check oil CHEVROLET VOLT 2015 2.G Owners Manual

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
5-24 Instruments and Controls
When the Light Flashes First and
Then is On Steady
This indicates that there may be a
problem with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System. The light flashes
for about one minute and stays on
steady until the vehicle is in OFF.
This sequence repeats each time
the vehicle is in ON/RUN. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor System on
page 10-47.
Engine Oil Pressure Light
{Caution
Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. Driving with the engine
oil low can also damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Check the oil level as soon as
possible. Add oil if required, but if
the oil level is within the operating
range and the oil pressure is still
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
low, have the vehicle serviced.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule for changing engine oil.
The oil pressure light should come
on briefly as the vehicle is started.
If it does not come on have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem. See
your dealer.
Low Fuel Warning Light
The low fuel warning light comes on
briefly when the vehicle is started.
This light also comes on when the
fuel level is low. When fuel is added,
the light should go off. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced.
Security Light
The security light should come on
briefly as the engine is started. If it
does not come on, have the vehicle

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
Instruments and Controls 5-41
in the Maintenance Schedule. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-2andEngine Oil on
page 10-9.
The oil life must be reset after each
oil change. Avoid accidental
resetting of the Engine Oil Life
System. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil change.
To reset the Engine Oil Life System,
see Engine Oil Life System on
page 10-12. The system is reset
when 100% displays.
Tire Pressure
The display will show a vehicle with
the approximate pressures of all
four tires. Tire pressure is displayed
in either kilopascals (kPa) or in
pounds per square inch (psi).
If a low or high tire pressure is
detected, a message is displayed
advising to check the tire pressure
in the specified tire. See Tire
Pressure on page 10-46 andTire
Messages on page 5-49. If the tire pressure display shows
dashes instead of a value, there
may be a problem with the vehicle.
See your dealer for service.
Vehicle Messages
Turn the SELECT knob to scroll
through any active warning
messages. Press SELECT to review
the messages.
Units
Turn the SELECT knob to change
the unit display to METRIC or US
when the display is active. Press
SELECT to confirm the setting. This
will change the displays on the
cluster and DIC to either metric or
English (US) measurements.
Tutorial Mode
Select this menu item to view a
screen that explains some of the
unique features of the cluster or the
Open Source Software information
for the cluster.
Tutorial mode is only available when
the vehicle is in P (Park).Power Gauge
Select this menu item the power
gauge.
The power gauge informs the driver
of the total power coming from the
engine or battery to operate the
vehicle. When in Regen mode, this
gauge will inform the driver of the
amount of power being restored to
the battery from the vehicle.
Following Distance Indication
Select this menu item to view the
following distance indication. See
“Following Distance Indication”
under
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System on page 9-37.
Turn-by-Turn
Select this menu item to view the
OnStar or Navigation System
Turn-by-Turn guidance. See the
infotainment manual.

Black plate (44,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
5-44 Instruments and Controls
Electric Drive Unit
Messages
SHIFT TO PARK
This message displays when the
vehicle should be shifted to
P (Park). This may appear when
attempting to turn off the vehicle
when it is not in P (Park).
Engine Cooling System
Messages
ENGINE OVERHEATED—
REDUCE SPEED
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature or
engine oil is too hot. Reduce speed
and allow the vehicle to cool down.
ENGINE OVERHEATED —
TURN VEHICLE OFF
This message displays and a
continuous chime sounds if the
engine cooling system reaches
unsafe temperatures for operation.
Stop and turn off the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so to avoid
severe damage. This message
clears when the engine has cooled
to a safe operating temperature.
ENGINE RUNNING DUE TO
TEMPERATURE
This message displays when the
high voltage battery is charged but
the engine has to come on because
of the outside temperature or high
voltage battery temperature.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
After changing the engine oil, the
Engine Oil Life System must be
reset. See
Engine Oil Life System
on page 10-12 andDriver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5-39 for information on how to
reset the system. See Engine Oil on
page 10-9 andMaintenance
Schedule on page 11-2.
OIL PRESSURE LOW —TURN
VEHICLE OFF
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible
and do not operate it until the cause
of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check the oil as soon as
possible and have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
Fuel System Messages
CLOSE FUEL DOOR
This message displays when the
fuel door is open and the vehicle is
moving.
ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE
ADD FUEL
This message displays when the
engine is not available due to
running out of fuel. The vehicle can
continue to be driven in Electric
Mode until the battery is depleted,
but will have reduced acceleration.

Black plate (54,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
9-54 Driving and Operating
other fuels containing more than
15% ethanol must be used only in
FlexFuel vehicles.
{Caution
Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in the fuel system and also
damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be
covered under the vehicle
warranty.
Some gasolines, mainly high octane
racing gasolines, can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). Do not use
gasolines and/or fuel additives with
MMT as they can reduce spark plug
life and affect emission control
system performance. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn
on. If this occurs, see your dealer
for service.
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance might
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle may not pass a smog-check
test. See Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 5-16. If this occurs,
return to your authorized dealer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of
fuel used, repairs may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If planning to drive in countries
outside the U.S. or Canada, the
proper fuel might be hard to find.
Check regional auto club or fuel
retail brand websites for availability
in the country where driving. Never
use leaded gasoline, fuel containing
methanol, manganese, or any other
fuel not recommended. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper
fuel would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel on
page 9-53.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is
not available, one bottle of Fuel
System Treatment PLUS added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. Fuel System
Treatment PLUS is the only

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-2
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Lifting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-12
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-13
Cooling System (Engine) . . . 10-14
Cooling System (High Voltage Battery) . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Cooling System (Power Electronics and Charger
Modules) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17 Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-19
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Electric Drive Unit Shift Lock
Control Function Check . . . 10-25
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-25
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-29
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices andWiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left Side) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
(Right Side) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-42
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
Vehicle Care 10-9
1. Engine Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10-17.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10-13.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil on page 10-9.
4. High Voltage Battery Coolant Reservoir and Pressure Cap.
See Cooling System (Engine) on
page 10-14 orCooling System
(High Voltage Battery) on
page 10-15 orCooling System
(Power Electronics and Charger
Modules) on page 10-16.
5. Engine Cover.
6. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine
Oil on page 10-9.
7. Power Electronics Coolant Reservoir and Pressure Cap.
See Cooling System (Engine) on
page 10-14 orCooling System
(High Voltage Battery) on
page 10-15 orCooling System
(Power Electronics and Charger
Modules) on page 10-16. 8. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
“Brake Fluid” underBrakes on
page 10-20.
9. High Voltage Cables (Orange Color).
10. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 10-69.
11. Power Electronics Module.
12. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid on
page 10-20.
13. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 10-69.
14. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10-31.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and of
the proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System on page 10-12.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
10-10 Vehicle Care
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground. The
engine oil dipstick handle is a loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 10-8 for the location of the
engine oil dipstick.
Obtaining an accurate oil level
reading is essential:
1. If the engine has been running recently, turn off the engine and
allow several minutes for the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Checking the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle. 2. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it
with a clean paper towel or cloth,
then push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the tip
down, and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick, add
1 L (1 qt) of the recommended oil
and then recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section for an explanation of
what kind of oil to use. For engine
oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12-2.
{Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that you
have an oil level above the
operating range, i.e., the engine
has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, the engine could
be damaged. You should drain
out the excess oil or limit driving
of the vehicle and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10-8 for the location of the
engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
Vehicle Care 10-11
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-10.
Specification
Use and ask for licensed engine oils
with the dexos1
®approved
certification mark. Engine oils
meeting the requirements for the
vehicle should have the dexos1
approved certification mark. This
certification mark indicates that the
oil has been approved to the dexos1
specification. See
www.gmdexos.com.
{Caution
Failure to use the recommended
engine oil can result in engine
damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty. Check with your
dealer or service provider on
whether the oil is approved to the
dexos1 specification.
Viscosity Grade
Use SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade
engine oil.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an
area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below −29°C
(−20°F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be
used. An oil of this viscosity grade
will provide easier cold starting for
the engine at extremely low
temperatures. When selecting an oil
of the appropriate viscosity grade,
always select an oil of the correct
specification. See “Specification”
earlier in this section for more
information.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils with the dexos
specification and displaying the
dexos certification mark are all that
is needed for good performance and
engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not 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 dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer's warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
10-12 Vehicle Care
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your
own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the filter before disposal. Never
dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash or pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or
bodies of water. Recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on a combination of factors which
include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished, it
indicates that an oil change isnecessary. A CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on.
Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 1 000 km (600 mi).
It is possible that, if driving under
the best conditions, the oil life
system might indicate that an oil
change is not necessary for up to
two years. The engine oil and filter
must be changed at least once
every two years and, at this time,
the system must be reset. Your
dealer has trained service people
who will perform this work and reset
the system. It is also important to
check the oil regularly over the
course of an oil drain interval and
keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
system:
1. Select OIL LIFE on the
DIC menu.
2. Press SELECT to start the OIL LIFE reset procedure.
3. The DIC menu will display “Are
you sure that you want to reset?”
Use SELECT to choose YES to
reset oil life or NO to exit and
return to the previous menu.
4. If YES is selected, the DIC menu will display RESET OIL LIFE for
a short time and then 100% OIL
LIFE will be displayed when the
oil life system is successfully
reset.

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
Vehicle Care 10-17
Engine Coolant
The engine cooling system in the
vehicle is filled with DEX-COOL
engine coolant. The coolant needs
to be replaced every 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), whichever
occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
seeEngine Overheating on
page 10-19.
What to Use
{Warning
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/
50 mixture of deionized water and
DEX-COOL coolant.
Use a 50/50 mixture of deionized
water and DEX-COOL coolant.
If using this mixture, nothing else
needs to be added. This mixture:
.Gives freezing protection down
to −37°C (−34°F), outside
temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to
129°C (265°F), engine
temperature.
.Protects against rust and
corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
{Caution
If improper coolant mixture,
inhibitors, or additives are used in
the vehicle cooling system, the
engine could overheat and be
damaged. Too much deionized
water or clean drinkable water
can freeze and crack engine
cooling parts. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Use only the proper
mixture of engine coolant for the
cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-10.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.