oil level GMC SAVANA 2000 Owner's Manual

yellowblue
2-61 Oil Pressure Gage
The oil pressure gage shows
the engine oil pressure in psi
(pounds per square inch)
when the engine is running.
Canadian vehicles indicate
pressure in kPa (kilopascals).
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings above the
low pressure zone indicate the normal operating range.
A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or other problem causing low
oil pressure. Check your oil as soon as possible.CAUTION:
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered
by your warranty.

yellowblue
4-22
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh
-- such as after a day's
work
-- don't plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll find experienced and able service experts in GM
dealerships all across North America. They'll be ready
and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:

Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?

Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?

Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?

Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble
-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long
-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?

Weather Forecasts: What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?

Maps: Do you have up
-to-date maps?

yellowblue
4-40 Making Turns
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you're turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal. Do this so your trailer won't strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra
wiring and a heavy
-duty turn signal flasher (included in
the optional trailering package).
The arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you're about to turn, change lanes or stop.When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you
are seeing your signal when they are not. It's important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are
still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you
start down a long or steep downgrade. If you don't shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a
lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If you turn
your engine off immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the
engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission in PARK (P) for a few
minutes before turning the engine off. If you do get
the overheat warning, see ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index.

yellowblue
5-12
Cooling System (Gasoline Engine)
When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see:
A. Radiator Pressure Cap
B. Coolant Recovery Tank
C. Engine Fan(s)
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don't do anything else until it cools down.
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
or above the FULL COLD mark.

yellowblue
5-14
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you use
only DEX
-COOL
(silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to the
system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the use
of coolant other than DEX
-COOL
is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again.
See if the engine cooling fan speed increases when idle
speed is doubled by pushing the accelerator pedal down.
If it doesn't, your vehicle needs service. Turn off
the engine.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven't found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn't at the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX
-COOL
engine
coolant at the coolant recovery tank. (See ªEngine
Coolantº in the Index for more information.)
CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle's coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too hot but you wouldn't
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and DEX
-COOL
coolant.

6-
yellowblue
6-1
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-3 Fuel (Gasoline Engine)
6
-5 Fuels in Foreign Countries (Gasoline Engines)
6
-5 Filling Your Tank (Gasoline Engine)
6
-7 Filling a Portable Fuel Container
6
-8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-11 Noise Control System
6
-12 Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
6
-16 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (Gasoline Engines)
6
-18 Automatic Transmission Fluid
6
-21 Rear Axle
6
-22 Engine Coolant
6
-25 Radiator Pressure Cap
6
-25 Power Steering Fluid
6
-26 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-27 Brakes
6
-31 Battery6
-32 Bulb Replacement
6
-39 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
6
-40 Tires
6
-50 Appearance Care
6
-51 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-54 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-56 Cleaning Aluminum Wheels (If Equipped)
6
-56 Cleaning Tires
6
-56 Sheet Metal Damage
6
-57 Finish Damage
6
-58 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-59 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-60 Electrical System
6
-65 Replacement Bulbs
6
-66 Capacities and Specifications
6
-68 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

yellowblue
6-12
Engine:

Removal or rendering engine speed governor (if
equipped) inoperative so as to allow engine speed to
exceed manufacturer specifications.
Fan and Drive:

Removal of fan clutch (if equipped) or rendering
clutch inoperative.

Removal of the fan shroud (if equipped).
Air Intake:

Removal of the air cleaner silencer.

Reversing the air cleaner cover.
Exhaust:

Removal of the muffler and/or resonator.

Removal of the exhaust pipes and exhaust
pipe clamps.
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see ªEngine Oil
(Diesel Engine)º in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
Checking Engine Oil
It's 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 has
a yellow handle and is
located near the center of
the engine compartment.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
Pull out 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.

yellowblue
6-13
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD mark, then you'll need
to add at least one quart of oil. But you must use the
right kind. This part explains what kind of oil to use. For
crankcase capacity, see ªCapacities and Specificationsº
in the Index.
NOTICE:
Don't add too much oil. If your engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above the upper
mark that shows the proper operating range,
your engine could be damaged.
The engine oil filler cap is located between the coolant
recovery tank and the air cleaner.
Be sure to fill it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you're through.

yellowblue
6-18
Automatic Transmission Fluid
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see ªAutomatic
Transmission Fluidº in the Diesel Supplement.
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 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle's GVWR is over 8,600 or
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:

In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90F (32C) or higher.

In hilly or mountainous terrain.

When doing frequent trailer towing.

Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If your vehicle's GVWR is not over 8,600 and you
do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the fluid and filter every
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
See ªScheduled Maintenance Servicesº in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the 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 90F (32C).

At high speed for quite a while.

In heavy traffic
-- especially in hot weather.

While pulling a trailer.

yellowblue
6-67 Wheel Nut Torque
MODEL TORQUE
All
140 lb
-ft (190 N´m)
Cooling System Capacity (Approximate)
ENGINE VIN QTY Without Rear Heater QTY With Rear Heater
ªVORTECº 4300 V6 W 11.0 Quarts (10.4 L) 14.0 Quarts (13.2 L)
ªVORTECº 5000 V8 M 17.0 Quarts (16.0 L) 20.0 Quarts (18.9 L)
ªVORTECº 5700 V8 R 17.0 Quarts (16.0 L) 20.0 Quarts (18.9 L)
ªVORTECº 7400 V8 J 23.0 Quarts (21.8 L) 26.0 Quarts (24.6 L)
After refill, the level MUST be checked as outlined under ªEngine Cooling Systemº in Section 5.
Crankcase Capacity (Approximate)
ENGINE VIN Quantity With Filter
ªVORTECº 4300 V6 W 4.5 Quarts (4.3 L)
ªVORTECº 5000 V8 M 5.0 Quarts (4.8 L)
ªVORTECº 5700 V8 R 5.0 Quarts (4.8 L)
ªVORTECº 7400 V8 J 6.0 Quarts (5.6 L)
After refill, the level MUST be rechecked. Add enough engine oil so that the fluid is within the proper operating
range. Variation in oil filter size and oil cooler drainback can cause different fill levels. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.
*Add one additional quart for RPO 5Z1 and RPO KL5 Models.