fuel CHEVROLET OPTRA 2004 1.G Owner's Manual

Engine Oil
If the oil pressure light
appears on the instrument
cluster, it means you
need to check your engine
oil level right away.
For more information, seeOil Pressure Light on
page 3-36.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your 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.
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.
Pull 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.
5-14

Tire Terminology and Denitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire. Air pressure
is expressed in pounds per square inch (psi) or
kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight:This means the combined weight
of optional accessories. Some examples of optional
accessories are, automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio:The relationship of a tire’s height to
its width.
Belt:A rubber coated layer of cords that is located
between the plies and the tread. Cords may be made
from steel or other reinforcing materials.
Bead:The tire bead contains steel wires that hold the
tire onto the rim.
Bias Ply Tire:A pneumatic tire in which the plies are
laid at alternate angles, less than 90 degrees to the
centerline of the tread.
Cold Ination Pressure:The amount of air pressure in
a tire, measured in pounds per square inch (psi) or
kilopascal (kPa), before a tire has built up heat
from driving. SeeInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-57.Curb Weight:This means the weight of a motor
vehicle with standard and optional equipment including
the maximum capacity of fuel, oil and coolant, but
without passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings:A code molded into the sidewall of a
tire signifying that the tire is in compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation motor vehicle safety
standards. The DOT code includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric designator which can
also identify the tire manufacturer, production plant,
brand and date of production.
GVWR:Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, seeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-33.
GAWR FRT:Gross Axle Weight Rating for the front
axle, seeLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-33.
GAWR RR:Gross Axle Weight Rating for the rear axle,
seeLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-33.
Intended Outboard Sidewall:The side of an
asymmetrical tire that must always face outward when
mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa):The metric unit for air pressure.
There are 6.9 kPa’s to one psi.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire:A tire used on light duty
trucks and some multipurpose passenger vehicles.
5-55

Tread Width:The width of the tire’s tread.
UTQGS:Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards, a tire
information system that provides consumers with
ratings for a tire’s traction, temperature and treadwear.
Ratings are determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The ratings are molded
into the sidewall of the tire. SeeUniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 5-60.
Vehicle Capacity Weight:The number of designated
seating positions multiplied by 150 pounds (68 kg)
plus the rated cargo load. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on
page 4-33.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire:Load on an
individual tire due to curb weight, accessory weight,
occupant weight and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard:A label permanently attached to a
vehicle showing original equipment tire size and
the recommended cold inflation pressure. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-33.Ination - Tire Pressure
The tire and loading information label, shows the correct
inflation pressures for your tires when they’re cold.
“Cold” means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km). See
Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-33, for the location
of your vehicle’s tire and loading information label.
Notice:Don’t let anyone tell you that underination
or overination is all right. It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough air (underination), you can get
the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Bad wear
Bad handling
Bad fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (overination), you
can get the following:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards
5-57

Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these are not
removed, corrosion and rust can develop on the
underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan and
exhaust system even though they have corrosion
protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and debris can collect. Dirt packed in close areas of
the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody car washing system can
do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage can
take two forms: blotchy, ring-shaped discolorations, and
small, irregular dark spots etched into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, GM will
repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs first.
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
See your GM dealer for more information on purchasing
the following products.
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
Description Usage
Polishing Cloth
Wax-TreatedInterior and exterior
polishing cloth.
Tar and Road Oil
RemoverRemoves tar, road oil and
asphalt.
Chrome Cleaner and
PolishUse on chrome or
stainless steel.
White Sidewall Tire
CleanerRemoves soil and black
marks from whitewalls.
Vinyl CleanerCleans vinyl tops,
upholstery and
convertible tops.
Glass CleanerRemoves dirt, grime,
smoke and fingerprints.
5-79

Fuses Usage
HEAD LAMPS Headlamps
ECM Engine Control Module
IGN COIL Ignition Coil
I/P FUSE Instrument Panel Fuse
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
A/C Air Conditioning
HORN Horn
HI BEAM Headlamp High-Beam
DRIVER’S
PWR WNDWDriver’s Power Window
STOP LAMPS Stoplamps
DR/LCK Door Lock
MIR HTD Heated Mirror
FRT FOG Front Fog
ILLUM LTLicense Plate Lamp, Parking
Lamp Left
INJ Injector
ENG SNSREvaporative Emission (EVAP)
Canister Purge Solenoid, Heated
Oxygen Sensor (HO2S), Cooling Fan
Relay, CMP SensorFuses Usage
LOW BEAM LT Headlamp Low-Beam Left
ILLUM RTIllumination Circuit, Parking Lamp
Right
LOW BEAM RT Headlamp Low-Beam Right
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
BATT PWR Battery Power
ABS Anti-lock Brake System
HVAC BLWR HVAC Blower
IGN 2 Ignition 2
IGN 1 Ignition 1
FUSE PLR Fuse Puller
COOL FAN
LOWCooling Fan Low
DEFOG Defog
COOL FAN HI Cooling Fan High
PWR WNDW Power Window
5-88

Relays Usage
COOL FAN
LOWCooling Fan Low
FRT FOG Front Fog
ILLUM Illumination Relay
A/C CMPRSR Air Conditioning Compressor
HORN Horn
DEFOG DefogRelays Usage
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
MAIN Main Relay
COOL FAN HI Cooling Fan High
PWR WNDW Power Window
HEAD LAMPS Headlamp Relay
5-89

Capacities and Specications
The following approximate capacities are given in English and metric conversions. Please refer toPart D:
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-24for more information.
ApplicationCapacities
English Metric
Air Conditioning Refrigerant R134a 1.41 lbs 0.64 kg
Brake/Clutch Fluid 0.53 quarts 0.5 L
Cooling System 7.9 quarts 7.5 L
Engine Oil with Filter 4.2 quarts 4.0 L
Fuel Tank 14.5 gallons 55 L
Power Steering Fluid 1.2 quarts 1.1 L
Transaxle, Automatic
Complete Overhaul 7.1–7.5 quarts 6.7–7.1 L
Transaxle, Manual
Complete Drain and Refill 1.9 quarts 1.8 L
Wheel Nut Torque 81 lb ft 110Y
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the appropriate level, as recommended in this
manual.
Engine Specications
Engine VIN Code Transaxle Spark Plug Gap
2.0L L4 (L34) ZAutomatic and
Manual0.039 inch (1.0 mm)
5-90

Maintenance Schedule......................................6-2
Introduction...................................................6-2
Maintenance Requirements..............................6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................6-2
How This Section is Organized.........................6-3
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services...........6-4
Using Your Maintenance Schedule....................6-4
Selecting the Right Schedule...........................6-5
Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance..............6-6
Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance......6-13
Part B: Owner Checks and Services................6-18
At Each Fuel Fill..........................................6-18
At Least Once a Month.................................6-18At Least Twice a Year...................................6-19
At Least Once a Year...................................6-20
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections.........6-23
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection............................6-23
Exhaust System Inspection............................6-23
Fuel System Inspection..................................6-23
Engine Cooling System Inspection...................6-23
Throttle System Inspection.............................6-24
Brake System Inspection................................6-24
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants......6-24
Part E: Maintenance Record...........................6-26
Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
6-1

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
In this part are scheduled maintenance services which
are to be performed at the mileage intervals specified.
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to keep your vehicle in good
working condition. But we do not know exactly how
you will drive it. You may drive 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 the different ways people use their vehicles,
maintenance needs may vary. You may need more
frequent checks and replacements. So please read the
following and note how you drive. If you have
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition,
see your dealer.This part tells you the maintenance services you should
have done and when to schedule them.
When you go to your dealer for your service needs, you
will know that GM-trained and supported service
people will perform the work using genuine GM parts.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Part D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses
these. All parts should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else drives the
vehicle.
These schedules are for vehicles that:
•carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these on the tire and loading
information label. SeeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 4-33.
•are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
•use the recommended fuel. SeeGasoline Octane
on page 5-5.
6-4

Selecting the Right Schedule
First you will need to decide which of the two schedules
is right for your vehicle. Here is how to decide which
schedule to follow:
Short Trip/City Denition
Follow the Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance if any
one of these conditions is true for your vehicle:
•Most trips are less than 5 miles (8 km). This is
particularly important when outside temperatures
are below freezing.
•Most trips include extensive idling, such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic.
•If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police,
taxi or other commercial application.
One of the reasons you should follow this schedule if
you operate your vehicle under any of these conditions
is that these conditions cause engine oil to break
down sooner.
Short Trip/City Intervals
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km):Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or 3 months, whichever occurs first).
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 km):Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km):Engine Air Cleaner
Filter Inspection. Passenger Compartment Air Filter
Replacement. Drive Belt(s) Inspection.
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km):Engine Air Cleaner
Filter Replacement. Spark Plug Replacement. Cooling
System Service. EVAP System Service. PCV System
Service. Timing Belt Inspection. Brake/Clutch Fluid
Change (or 24 months, whichever occurs first).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km):Spark Plug Wire
Replacement. Timing Belt Replacement. EVAP System
Solenoid Valve Filter Replacement.
Every 90,000 Miles (150 000 km):Fuel Filter
Replacement.
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete scheduled maintenance
on the following pages.
6-5