engine coolant CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1999 3.G User Guide

yellowblue
5-11
Cooling System
When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see:
2.2L L4 Engine
A. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
2.4L L4 Engine
A. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood can
start up even when the engine is not running and
can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.

yellowblue
5-12
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
don't do anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at the FULL COLD mark. If
it isn't, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don't touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don't run the engine if there is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn't covered by your warranty.

yellowblue
5-13
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you use
only DEX
-COOL
(silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to the
system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the use
of coolant other than DEX
-COOL
is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine cooling fan is running. If the
engine is overheating, the fan should be running. If it
isn't, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you haven't found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn't at the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX
-COOL
coolant at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant surge tank pressure cap, is cool
before you do it. (See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index for
more information.)

yellowblue
5-15
CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle's coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too hot but you wouldn't
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned. Use
a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
-COOL
coolant.
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts. So
use the recommended coolant.
CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.

yellowblue
5-17
3. Then fill the coolant surge tank with the proper
mixture, to the FULL COLD mark.4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches the FULL COLD mark.

6-
yellowblue
6-1
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
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 part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-3 Fuel
6
-5 Fuels in Foreign Countries
6
-5 Filling Your Tank
6
-7 Filling a Portable Fuel Container
6
-8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-12 Engine Oil
6
-17 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-18 Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(Three
-Speed Only)
6
-21 Automatic Transaxle Fluid (Four-Speed Only)
6
-22 Manual Transaxle Fluid
6
-24 Hydraulic Clutch
6
-25 Surge Tank Pressure Cap
6
-25 Thermostat
6
-25 Engine Coolant
6
-29 Power Steering Fluid6
-29 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-31 Brakes
6
-34 Battery
6
-35 Bulb Replacement
6
-40 Tires
6
-48 Appearance Care
6
-49 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-51 Care of Safety Belts
6
-52 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-53 Cleaning Your Convertible Top
6
-57 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-57 Electrical System
6
-62 Replacement Bulbs
6
-62 Capacities and Specifications
6
-63 Air Conditioning Refrigerants
6
-63 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

yellowblue
6-8
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 fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield 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.
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the vehicle
on the driver's side under
the instrument panel.

yellowblue
6-10 2.2L L4 Engine (Code 4)
When you open the hood, you'll see:
A. Coolant Surge Tank
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap/Dipstick
D. Brake Fluid ReservoirE. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
Reservoir (If Equipped)
F. Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Dipstick (If Equipped)G. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
H. Battery
I. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir

yellowblue
6-11 2.4L L4 Engine (Code T)
When you open the hood, you'll see:
A. Coolant Surge Tank
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap
C. Engine Oil Dipstick
D. Power Steering Fluid ReservoirE. Brake Fluid Reservoir
F. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
Reservoir (If Equipped)
G. BatteryH. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
I. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir

yellowblue
6-25 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.
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your surge tank cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure
-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating.
When you replace your surge tank pressure cap, a GM
cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an ACDelco


thermostat is recommended.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX
-COOL
engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX
-COOL
extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
-COOL
coolant will:

Give freezing protection down to
-34F (-37C).

Give boiling protection up to 265F (129C).

Protect against rust and corrosion.

Help keep the proper engine temperature.

Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.