or higher. During
colder weather, they should be
allowed to warm up as neces­
sary before
lubricaJion.
Steering Linkage
Every 6,000 miles or 4 months
-Lubricate 7 fittings, one at each
end of each tie rod, one at each
end of relay rod, and one at idler
lever with water resistant
EP Chas­
sis Lubricant which meets GM
Specification
6031 M.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Front Wheel Bearings
Every 24,000 miles-clean and
repack with a high melting point
wheel bearing lubricant.
Use wheel
bearing lubricant
GM Part No.
1051344 or equivalent. This is a
premium high melting point
lubri­
cant. When replacement is neces­
sary specify Delco parts.
c. AUT .I . O .. N. : ."LO .. ng . fibre" ... ot"vi.SC .. 0USI' .. ty .pe
lubricant . sho.uld . not be.used. DO not . mix wheel bearing lubricants. Be sure to thor­oughlyclean bearings and hubs(jf all old lubricant betore repac/dng .
Brakes
Brake linings should be periodi­
cally inspected for wear by a quali­
fied technician. The frequency of
this inspection
depe:pds upon driv­
ing conditions such as traffic or
terrain, and also the driving
tech­
niques of individual owners. Your
Chevrolet Dealer
is best qualified
to advise you
as to how often this
inspection should be performed. When
replacement
is required,
specify GM and Delco parts.
Master Cylinder -Every 6,000
miles or 4 months -Check fluid
level
in each reservoir and main­
tain ~" below lowest edge of each
filler opening with Delco
Supreme
No. 11 or DOT-3 hydraulic brake
fluid .
Parking Brake Pulley, Cables
and Linkage~Every 6,000 miles
or 4
months-Apply water resist­
ant EP Chassis Lubricant which
meets GM Specification
6031 M, to
parking brake cable at cable guides
and at all operating links and levers.
Standard Steering Gear
The steering gear is factory­
filled with steering gear lubricant.
Seasonal change of this lubricant
should not be performed and the
housing should not be
drained-no
lubrication is required for the life
of the steering gear.
Every 36,000 miles, the gear
52
should be inspected for seal leak­
age (actual solid grease-not just
oily film).
If a seal is replaced or
the gear is overhauled, the gear
housing should be refilled with
Part No.
1051052 (13 oz. con­
ta iner ) Steering Gear Lubricant
which meets GM Specification GM
4673M, or its equivalent.
NOTE: Do not use EP, Chassis
Lube, meeting GM Specification
GM
6031 M , to lubricate the gear.
DO NOT OVER-FILL the gear
housing.
Power Steering System
Check the fluid level in the
pump reservoir at each oil change
period. Add GM Power Steering
Fluid (or
DEXRON®-II or DEX­
RON® Automatic Transmissiol1
Fluid) as necessary to bring level
into proper range on filler cap
in­
dicator depending upon fluid tem­
perature.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine "HOT" MARK
"COLD" MARK
>-f.. __ "AOO"
If at operating temperature (ap­
proximately
150° F-hot to the
touch), fluid should be between
"HOT" and "COLD" marks. If at
room temperature (approximately
70° F), fluid should be between
"ADD" and "COLD" marks. Fluid
does not require periodic changing.
Hood Latches
Every 4 months or 6,000 miles,
. whichever occurs first, lubricate
hood latch assembly and hood
hinge assembly
as follows:
1. Wipe off any accumulation of
dirt or contamination on latch
parts.
2. Apply Lubriplate or equivalent
to latch pilot bolts and latch
locking plate.
3. Apply light engine oil to all
pivot points in release mecha­
nism,
as well as primary and
secondary latch mechanisms.
4. Lubricate hood hinges.
5. Make hood hinge and latch
mechanism functional check to
assure the assembly
is working
correctly.
Air Conditioning
Have your Chevrolet Dealer
check your Air Conditioning
sys­
tem at some time during the winter
months to
be sure there has been
no loss in cooling output. During
the summer,
see your Chevrolet
Dealer immediately if you suspect
the system
is not performing as it
should.
53
NOTE: On vehicles equipped
with a Four Season Air Condi­
tioning System, the system will not
operate below ambient tempera­
tures of
30°F. regardless of con­
trol position.
Cooling System Care
Check the coolant level at each
engine · oil change.
Engine Cooling System
The recovery type cooling sys­
tem is standard on all Chevrolet
passenger cars and
is designed to
maintain the engine at proper op­
erating temperatures.
The recovery
tank collects coolant that expands
with rising temperature that would
otherwise overflow from the
sys­
tem. When · the system temperature
drops, the coolant
is drawn from
the recovery tank back into the
radiator by the suction created by
coolant contraction. The cooling
system has been filled at the fac-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine tory with a high-quality, inhibited,
year-around coolant that meets the
standards of General Motors
Spe­
cification 1899-M. This coolant
solution provides freezing protec­
tion to
-20oP (-35°P in Can­
ada), and it has been formulated to
be used for two full calendar years
or
24,000 miles, whichever first
occurs, of normal operation with­
out replacement, provided the
proper concentration of coolant is
maintained.
Cooling System Care
The radiator cap should not be
removed to check coolant level.
Check the coolant level visually in
the 'see thru' coolant recovery tank
at least
as frequently as engine oil
changes. Level should be at the
"full cold" mark on the recovery
tank when the system
is cold. At
normal operating temperature the
coolant should be at the
"full hot"
mark on the recovery tank. Add sufficient
coolant to the recovery
tank.
Use a 50/50 mixture of high­
quality ethylene glycol antifreeze
and water for coolant additions.
If
regular additions are required, see
your dealer for a cooling system
check.
NOTE: If recommended quality
antifreeze
is used, supplemental in­
hibitors or additives claiming to
provide increased capability are
not necessary. They may be detri­
mental to the efficient operation of
the system, and represent an un­
necessary operating expense.
Every year, the cooling system
should be serviced
as follows:
1. Wash
radiator cap and filler
neck with clean water.
2. Check coolant for proper level
and freeze protection.
3. Pressure test system and radia-
54
tor cap for proper pressure hold­
ing capacity (15 psi) .
If re­
placement of cap
is required, use
the special AC cap designed for
coolant recovery systems, speci­
fied for your model.
4. Tighten hose clamps and inspect
all hoses. Replace hoses when­
ever swollen, checked or other­
wise deteriorated.
5. Clean frontal area of radiator
core and air conditioning con­
denser.
Replace hoses every 24 months
or 24,000 miles or earlier if
checked, swollen or otherwise de­
teriorated. Every two years
or 24,-
000 miles, whichever first occurs,
the cooling system should be
flushed and refilled using the fol­
lowing recommended procedure:
1. Remove radiator cap when
engine is cool by:
• Slowly rotating cap counter-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine temperatures are not expected.
• Add ethylene glycol base coolant
that meets GM Specification
1899-M when coolant additions
are required because of coolant
loss or to provide additional pro­
tection against freezing at tem­
peratures lower than
-20°F
(-35°F in Canada).
NOTE: Alcohol or methanol base
coolants or plain water are not
recommended for your Camaro at
any time.
Radi~tor Pressure Cap
The radiator cap, a 15 lb. pres­
sure type, must be installed tightly,
9therwise coolant may be lost and
damage to engine may result from
overheating.
Radiator pressure
caps should be checked periodi­
cally for proper operation.
If re­
placement
is required specify AC.
Thermostat
The cooling system is protected
and controlled by a thermostat in­
stalled in the engine coolant outlet
to maintain a satisfactory operat­
ing temperature of the engine. This
Tires
NOTE: The factory installed tires
on your car are either bias-belted thermostat
is designed
for continu­
ous
. use through both winter and
summer and need not be changed
seasonally. When replacement
is
necessary, Delco parts are recom­
mended.
or optional steel-belted radial tires.
Additional owner information about
steel-belted radial tires
is contained
in the special steel-belted radial tire
guarantee booklet.
CAMARO TIRE USAGE
ENGINE & BODY STANDARD OPTIONAL
All (Except E78 x 14 E78 x 14, F78 x 14 Space Saver Spare
Type LTand Z28) F70 x 14 White Stripe or White Letters
F78 x 14 Whitewall or White Letters
Type
LT FR78 x 14 F78 x 14 Space Saver Spare F70 x 14 White Stripe or White Letters
FR78 x 14 Whitewall or White Letters
Z28 F60 x 15 White Letters F78 x 14 Space Saver Spare
All standard tires are blackwall with whitewall optional. All tires are bias-belted load range B unless otherwise specified. '
56

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The factory installed tires on
your car as shown in the Tire Usage
chart
on page 56 are designed
to provide the best all around
performance for normal vehicle op­
eration. When inflated as recom­
mended on the tire pressure plac­
ard, located
on the left door of
your vehicle, they have the load
carrying capacity to operate satis­
factorily at all normal highway
speeds.
Tire Care
Tires should be checked regu­
larly for proper inflation pressure,
wear, and damage. The following
information will assist you in prop­
erly caring for your tires:
Inflation Pressure-The tire in­
flation pressures listed on the tire
placard have been selected to pro­
vide the best tire life, riding com­
fort and handling stability for nor­
mal driving conditions. When in-
I! RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURES (PSI COlD) VEHICLE LOAD
FRONT REAR
UP TO VEHiClE CAPACITY
RECOMMENDED TIRE SIZE(S) (USE ONLY IN SETS) LOAD RANGE
BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON VEHICLE HANDLING, DO NOT MIX RADIAL TIRES WITH OTHER TYPE TIRES ON THE SAME VEHICLE.
VEHICLE CAPACITY BUCKET SEAT .. OCCUPANTS 2 fRONf -2 Rf.A.R 200 LBS TRUNK LOAD
TOT AL 800 L8S
SEE OWNERS MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORM-A nON c:::::J PRINTED IN USA
Typical Tire Placard Located On The Left Door Of Your Car
flated at the highest pressures
shown
on the placard, the tires
have the load carrying capacity to
operate satisfactorily at all loads
up to and including the vehicle
57
capacity load (total pounds)
which also
is shown on the plac­
ard.
In addition, for those owners
who prefer the utmost in com­
fort, the reduced tire pressures

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine listed on the placard may be used
when loads of
4 occupants or less
are carried.
The use of improper tire
infla­
tion pressures can adversely affect
tire life and vehicle performance:
• Too little air pressure can result
in excessive tire heat, abnormal
tire wear, adverse handling and
reduced fuel economy.
• Too much air pressure can re­
sult in abnormal tire wear, ad­
verse vehicle ride and handling,
and increased susceptibility to
damage by road impacts.
Tire pressures should be
checked when the tires are "cold"
at least once a month (and pref­
erably oftener) or before long
trips or when heavily loaded. The
following points should
be ob­
served when checking and setting
tire pressures:
1. Cold tire pressure ratings are appli­cable when a vehicle has been Inopera­tive for 3 hours or more, or driven less
than 1 mile.
2. Tire Inflation pressure may Increase as
much as 6 pounds per square inch (psi)
when hot (aHer vehicle has been driven
10 miles or at speeds of more than 60 miles per hour). Do not "bleed" or re­duce pressures when tires are hot from
driving.
3. For continuous high speed operation
(over 75 mph), Increase tire inflation
pressure 4 psi above the recommended
pressures up
to a maximum of 32 psi
cold pressure for load range B tires, 36
psi for load range C tires, or 40 psi for D load range tires. Sustained speeds
above 75 mph are not recommended
when the 4 psi adjustment would re­quire pressures greater than the above
maximum pressures.
4. Always use a tire pressure gauge when
checking pressures as the appearance
of a tire can be deceiving. For example,
radial ply fires, In comparison with bias
ply tires at the same pressure, may have
the appearance of being under-inflated.
Vehicle Loading -Do not load
your vehicle beyond the vehicle
capacity (total pounds) shown on
the tire placard. This figure
repre­
sents the design capacity of the ve­
hicle, not merely of the tires.
58
When towmg trailers, the allow­
able pasenger and cargo load
must be reduced by an amount
equal to the trailer tongue load on
the trailer hitch.
(See "Trailer
Hauling"
in Section 1 of this man­
ual.) Station wagon loads should
be distributed
as far forward as
possible. Vehicles equipped with
luggage racks do not have a
ve­
hicle load capacity greater than
specified on the tire placard.
Tire Wear and Rotation -Un­
even or abnormal tire wear is usu­
ally the result of incorrect inflation
pressure, improper wheel
align­
ment, wheels being out-of-balance,
or poor driving habits.
Underin­
flation, incorrect toe or camber
and fast cornering produce
differ­
ent types of abnormal wear which
can be diagnosed by your dealer.
The original equipment tires
in­
corporate built-in tread wear in­
dicators to assist you in determin-