checking oil CHEVROLET IMPALA 2006 9.G Owners Manual

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...........................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)..................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-17
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-22
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-23
Engine Coolant.............................................5-26
Pressure Cap...............................................5-28
Engine Overheating.......................................5-29Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-31
Cooling System............................................5-31
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-38
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-39
Brakes........................................................5-40
Battery........................................................5-43
Jump Starting...............................................5-44
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-48
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-48
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-48
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps...................................5-50
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-52
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-52
Tires..............................................................5-54
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-55
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-57
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-60
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-61
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-64
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-65
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury
to you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed,
or on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the lling is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
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 re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer
and other uids, 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.
5-10

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-39.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-43.
C. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-96.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting
on page 5-44.
E. Coolant Recovery Tank. See “Checking Coolant”
underCooling System on page 5-31.
F. Pressure Cap. SeePressure Cap on page 5-28.
G. Power Steering Fluid Cap. SeePower Steering Fluid
on page 5-38.H. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
J. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick (Out of View).
See “Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transaxle Fluid on page 5-23.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-40.
L. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-22.
5-13

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-39.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-43.
C. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-96.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting
on page 5-44.
E. Coolant Recovery Tank. See “Checking Coolant”
underCooling System on page 5-31.
F. Pressure Cap. SeePressure Cap on page 5-28.
G. Power Steering Fluid Cap. SeePower Steering Fluid
on page 5-38.H. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
J. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick (Out of View).
See “Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transaxle Fluid on page 5-23.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-40.
L. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-22.
5-15

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-39.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-43.
C. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-96.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting
on page 5-44.
E. Pressure Cap. SeePressure Cap on page 5-28.
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-38.
G. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
H. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
I. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
on page 5-23.
J. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-40.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-22.
L. Coolant Recovery Tank. See “Checking Coolant”
underCooling System on page 5-31.Engine Oil
If the ENGINE OIL LOW ADD OIL message appears
in the Driver Information Center (DIC), it means
you need to check the engine oil level right away.
For more information, seeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-45. You should check the engine oil level
regularly; this is an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the 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.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. 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 down, and check the level.
5-17