engine oil CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1994 1.G User Guide

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Service & Appearance Care
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another
country outside the
U.S. or Canada,
unleaded fuel may be hard to find. Do
not use leaded gasoline.
If you use even
one tankful, your emission controls
won’t work well or at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get
fouled, the exhaust system can corrode,
and your engine oil can deteriorate
quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor
will be damaged. All
of that means
costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an
auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following
address for advice. Just tell us where
you’re going and give your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Corporation Filling Your Tank
“el Capacity: 15.2 U.S. Gallons
77.5 L). Use unleaded fuel only.
The cap
is behind a hinged door on the
sight side
of your vehicle.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the
eft (counterclockwise).

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2.21 L4 Engine CODE^)
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
1. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Reservoir (if
6. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
7. Battery
8. Air Cleaner
9. Engine Oil Dipstick, Engine Oil Fill
(if equipped)
equipped)
Cap
IO. Thermostat Housing Pressure Cap

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When you open the hood, you’ll see:
1. Coolant Surge Tank
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Reservoir (if
6. Battery
7. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
8. Air Cleaner
9. Engine Oil Fill Cap
IO. Engine Oil Dipstick
(if equipped)
equipped)

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Engine Oil
If the oil warning light on the
instrument panel comes on, it means
you need to check your engine oil level
right away. For more information, see
Engine Oil Warning Light in the Index.
You should check your engine oil level
regularly; this is an added reminder.
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.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil a
few minutes to drain back 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, and check the level.
2.2L L4: Checking Engine Oil
3.1 L V6: Checking Engine Oil
When to Add Oi/
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 Specifications
in the Index.
NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil. If your
engine has
so much oil that the oil
level gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, your engine could
be damaged.
Just
fill it enough to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you’re through.

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3.1 L V6: Addlng Engine Oil
What Kind of Oil to Use
Beginning midyear 1993, oils of the
?roper quality for your vehicle will be
.dentified with this new “starburst”
iymbol. The “starburst” symbol
ndicates that the oil has been certified
~y the American Petroleum Institute
(API) , and is preferred for use in your
gasoline engine.
fou should
look for this on the front of
:he oil container, and use only oils that
iisplay this new symbol.
fou should also use the proper viscosit)
ail for your vehicle, as shown in the
following chart:
As shown in the chart, SAE 5W-30 is
best for your vehicle. However, you can
RECOMMENDED SAE VlSCOSlTy GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING,
SELECT THE LOWEST SAE VISCOSITY GRADE
OIL
FORTHEEXPECTEDTEMPERATURERANGE.
Y
HOT
NE,
-
”F
tlOO
+ 80
+60
+40
4-20
0
’C
t38
t27
t16
t4
-1
-18
LOOK FOR
ONE OF THESE
LABELS
1
PREFERRED SAE
5W-30
IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 10W-30 COLD GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30 GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES WEATHER ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES c).
DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED.

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Service & Appearance Care
use SAE 1OW-30 if it’s going to be 0°F
(-18°C) or above. These numbers on an
oil container show its viscosity, or
thickness. Do not use other viscosity oils,
such as SAE 1OW-40 or SAE 20W-50.
If you cannot find oils with the new
“starburst” symbol on the front of the
container, you should look for and use
oils containing the following three things:
SH or SG
“SH” or “SG” must be on the oil
container, either by itself or combined
with other quality designations, such
as “SWCD,” “SH,SG,CD,” “SG/CD,” etc.
These letters show American Petroleum Institute (API) levels of quality.
SAE 5W-30
Energy Conserving I1
Oils with these words on the
container will help you save fuel.
These three things are usually included
in a doughnut shaped logo (symbol) on
most containers.
If you cannot find oils
with the “starburst” symbol, you should
look for oils with the doughnut shaped
symbol, containing the three things
noted above.
I64
NOTICE:
’ If you use oils that do not have
either the “starburst” symbol or an
API
SH or SG designation, you can
cause engine damage not covered
by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil (in Canada, GM
Engine Oil) meets all the requirements
for your vehicle.
€ngine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your
Chevrolet dealer is ready to advise
if
you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oi/
See if any one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km).
It’s below freezing outside and most
trips are less than 10 miles (16
km) .
The engine is at low speed most of the
time (as in door-to-door delivery, or in
stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty places.
If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your
oil and filter every 3,000 miles (5 000
km) or 3 months - whichever comes
first.
If none of them is true, change the oil
every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12
months
- whichever comes first.
Change the filter at the first oil change
and at every other oil change after that.

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An engine coolant heater can be a big
help if you have to park outside in very
cold weather,
0°F (-18°C) or colder. If
your vehicle has this option, see
Engine
Coolant Heater
in the Index.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil
contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your
skin and could even
cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin
and nails with soap and water, or a
good hand cleaner. Wash or properly
throw away clothing or rags containing
used engine oil. (See the manufacturer’s
warnings about the use and disposal of
oil products.) Used oil
can be a real threat.,t.o the
environment. If you change your
own
oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t
ever dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash, pouring it
on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of
water. Instead, recycle it by taking it to
a place that collects used oil.
If you
have a problem properly disposing of
your used oil, ask your dealer, a service
station or a local recycling center for
help.
Air Cleaner
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to replace the air filter.
See
Scheduled Maintenance Services in
the
Index.
-
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire
can cause a damaging engine fire.
And,
dirt can easily get into your
engine, which will damage
it.
Always have the air cleaner in place
when you’re driving.
I

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1 When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic
transaxle 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 choose to have this
done at your Chevrolet 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.
NOTICE:
~. , ,'
Too much or too little fluid can
damage your transaxle.
Too much can
mean that some of the fluid could
come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system, starting a fire.
Be sure to get an accurate reading
if
you check your transaxle fluid.
Wait at least
30 minutes before
checking the transaxle fluid level
if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic - especially in hot
To get the right reading, the fluid
should be at normal operating
temperature, which is 180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about 15 miles (24 lun) when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10.C). If
it's colder than 50°F (lOOC), you may
have to drive longer.
90°F
(32°C).
weather.
To check the fluid level
Park your vehicle on a level place.
With the parking brake applied, place
With your foot on the brake pedal,
the
shift lever in
P (Park).
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three
seconds in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in
P (Park).
Let the engine run at idle for three to
five minutes.
Then, without shutting off the engine,
follow these steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three
a clean rag or
paper towel.
seconds and then pull it back out
again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be in the cross-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable
range, push the dipstick back in all
the way.

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When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when
the engine oil is changed. However, the
fluid in your manual transaxle doesn't
require changing.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Chevrolet 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.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can
damage your transaxle.
Too much
can mean that some of the fluid
could come out and fall on hot'
engine parts or exhaust system,
starting a fire. Be sure to get an
accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid. Check
the fluid level only when your
engine is off, the vehicle is parked on a
level place and the transaxle is cool
enough for you to rest your fingers on
the transaxle case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. The manual transaxle dipstick is
located below the brake master cylinder
near the rear of the transaxle case.
Flip the handle up and then pull out
the dipstick and clean it with a rag or
paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way and
remove it.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be between the
ADD and FULL
marks. (Note: Fluid may appear at
the bottom of the dipstick even when
the fluid level is several pints low.)
4. If the fluid level is where it should be,
push the dipstick back in all the way
and flip the handle down.
If the fluid
level is low, add more fluid as
described in the next steps.
How to Add Fluid
Here's how to add fluid. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of fluid to use. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
in the Index.
1. Remove the dipstick.
2. Add fluid at the dipstick hole. Add
only enough fluid to bring the fluid
level up to the
FULL mark on the
dipstick.
3. Push the dipstick back in all the way;
then flip the handle down
to lock the
dipstick in place.

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170
I Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch
in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. The clutch master
cylinder reservoir is filled with hydraulic
clutch fluid.
It isn’t
a good idea to “top off” your
clutch fluid. Adding fluid won’t correct
a leak.
A fluid loss in this system could
indicate a problem. Have the system
inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often
you should check
the fluid level in your clutch master
cylinder reservoir and for the proper fluid. See
Owner Checks and
Services
and Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
in the Index.
How to Check
You do not need to check the fluid level
unless you suspect a clutch problem.
To
check the fluid level, take the cap off. If
the fluid reaches the step inside the
reservoir, the fluid level is correct.
I Engine Coolunt
The following explains your cooling
system and how
to add coolant when it
is low.
If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see
Engine
Overheating
in the Index.
The proper coolant for your Chevrolet will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F
Give boiling protection up to 262°F
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
Let the warning lights work as they
(-37°C).
(128°C).
temperature.
should.
What to Use
Use a mixture
of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets “GM Specification
1825-M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts. You can also use a recycled
coolant conforming to GM Specification
1825-M with
a complete coolant flush
and refill. If you use this mixture, you
don’t need to add anything else.