recommended oil CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 1973 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Detroit, Michigan 48202 (or in
Canada by writing to General
Moto rs of Canada Limited,
Owner
Relations Department , Oshawa,
Ontario) .
To assist in attaining good han­
dling of the car-trailer combina­
tion, it
is important that the trailer
tongue load be maintained at ap­
proximately
10% of the loaded
trailer weight. Tongue loads can be
adjusted by proper distribution of
the load in the trailer, and can be
checked by weighing separately the
loaded trailer and then the tongue.
When towing trailers, tires
should be inflated to the highest inflation
pressures shown on the
placard affixed to the left front
door . The allowable passenger and
cargo load, also shown on the same
placard ,
is reduced by an amount
equal to
the trailer tongue load on
the trailer hitch.
Maintenance
More frequent vehicle mainte­
nance
is required when using your
car to pull a trailer. Change the:
• Automatic transmission fluid
each
12 ,000 miles ,
• Rear axle fluid each 12,000
miles,
• Engine oil each 60 days or 3,000
12
miles , whichever occurs first.
• Positive crankcase ventilation
valve each 12 months or
12,000
miles, whichever occurs first.
Break-in Schedule
In addition to the new ca r
break-in instructions in this man­
ual, it
is recommended that your
new Monte Carlo 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
precautions should be observed
whenever a new engine, transmis­
sion or axle
is installed in your car.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine STARTING AND OPERATING
Engine Exhaust Gas Caution (Carbon Monoxide)
Allold inhaling exhaust gases because
they contain carbon monoxide, which by
Itsell is colorless and odorless. Carbon
monoxide is a dangerous gas that can cause unconsciousness and is potentially
lethal.
II at any time you suspect that exhaust fumes are entering the passenger com­partment, have the cause determined and corrected as soon as possible. II you must
drive under these conditions, drive only
with
all windows fully open.
The best protection against carbon
mon­oxide entry into the car body is a properly
maintained exhaust system, car body and body ventilation system. It is recom­mended that the exhaust system and body
be inspected by a competent mechanic:
• Each time the IIehicie is raised for oil change. > •
Wheneller a change
is noticed In the
sound of the exhaust system.
• Wheneller the exhaust system, under­
body or rear of the vehicle is damaged.
See your Maintenance Schedule folder
for inspection procedure.
To allow proper operation of the car's
IIentilation system, keep front ventilation
inlet
grille clear of snow, leaves or other obstruction at all times.
SITTING IN A PARKED CAR WITH
ENGINE RUNNING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
Do
not run engine in confined areas such as garages any more than needed to mOlle IIehicle In or out of area. When IIe­hlcle is stopped In an UNCONFINED area with the engine running for any more than a short period, adJust heating or cooling system to force outside air Into car as follows:
14
1. On cars not equipped with air condi­
tioning, set fan to medium or high
speed and upper control leller to any
position except OFF.
2. On cars equipped with manual air conditioning, set fan to medium or high speed, upper control lever to any
position except OFF, and lower con­trol lever to any position except ex­treme left COLD.
The trunk lid should be closed while
drilling to help prellent inadllertently draw­Ing exhaust gases Into the car. If Is unwise to drive at high speeds for long durations
with the trunk lid open. Howeller, If lor some reason the trunk must remain open lor a period while mOiling, or electrical wiring or other cable connections to a trailer must pass through the seal between
trunk lid and body, the lol/owlng precau­
tions should be observed:
• Close all windows.
• Ad/ust heating or cooling system to
force outside air into car as described In items 1 and 2 abolle but with Ian set at high speed.
• On cars equipped with outside aIr IIents In or under Instrument panel, open IIents lully.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine _ '\' ' 2
1
5 , / '/ ,
[ e /~
O'v RPM !lOa -"-50
Optional Instrument and
Gauges
Tachometer
The optional Tachometer indi­
cates the speed of the engine in
revolutions per minute. The yellow
area on the face of the tachometer
indicates the highest recommended
engine rpm. Engine operation
causing tachometer indications in
Engine Temperature Gauge
This optional gauge indicates
coolant temperature which will
vary with air temperature and op­
erating conditions. The ignition
switch must be on for accurate
readings. Hard driving
or pro­
longed idling in very hot weather
29
or above the red area can lead to
serious engine damage. Function
of the oil pressure light if
so
equipped is described on page 26.
When the ignition switch key
is
turned to the OFF position, the
pointer may not necessarily return
'
to the 0 RPM position. For the
tachometer
to register 0 RPM the
key must be in the
ON position
and engine not running.
will cause the pointer to move
beyond the center of the band.
Should pointer move to the line at
the
"H" end of the band, stop
engine
or reduce speed to permit
engine to cool. With Air Injection
Reactor System, the needle will
frequently move beyond the center
of the band.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fruit Stains, Coffee, Soft
Drinks, Ice Cream and Milk­
Wipe with cloth soaked in cold
water.
If necessary clean lightly
with fabric cleaning fluid.
Soap
and water is not recommended as
it might set the stain .
Catsup-Wipe with cloth soaked
in cool water.
If further cleaning
is necessary, use a detergent foam
cleaner.
Grease, Oil , Butter, Margarine
and Crayon -Scrape off excess
I with dull knife. Use fabric clean­
ing fluid.
Paste or Wax Type Shoe Polish
-Light applications of fabric
cleaning fluid.
Exterior Appearance
Your car is finished with General
Motors
" Magic-Mirror" acrylic lac­
quer. This
is a finish of maximum
beauty which, in depth of color,
Tar -Remove excess with dull
knife, moisten with fabric clean­
ing fluid, scrape again, rub lightly
with additional cleaner.
Blood -Wipe with clean cloth
moistened with cold water.
Use
no soap.
Urine -Sponge stain with luke­
warm soap suds from mild neutral
soap on clean cloth, rinse with
cloth soaked in cold water, satu­
rate cloth with one part house­
hold ammonia and 5 parts water,
apply for 1 minute, rinse with
clean, wet cloth.
Vomitus-Sponge with clean cloth
dipped in clean, cold water. Wash
gloss retention and durability
is
superior to conventional lacquer
finishes.
Washing Your Car
The best way to preserve the
finish and maintain original beauty
48
lightly with lukewarm water and
mild neutral soap.
If odor persists,
treat area with a water-baking soda
solution (1 teaspoon baking soda
to one cup of tepid water). Rub
again with cloth and cold water.
Finally, if necessary, clean lightly
with fabric cleaning fluid.
Interior Glass Surface
The interior glass surface should
be cleaned on a periodic basis for
continued good visibility. A com­
mercial household glass cleaning
agent containing ammonia will re­
move normal tobacco smoke and
dust
films sometimes caused by
ingredients used in vinyls, plastics
or other interior trim materials.
of appearance
is to keep it clean.
Wash the car in lukewarm or cold
water . Never use strong
soap or
chemical detergents. Cleaning
agents should be quickly flushed
from the surfaces.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Polishing and Waxing
Your Car
Although acrylic paint on your
car
is durable, you may wish to
wax or polish for added protection.
Your Chevrolet Dealer offers many
polishes and waxes now available
which have proven of real value
in
maintaining a good paint finish.
When using a tar and road oil
remover, be certain it
is safe for
use on acrylic painted surfaces.
Protection of Exterior
Bright
Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be
cleaned regularly to maintain
luster. Washing with water is all
that
is usually required. However,
G.M. Chrome
Polish may be used
on CHROME or STAINLESS
STEEL
trim if necessary.
Use special care with ALU­
MINUM trim. Never use auto or
chrome polish, steam or any caustic
soap to clean aluminum.
A coating of wax, rubbed to a
high polish,
is recommended for
all bright metal parts.
Cleaning White Sidewall
Tires
Use a tire cleaner which will
not harm aluminum trim. A stiff
brush may be used with the cleaner
to remove road grime and dirt
from white sidewall tires.
Cleaning the Optional
Vinyl
Top
The top should be washed fre­
quently with neutral soap suds,
lukewarm water and a brush with
soft bristles. Rinse top with
suffi­
cient quantities of clear water to
remove all traces of soap.
If the top requires additional
cleaning after using soap and
water, a mild foaming cleanser
can be used. Rinse the whole top
with water; then apply a mild
49
foaming type cleanser on an area
of approximately
--two square feet.
Scrub area with a small soft bristle
hand brush adding water
as neces­
sary until the cleanser foams to
a soapy consistency. Remove the
first accumulated soilage with a
cloth or sponge before it can be
ground into the top material.
Apply additional cleanser to the
area and scrub until the top
is
clean. Care must be exercised to
keep the cleanser from running
onto body finish
as it may cause
streaks
if allowed to run down
and dry. After the entire top
has been cleaned, rinse generously
with clear water to remove all
traces of cleanser.
Do not use
volatile cleaner or household
bleaching agents on the top
material.
I

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine leaded or low-lead gasolines are
not available, gasolines containing
more than 0.5 grams per gallon
may be used.
In states using the Gasoline Per­
formance and Information
System
of fuel designation, unleaded or
low-lead fuels having an anti-knock
designation of
"2" or higher are
recommended.
Gas Cap-The fuel tank filler cap
has a new two-step removal and
installation procedure plus a
pressure-vacuum safety relief.
valve. It is equipped with a double
set of locking tangs.
To remove:
• Rotate cap one-half tum 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
tum counterclock­
wise to clear second set of tangs
and remove the cap.
• To install, reverse this pro­
cedure.
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
result in a serious malfunction of
the system. Correct replacement
caps may be obtained from
your
authorized Chevrolet Dealer.
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
51
first, under the following con­
ditions:
- driving in dusty conditions
- trailer pulling
- extensive idling
- short-trip operation
at freez-
ing temperatures (engine not
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
provide excellent engine pro­
tection.
See your Chevrolet dealer for
advice
on the frequency of oil and
filter changes under unusual driv­
ing conditions.
The above recommendations
apply to the first change as well as
subsequent oil changes. The oil
change interval for your Monte
Carlo engine
is based on the use of

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SE oils and quality oil filters. Oil
change intervals longer than those
listed above will seriously reduce
engine life and may affect Chevro­
let's obligation under the provisions
of the New Vehicle Warranty.
A high quality
SE oil was in­
stalled in your engine at the factory.
It is not necessary to change this
facory-installed oil prior
to the rec­
ommended normal change period.
However, check the oil level more
NOTE: Non-detergent and other
low quality oils are specifically not
recommended.
Only the use of SE
engine oils and proper oil and filter
change intervals assure you of con­
tinued proper lubrication of your
Chevrolet engine.
frequently during the break-in pe­
riod since higher oil consumption
is normal until the piston rings be­
come seated.
Recommended Viscosity
Select the proper viscosity from the following chart:
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY NUMBER
I ,.
.... ~.-."'). ... .II ••• :.; I
-30 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE, OF.
NOTE: SAE 5W-30 viscosity oil is recommended for all seasons in
vehicles normally operated in Canada.
SAE 5W-20 oils are not recom­
mended for sustained high-speed driving.
SAE 30 oils may be used at temperatures above 40oP.
The proper oil viscosity helps
assure good cold and hot starting.
NOTE: The oil gauge rod is also
marked,
"Use SE Engine Oil" as
a reminder to use only SE oils.
52
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 accumulation in the engine to

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine drain back in the crankcase. To
check the level, remove the oil
gauge rod (dip stick), wipe
it
clean and reinsert it firmly for an
accurate reading. 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 tak­
ing 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
example, if higher detergency is
required to reduce varnish and
sludge deposits resulting from some unusual
operational difficulty, a
thoroughly tested and approved
additive
- "Super Engine Oil Sup­
plement " -
is available at your
Chevrolet dealer.
In the event of
an operational problem, consult
your dealer for advice before using
supplemental additives.
Drive Belts
Every 6,000 miles or 4 months
-inspect drive belts for wear,
fraying, cracking, and tension.
Belts which are in poor condition
should be replaced immediately.
Check tension by applying
moderate thumb pressure midway
between pulleys.
If the center-to­
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
~ inch.
Loose belts should be retensioned
to give the correct deflection.
It
is recommended that belts be
53
replaced every 24 months or 24,000
miles, whichever occurs first.
Flame Arrester -Every 12,000
miles-Clean the arrester (located
in the base of the air cleaner) with
kerose:le or a suitable solvent. Dry
with compressed air.
Air Cleaner
Rear
Axle
Standard-Every 4 months or
6,000 miles, whichever occurs first,
check lubricant level and add lubri­
cant, if necessary, to
fill to level of
filler plug hole.
Use SAE 80 or
SAE 90 GL-5 Gear Lubricant.
(For vehicles normally operated in
Canada use
SAE 80 GL-5 Gear
Lubricant.)
Positraction -Drain and refill
after
12,000 miles. Then maintain

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine and in the radiator at least as fre­
quently
as engine oil changes.
NOTE: Do not remove radiator
cap when coolant
is hot and under
pressure.
Level should be at the
"FULL
COLD"
mark on the recovery tank
and at the bottom of the radiator
filler neck when the system
is cold.
During normal warm weather op­
eration the coolant should be at
the
"FULL HOT" mark on the re­
covery tank.
If the recovery tank is
empty or coolant is below the
"FULL COLD" mark the radiator
level should be checked and cool­
ant added to the radiator and re­
covery tank
as needed. Use a 50/50
mixture of high-quality ethylene gly­
col antifreeze and water for coolant
additions.
If regular additions are
required see your dealer for a cool­
ing system check.
NOTE: If recommended quaIily
antifreeze is used, supplemental in­
hibitors or additives claiming to
provide increased capability are
not necessary. They may be detri­
mental
to the efficient operation of
the system, and represent an un­
necessary operating expense.
Every year, the cooling system
should be serviced
as follows:
1 . Wash radiator cap and filler
neck with clean water.
2. Check coolant for proper
level and freeze protection.
3. Pressure test system and radi­
ator cap for proper pressure
holding capacity (15 psi).
If
replacement of cap is re­
quired, use the special AC
cap designed for coolant re­
covery systems, specified for
your car model.
4. Tighten hose clamps and in­
spect all hoses. Replace hoses
58
whenever swollen, checked or
otherwise deteriorated.
5. Clean frontal area of radiator
core and air conditioning
condenser.
Every two years or
24,000 miles,
whichever first occurs, the cooling
system should be flushed and re­
filled using the following recom­
mended procedure:
1. Run engine, with radiator cap
removed, until normal operat­
ing temperature
is reached
and upper radiator hose
is hot
(indicates thermostat
is open.)
2. Stop engine and open radiator
drain valve to drain coolant.
(To speed this operation, the
drain plugs in the block can
also be removed.)

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine • Maintain cooling system freeze
protection at
.;...200 F or below
to ensure protection against
corrosion and loss of coolant
from boiling , even though freez­
ing temperatures are not
ex­
pected.
• Add ethylene glycol base cool­
ant that meets GM Specification
1899-M when coolant additions
are required because of coolant
loss or to provide additional
protection against freezing at
temperatures lower than
_200 F
(_320 F in Canada).
NOTE: Alcohol or methanol base
coolants or plain water are not
recommended for your Monte
Carlo at any time.
Radiator Pressure Cap
The radiator cap, a 15 lb. pres­
sure type, must be installed tightly,
otherwise coolant may be lost and
damage to engine may result from
overheating. Radiator pressure caps
should be checked periodically for
proper operation.
If replacement is
required specify AC.
Thermostat
The cooling system is protected
and controlled by a thermostat in­
stalled in the engine coolant outlet
to maintain a satisfactory operating
temperature of the engine. This
thermostat
is designed for continu­
ous use through both winter and
summer and need not be changed
seasonally . When replacement
is
necessary, Delco parts are recom­
mended.
60
Tires
The factory installed tires on
your car
as shown on the following
Tire Usage chart are designed to
provide the best all around per­
formance for normal vehicle op­
eration. When inflated
as recom­
mended on the tire pressure plac­
ard, located on the left door of
your vehicle, they have the load
carrying capacity to operate satis­
factorily at all normal highway
speeds.
Tire Care
Tires should be checked regu­
larly for proper inflation pressure,
wear, and damage. The following
information will assist you in prop­
erly caring for your tires: