CHEVROLET TRACKER 1998 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine As shown in the chart, SAE 1OW-30 is best for your
vehicle. However, you can
use SAE 5W-30 if it’s
going
to be colder than 60 “F ( 16 ” C) before your
next oil change. When it’s
very cold, you should use
SAE 5W-30. These numbers on an oil container show
its viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other viscosity
oils, such as
SAE 20W-50.
I NOTICE:
Use only engine oil with the American Petroleum
Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
“Starburst” symbol. Failure to use the recommended oil can result in engine damage not
covered by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil meets all the requirements
for your vehicle.
If you are in an area where the temperature falls
below
-20°F (-29”C), consider using either an
SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil or an SAE OW-30 oil. Both
will provide easier cold starting and better protection for your engine at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your dealer is ready
to advise if you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
If any one of these is true for you, use the short tripkity
maintenance schedule:
0
0
0
0
0
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 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).
You operate your vehicle in dusty areas or
off-road frequently.
You frequently tow
a trailer or use a carrier on top
of your vehicle.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine oil to
break down sooner. If any one of these
is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your oil and filter
every 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever
occurs first.
6-14

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If none of them is true, use the long triphighway
maintenance schedule. Change oil and filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 7.5 months -- whichever
occurs first. Driving
a vehicle with a fully warmed
engine under highway conditions causes engine oil to
break down slower.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don't let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer's warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be
a real threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don't ever dispose of oil
by putting it
in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
Air Cleaner
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can
cause you
or others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air, it stops flame if the engine
CAUTION: (Continued)

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine L U'I'IUN : (Contini 1)
backfires. If it isn't there, and the engine
backfires, you could be burned. Don't drive with
it off, and be careful working on the engine with
the
air cleaner off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage
it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you're driving.
Air Filter Replacement
To check or replace the filter:
1
1. Remove the screws on the cover.
2. Lift the cover up.
6-16

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transmission Fluid
3. Pull out the filter and replace it.
4. Replace the cover and the screws.
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
15,000 miles
(25 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one
or more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90 OF (32 O C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If
you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the fluid and filter
every
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
6-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your Chevrolet dealership Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading on
the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading
if you check your
transmission fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level
if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90 "F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at
normal operating temperature, which is
180°F to
200°F (82°C to 93°C).
See "Checking Transmission
Fluid Hot" in the Index.
Checking Transmission Fluid Hot
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If it's colder than 50°F (lO°C), drive
the vehicle in
DRIVE (D) until the engine temperature
gage moves and then remains steady
for 10 minutes.
Then follow
the hot check procedures.
Checking Transmission Fluid Cold
A cold check is made after the vehicle has been sitting
for eight hours or more with the engine
off and is used
only as a reference. Let the engine run at idle for
five minutes
if outside temperatures are 50°F (10 "C)
or more. If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), you may have
to idle the engine longer. Should the fluid level be low during
a cold check, you must perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you a more accurate
reading of the fluid level.
6-18

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking the Fluid Hot or Cold
0 Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
0 With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK (P).
engine running.
in PARK
(P).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
Then, without shutting
off the engine, follow these steps:
1. The automatic
transmission dipstick
is a black ring handle
located in the rear of the
engine compartment
toward the passenger’s
side of the vehicle. Pull
out the dipstick and
wipe it with a clean rag
or paper towel.
!. Push it back in all the wiy,-slit three seconds and
then pull it back
out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be in the
COLD area for a
cold check or in the HOT area or cross-hatched area
for a hot check.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transmission fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Add fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
while it is hot. (A cold check is used only as
a
reference.) If the fluid level is low, add only enough of
the proper fluid to bring the level up to the
HOT area for
a hot check. It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less
than one pint
(0.5 L). Don’t overfzll.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRON-I11
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the described under
“How to
Check.”
dipstick back in all the way.
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to have it checked is when the engine
oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to change your transmission fluid. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can ue a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your Chevrolet dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system
parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
6-20

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on
a level place and the transmission is
cool enough for
you to rest your fingers on the
transmission case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the filler plug.
How to Add Fluid
Here’s how to add fluid. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule
to determine what kind of fluid to use. See
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add only enough
fluid to bring the fluid level up to the bottom of the
filler plug hole.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the plug is fully seated.
Clutch Adjustment
The clutch linkage in your vehicle should be checked as
recommended in your Maintenance Schedule. To check,
push the clutch pedal down with your hand until you feel some resistance to movement
of the pedal. If the
pedal moves freely up to
1 inch (2.5 cm) or so before
you feel resistance to the travel, adjustment isn’t needed.
If there is no free travel or very little (less than
5/8 of
an inch
(1.6 cm), see your dealer for adjustment.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
3. If the fluid level is good, install the plug and be sure
it is fully seated.
If the fluid level is low, add more
fluid as described in the next steps.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rear Axle What to Use
When
to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often
to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Periodic Maintenance Inspections” and “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine what
kind
of lubricant to use. See “Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants” in the Index.
Four-wheel Drive
Most lubricant checks in this section also apply to
four-wheel-drive vehicles. However, they have two additional systems that need lubrication.
Transfer Case
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when to change
it.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
6-22

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Check Lubricant Front Axle
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
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Periodic Maintenance Inspections’’ and “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
I
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you may need to add some lubricant.