engine coolant CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1997 5.G Owner's Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The coolant level should be at or above 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.
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.
1 NOTICE:
Engine damage if you keep running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
See “Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode” in the Index.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fans
are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fans should be running.
If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 water (preferably distilled) 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 “Engine Coolant” in the
Index for more information.)
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the coolant
surge tank pressure cap
-- even a little -- they
can come out at high speed. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the
cooling system and coolant surge tank pressure
cap to cool if you ever have to turn the
pressure cap.
I

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1 A 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 mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, 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 50150 mix of clean
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.
A CAUTIOK
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Caolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
5-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1. You can remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap
when the cooling system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly about
one-quarter turn to the left and then stop. 3. Then fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mix,
up
to the FULL COLD mark.
2.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there
is still some pressure left.
Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and
remove it.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mix to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches the
FULL COLD mark.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure
cap
is tight.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine e Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Corvette. 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- 8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6-1 1 Engine Oil
6-16 Air Cleaner
6-18 Automatic Transmission Fluid
6- 19 Manual Transmission Fluid
6-20 Hydraulic Clutch
6-22 Engine Coolant
6-26 Surge Tank Pressure Cap
6-26 Power Steering Fluid
6-22 Rear Axle
6-26
Thermostat
6-27 Windshield Washer Fluid
6-
29 Brakes
6-32 Battery 6-33
6-33
6-37
6-40
6-5
1
6-5 1
6-54
6-55
6-56
6-57
6-57 6-59
6- 60
6- 60
6-6 1
6-69
6-69 6-7
1
Bulb Replacement
Halogen Bulbs
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside of Your Corvette
Care of Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside of Your Corvette
Aluminum Wheels
Tires Underbody Maintenance
Appearance Care Materials
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Service Parts Identification Label
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
6-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Things Under the Hood
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.
Hood Release
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.
NOTICE:
In order to avoid possible contact of the hood to
the headlamp doors, care should be taken in
raising the hood with the headlamps up,
or shut
off the lamps prior to opening the hood.
6-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You’ll see the following when you open the hood:
A. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap
B. Battery
C. Engine Oil Dipstick
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap
E, Air Cleaner
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
G. Brake Fluid Reservoir
H. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
Reservoir (if equipped)
1. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir
6-10

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps
are on properly. Then, just pull the hood down and close
it firmly.
Engine Oil
If the LOW OIL LEVEL message on the Driver
Information Center comes on, it means you need to
check your engine oil level right away. For more
information, see “Driver Information Center” 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 level 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. The
engine oil dipstick is
next to the coolant surge
tank. The dipstick handle is
a round, yellow loop.
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant. See “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom of the filler plug hole.
What to Use
To add lubricant when the level is low, use Axle
Lubricant (GM
Part No. 12345977) or SAE 8OW-90
GL-5 gear lubricant. To completely refill after draining,
add
4 ounces (1 18 ml) of Limited-Slip Differential
Lubricant Additive (GM
Part No. 1052358). Then fill to
the bottom of the filler plug hole with Axle Lubricant
(GM
Part No. 12345977) or SAE 8OW-90 GL-5
gear lubricant.
Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem 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-COOL6 extended life coolant.
8
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.
6-22