1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Owner's Manual - Page 233

How to Check Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may choose to have this done at your Chevrolet dealership Service Department. To get the right reading, thefluid should be at normal operating temperature, which is 180°Fto 200°F (82°C to 93°C). 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 ( 10°C), you may have to drive longer. If you do it yourself, be sure follow all the instructions to here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick. NOTICE: Too much or too little fluid can damage your transaxle. 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. sure to Be get an accurate reading if you check your transaxle fluid. Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle fluid level if you have been driving: When outside temperatures are above 90 "F (32°C). 0 Checking the Fluid Level 0 Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep theengine running. 0 With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever in PARK (P). With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through eachgear range, pausing for about three seconds in each range. Then, position theshift lever in PARK (P). Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes. 0 0 At high speed for quite a while. In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather. While pulling a trailer.