check oil CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 2005 6.G Owner's Manual

{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.If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
do not do anything else until it cools down. The
vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
The coolant recovery tank is located in the rear of the
engine compartment on the passenger’s side of the
vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12.
To check the coolant level, look for the COLD mark on
the side of the coolant recovery tank that faces the
engine. When the engine is cold, the coolant level
should be at or above the COLD mark on the coolant
recovery tank. If it is not, you may have a leak at
the pressure cap or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump, or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
5-35

ApplicationCapacities
English Metric
3800 Supercharged V6 Engine 11.7 qt 11.0 L
Engine Oil with Filter
3400 V6 Engine 4.0 qt 3.8 L
3800 V6 Engine 4.5 qt 4.2 L
3800 Supercharged V6 Engine 4.5 qt 4.2 L
Fuel Tank 17.0 gal 64.3 L
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to ll to the approximate level, as recommended in this
manual. Recheck uid level after lling.
Engine Specications
Engine VIN Code Transaxle Spark Plug Gap
3400 V6 E Automatic 0.060 inches (1.52 mm)
3800 V6 K Automatic 0.060 inches (1.52 mm)
3800 Supercharged V6 1 Automatic 0.060 inches (1.52 mm)
5-104

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level and
change as recommended.
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet or your dealer
for details.
Maintenance Requirements
Notice:Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections,
replacement parts, and recommended uids and
lubricants as prescribed in this manual are necessary
to keep your vehicle in good working condition. Any
damage caused by failure to follow scheduled
maintenance may not be covered by warranty.
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance is
important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even
affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper uid
levels or the wrong tire ination can increase the level of
emissions from your vehicle. To help protect our
environment, and to keep your vehicle in good condition,
be sure to maintain your vehicle properly.
Using the Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle in good working condition. But we do not know
exactly how you will drive it. You may drive very
short distances only a few times a week. Or you may
drive long distances all the time in very hot, dusty
weather. You may use your vehicle in making deliveries.
Or you may drive it to work, to do errands or in many
other ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may need more
frequent checks and replacements. So please read
the following and note how you drive. If you have any
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition,
see your GM Goodwrench
®dealer.
6-2

The proper replacement parts, uids and lubricants to
use are listed inRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 6-12andNormal Maintenance Replacement
Parts on page 6-13. When your vehicle is serviced,
make sure these are used. All parts should be replaced
and all necessary repairs done before you or anyone
else drives the vehicle. We recommend the use of
genuine GM parts.
Scheduled Maintenance
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message comes on, it
means that service is required for your vehicle. Have
your vehicle serviced as soon as possible within the next
600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that, if you are
driving under the best conditions, the engine oil
life system may not indicate that vehicle service is
necessary for over a year. However, your engine oil and
lter must be changed at least once a year and at
this time the system must be reset. Your GM
Goodwrench
®dealer has GM-trained service technicians
who will perform this work using genuine GM parts
and reset the system.If the engine oil life system is ever reset accidentally,
you must service your vehicle within 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) since your last service. Remember to reset
the oil life system whenever the oil is changed. See
Engine Oil Life System on page 5-21for information on
the Engine Oil Life System and resetting the system.
When the change engine oil message appears, certain
services, checks, and inspections are required.
Required services are described in the following for
“MaintenanceI” and “MaintenanceII.” Generally,
it is recommended that your rst service be
MaintenanceI, your second service be MaintenanceII,
and that you alternate MaintenanceIand MaintenanceII
thereafter. However, in some cases, MaintenanceII
may be required more often.
MaintenanceI— Use MaintenanceIif the change
engine oil message comes on within 10 months since
the vehicle was purchased or MaintenanceIIwas
performed.
MaintenanceII— Use MaintenanceIIif the previous
service performed was MaintenanceI. Always use
MaintenanceIIwhenever the message comes on
10 months or more since the last service or if the
message has not come on at all for one year.
6-4

Scheduled Maintenance
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Change engine oil and lter. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-18. Reset oil life
system. SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 5-21.An Emission Control
Service.••
Visually check for any leaks or damage.See footnote (k).••
Inspect engine air cleaner lter. If necessary, replace lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-24.See footnote (m).•
Rotate tires and check ination pressures and wear. SeeTire Inspection and
Rotation on page 5-68and “Tire Wear Inspection” inAt Least Once a Month on
page 6-9.••
Inspect brake system.See footnote (a).••
Check engine coolant and windshield washer uid levels and add uid as
needed.••
Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required Services” in
this section.••
Inspect suspension and steering components.See footnote (b).•
Inspect engine cooling system.See footnote (c).•
Inspect wiper blades.See footnote (d).•
Inspect restraint system components.See footnote (e).•
Lubricate body components.See footnote (f).•
Check transaxle uid level and add uid as needed.•
Replace passenger compartment air lter (if equipped).See footnote (g).•
Inspect throttle system.See footnote (j).•
6-5

(e)Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all belts,
buckles, latch plates, retractors, and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken airbag coverings, and
have them repaired or replaced. The airbag system does
not need regular maintenance.
(f)Lubricate all key lock cylinders. Lubricate all hinges
and latches, including those for the body doors, hood,
secondary latch, pivots, spring anchor, release pawl, rear
compartment, glove box door, console door, and any
folding seat hardware. More frequent lubrication may be
required when exposed to a corrosive environment.
Applying silicone grease on weatherstrips with a clean
cloth will make them last longer, seal better, and not stick
or squeak.
(g)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions, the
lter may require replacement more often.
(h)Change automatic transaxle uid and lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police, or delivery
service.
(i)Drain, ush, and rell cooling system. This service
can be complex; you should have your dealer perform
this service. See Engine Coolant on page 5-28for
what to use. Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap, and ller neck. Pressure test the
cooling system and pressure cap.
(j)Check throttle system for interference or binding and
for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts as
needed. Replace any components that have high effort
or excessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator or
cruise control cables.
(k)A uid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired
and the uid level checked. Add uid if needed.
(l)For supercharged engines only: Check the
supercharger oil level and add the proper supercharger
oil as needed (or every 36 months, whichever occurs
rst). See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 6-12.
(m)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions, inspect
the lter at each engine oil change.
(n)Visually inspect belt for fraying, excessive cracks, or
obvious damage. Replace belt if necessary.
6-8

Owner Checks and Services
These owner checks and services should be performed
at the intervals specied to help ensure the safety,
dependability and emission control performance of your
vehicle. Your GM Goodwrench
®dealer can assist
you with these checks and services.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any uids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
inRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important to perform these underhood checks at
each fuel ll.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-18for further
details.
Notice:It is important to check your oil regularly
and keep it at the proper level. Failure to keep your
engine oil at the proper level can cause damage
to your engine not covered by your warranty.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture if necessary. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-28for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer uid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the proper uid if necessary.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Ination Check
Visually inspect your vehicle’s tires and make sure they
are inated to the correct pressures. Do not forget to
check the spare tire. SeeTires on page 5-59for further
details. Check to make sure the spare tire is stored
securely. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-76.
Tire Wear Inspection
Tire rotation may be required for high mileage highway
drivers prior to the Engine Oil Life System service
notication. Check the tires for wear and, if necessary,
rotate the tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-68.
6-9

Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-26
Operation...................................................2-20
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-92
Battery..........................................................5-48
Run-Down Protection...................................3-20
Battery Warning Message................................3-44
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-7
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Low Fluid Warning Message.........................3-49
Parking......................................................2-23
System Warning Light..................................3-34
Brakes..........................................................5-45
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-16
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-54
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-57
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-54
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-54
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-55Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-57
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps...................................5-56
Buying New Tires...........................................5-70C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-103
Carbon Monoxide...................2-10, 2-26, 4-25, 4-38
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-91
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-90
Your CD Player...........................................3-91
Your CDs ...................................................3-91
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-36
Chains, Tire...................................................5-74
Change Engine Oil Message............................3-46
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-37
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-94
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-33
Infants and Young Children...........................1-29
2

Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the United
States Government...................................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
D
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic Headlamp
System......................................................3-14
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Entry Lighting.....................................3-19
Delayed Exit Lighting.......................................3-19
Delayed Headlamps........................................3-14
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp...................................................3-18
Door
Ajar Warning Message.................................3-47
Locks.......................................................... 2-8
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-9
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-15
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-51
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-16
City...........................................................4-20Driving (cont.)
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-21
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-23
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-17
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-31
Winter........................................................4-25
Dual Climate Control System............................3-22E
Easy Entry Seat............................................... 1-7
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-97
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-97
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-97
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-98
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-97
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-101
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-97
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-24
Battery.......................................................5-48
Change Oil Message...................................3-46
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-37
Coolant......................................................5-28
Coolant Heater............................................2-19
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-36
4

Low Oil Pressure Message...............................3-45
Low Tire Message..........................................3-46
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message.................3-48
Lumbar
Manual Controls............................................ 1-3
M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-9
At Least Once a Month.................................. 6-9
At Least Once a Year..................................6-10
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-7
Maintenance Record....................................6-14
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-13
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-9
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-12
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using.......................................................... 6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-37
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-3
Manual Seats................................................... 1-2Message
Battery Warning..........................................3-44
Center.......................................................3-42
Change Engine Oil......................................3-46
Door Ajar Warning.......................................3-47
Highbeam Out Warning................................3-50
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning..................3-44
Low Brake Fluid Warning..............................3-49
Low Engine Oil Level...................................3-45
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-49
Low Oil Pressure.........................................3-45
Low Tire .....................................................3-46
Low Washer Fluid Warning...........................3-48
Security.....................................................3-48
Service Traction System Warning...................3-43
Service Vehicle Soon...................................3-50
Traction Active............................................3-43
Trunk Ajar Warning......................................3-47
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview........................2-28
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar
®.....2-29
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-28
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®.............2-28
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-30
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-30
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-29
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-3
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