fuel CHEVROLET CAMARO 1974 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Break-in Schedule
In addition to the new car
break-in instructions in this man­
ual, it
is recommended that your
new Camaro be operated for
500
miles before trailer towing. If it is
necessary to tow during this period,
avoid speeds over
50 MPH and full throttle
starts. The same precau­
tions should be observed whenever
a new engine, transmission
or axle
is installed in your car.
Operation in Foreign Countries
Your Camaro is designed to op­
erate on fuel of approximately
91
research octane number or higher,
sold in the United States and Can­
ada.
If you plan to operate your
Camaro outside the continental
limits of the United States
or Can­
ada, there
is a possibility that the
best fuels available in some coun­
tries are so low in anti-knock
quality that excessive knocking
and serious engine damage may
. result from their use. To obtain
information on the quality of fuels available
in the countries in which
you plan to travel , write to Chevro­
let Motor Division, Service Depart­
ment, Detroit, Michigan
48202,
(or in Canada write to General
Motors of Canada Limited,
Owner
Relations Department , Oshawa,
Ontario),
giving:
• The vehicle identification num­
ber ( on plate on instrument
panel ahead of the steering
wheel and visible through the
windshield , or from registration
slip or title).
• The country or countries in
12
which you plan to travel.
It
is recommended that you not
operate your Camaro in any coun­
try not having fuels meeting the
requirements of
your Camaro
engine. Engine modifications are
not available to compensate for
low anti-knock quality fuels. Op­
eration of your car under condi­
tions of continuous
or excessive
knocking constitutes misuse of the
engine and may cause engine dam­
age for which the Chevrolet Divi­
sion
is not responsible under the
terms
of the Chevrolet New
Vehicle Warranty.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine proper gear position before re­
leasing the clutch pedal.)
3.
Operate accelerator pedal and
starter
as outlined in step 3
(under Automatic Transmission
Models).
Engine Flooded
Depress accelerator pedal and
hold to floor while starting until
engine
is cleared of excess fuel and
is
running smoothly. Never
"pump" the accelerator pedal.
Warm-Up
Always let the engine idle for 20
to 30 seconds after starting and
drive at moderate speeds for several
miles, especially during cold
weather.
Driving with the Chevrolet Automatic Transmissions
The Turbo Hydra-Matic 350
and 400 are completely automatic
transmISSIons. All replace the
standard clutch and transmission.
Turbo Hydra-Malic 350
and 400
After starting the engine with the
selector lever
in N (Neutral) or P
(Park)
position select the range de­
sired (see table) and depress the accelerator.
A gradual start with a
steady increase in accelerator pres­
sure will result in best possible fuel
economy. Rapid acceleration for
fast starts will result in greater
fuel consumption.
Automatic transmission shift
quadrants of all GM cars continue
the uniform sequence of selector
positions. This particularly benefits
multicar families and those who
occasionally drive other cars. Shift
16
indicators are arranged with "Park"
position at one end, followed in se­
quence by "Reverse" , "Neutral"
and the forward driving ranges.
All automatic transmissions are
equipped with a starter safety
switch designed to permit starting
the engine only when the trans­
mission
is in the "Park" or "Neu­
tral"
position. For additional
engine braking effect,
as sometimes
needed in mountainous driving,

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Instruments
The instruments, gauges and in­
dicator lights conveniently grouped
in the instrument cluster are de­
signed to tell you
at a glance many
important things about the per­
formance of your car. The follow­
ing information will enable you to
more quickly understand and prop­
erly interpret these instruments.
FuelGauge
This electrically operated gauge
registers correctly when the igni­
tion switch
is in the "on" position.
When the ignition switch
is turned
8RAI(E WARNIN G LIGHT
"off", the needle will not necessar­
ily return to the empty mark but
may stop at any point on the dial.
24
Oil Pressure Indicator Light
This light will be on when the
ignition switch
is turned on and
should go out after the engine
is
started. Occasionally the light may
be seen to flicker momentarily, but
this will do no harm. However , if
the light remains on during normal
driving speeds the engine should be
stopped until the cause of the trou­
ble can be located and corrected .
Driving the car with low oil pres­
sure can cause serious engine
damage.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
The time or mileage intervals on
the following pages are intended
as
a guide for establishing regular
maintenance and lubrication
periods for your car. Sustained
heavy duty or high speed operations
or operation under adverse condi­
tions may necessitate more frequent
servicing. To determine specific
recommendations for conditions
under which you use your car, con-
Fuel
Requirements
. Your Camaro is designed to op­
erate on unleaded
or low lead fuels
of at least
91 Research Octane.
These fuels will minimize spark
plug fouling and emission control suIt
your Authorized Chevrolet
Dealer.
Maintenance Schedule
For owner convenience, a sep­
arate maintenance folder has been
provided with your car which con­
tains a complete schedule and
brief explanation of the safety,
emission control, lubrication and
system
deterioration. Fuels with
Regular grade octane quality
should be used only when needed
to eliminate
knock-a metallic rap­
ping noise generated during the
combustion process. The engine
does not require
Premium fuel.
Therefore, its use would be an un­
necessary additional expense.
If
knocking persists, consult your
46
general maintenance it requires.
The maintenance folder informa­
tion
is supplemented by this sec­
tion of the
Owner's Manual, as
well as the separate emission con­
trol systems folder also furnished
with your car. Read all three pub­
lications for a full understanding
of vehicle maintenance require­
ments.
authorized Chevrolet dealer.
In
any case, continuous or excessive
knocking may result in engine
damage and constitutes misuse of
the engine for which Chevrolet
Motor Division
is not responsible
under the terms of the New Vehicle
Warranty.
If the service station gas pump
has a symbol similar to the samples

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine below, preferably use unleaded or
low-lead gas with a symbol number
of
2. Regular fuel (symbol num­
ber
3) should be used only when
needed to eliminate knock. Ask
your gasoline dealer for informa­
tion on the fuel you are using both
as to
lead content and octane
rating.
Gas Cap-The fuel tank filler cap has
a new two-step removal and
installation procedure plus a pres­
sure-vacuum safety relief valve. It
is equipped with a double set of
locking tangs. To remove:
• Rotate cap one-half turn coun­
terclockwise to clear the first set
of tangs from the slots inside the
filler neck. This will allow any
residual pressure to escape.
• Pull the cap outward and rotate
one-quarter turn counterclock­
wise to clear second set of tangs
and remove the cap.
• To install, reverse this procedure.
NOTE: If this cap requires a re­
placement, only a cap with these
same features should be used. Fail­
ure to use the correct cap can re­
sult in a serious malfunction of the
system. Correct replacement caps
may be obtained from your Au­
thorized Chevrolet Dealer.
47
Engine Oil and Filter
Recommendations
• Use only SE engine oil.
• Change oil each 4 months or
6,000 miles. If more than 6,000
miles are driven in a 4-month
period, change oil each
6,000
miles.
• Change oil each 2 months or
3,000 miles, whichever occurs
first, under the following con­
ditions: - driving in dusty conditions,
-trailer pulling,
- extensive idling,
- short-trip operation at freez-
ing temperatures (engine not
II
thoroughly warmed-up).
• Operation in dust storms may
require an immediate oil change.
• Replace the oil filter at the first
oil change, and every second oil
change thereafter. AC oil filters

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 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-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tire Replacement
Mounting of the Space Saver
Spare Tire by other than authorized
tire dealers
is not recommended.
Improper mounting can cause
vio­
lent bursting of the tire away from
the wheel which can result in serious
personal injury.
Underbody Maintenance
The effects of salt and other
corrosive materials used for ice
and snow removal and dust
con­
trol can result in accelerated rust­
ing and deterioration of under­
body components such
as brake
and fuel lines, frame, underbody
floor pan, exhaust system, brac­
kets , parking brake cables. These
corrosive effects, however, can be
reduced by periodic flushing of the underbody
with plain water. In
geographic areas having a heavy
concentration of such corrosive
materials,
it is recommended that
the complete underbody be
in­
spected and flushed at least once
each year, preferably after a
win­
ter's exposure. Particular attention
should be given to cleaning out
underbody members where dirt
and other foreign materials may
have collected.
If desired, your Chevrolet deal­
er can perform this service for
you.
In addition, he can provide
recommendations on undercoat­
ing materials which will help
pro­
tect your vehicle from corrosion.
Battery Care (Energizer)
Check fluid level monthly. If the
fluid level
is low, add only color-
63
less, odorless drinking water or dis­
tilled water to bring level to split
ring in filler opening.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Important Facts You Should
Know About Gasoline
Mileage and How to
Improve It
How you drive, where you drive,
and when you drive
all have an
effect on how many miles you can
get from a gallon of gasoline. The
careful attention you give your car
as far as maintenance and repairs
are concerned will also contribute
importantly to fuel economy.
Fuel Selection
Your vehicle is designed to op­
erate on unleaded or low-lead fuels
>of at least 91 Research Octane.
These fuels minimize spark plug
fouling and emission system
de­
terioration. Your engine does not
require premium fuel. Therefore,
its use would be an unnecessary
additional expense.
If the service
station gas pump has a symbol similar
to the following, use
un­
leaded or low-lead gasoline with a
symbol of 2. A higher number
is
satisfactory but not required.
"Jackrabbit" Starts
Gasoline can be conserved (and
engine and tire life prolonged) by
avoiding unnecessarily rapid
ac­
celeration away from lights and
stop signs.
Stop-And-Start Driving
Frequent stops and starts during
a. trip really cut down on your
64
miles per gallon. Plan even your
short shopping trips to take
advan­
tage of through streets to avoid
traffic lights.
Pace your driving like
the professional drivers to avoid
unnecessary stops.
Speed Versus Mileage
Excessive speed on the highway
raises your gas consumption
dras­
tically. Statistics prove that you
might save
as much as 19% on
your fuel bill by driving
50 MPH
instead of 70 MPH.
Excessive Idling
An idling engine uses gasoline,
too, (especially after a cold engine
start).
If you're faced with more
than a
few minutes wait you're
better
off to "turn off" and start
again later.
Sudden Stops
Sudden stops themselves don't

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine waste gasoline, but energy is wasted
as heat in braking. Energy in the
form of gasoline
is also needed to
accelerate back to driving speed.
Lubricants
A properly lubricated vehicle
means less friction between moving
parts. Consult this manual and the
maintenance schedule for the
proper lubricants to use and the
lubrication intervals.
Automatic Choke
Your automatic choke should be
checked periodically
as it regulates
the gasoline/air mixture used in
starting and warming the engine.
Properly Tuned Engine
Overall tuning (a check on tim­
ing, distributor points, spark plugs,
emission control· devices , etc.) can
improve your car's gas mileage.
You just can't expect an
"out-of­
tune"
engine to give you good gas
mileage and cleaner air.
Excess Weight
Fuel economy is related to the
work the engine
must do. The
heavier the load, the more power
it takes. Keep excess weight to a
minimum by removing . any per­
sonal effects or luggage from the
65
car or trunk when they are not
needed.
Tire Inflation
Under inflation not only causes
needless wear of the tires, but can
also waste gasoline. It's a good
idea to check tire pressures regu­
larly.
Wheel Alignment
"Toe in" or "toe out" has the
effect of dragging your front tires
sideways and causes premature tire
wear.
It takes power to carry this
extra load and that takes gas from
your tank.