Description

Chrysler NS/GS Manual – 16 Pages of Factory Specs You Actually Need on the Bench

You’ve got a Chrysler NS or GS on the lift, and you’re flipping through some aftermarket sheet that says “tighten to spec” without giving you the spec. That’s not a manual—that’s a hazard. I’ve been torquing head bolts since before most of you were born, and I can tell you the difference between a job done right and a comeback job that eats your Saturday is having the OEM numbers in front of you. This 16-page factory document is exactly what Chrysler gave its own techs. It covers lubrication, fluid capacities, maintenance schedules, and service procedures like jump starting and towing. No fluff, no reprints, no missing pages. This is the real deal.

Lubrication and Maintenance Schedules

The manual opens with LUBRICATION AND MAINTENANCE—the section too many DIY guys skip. You’ll find the CLASSIFICATION OF LUBRICANTS PARTS AND LUBRICANT RECOMMENDATIONS right at the front, including which SAE viscosity grades work for gasoline and diesel engines. There’s a separate MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE—DIESEL ENGINE in the addendum pages. If you’re doing a full service, you need Schedule A and Schedule B intervals. I’ve seen guys throw in 5W-30 because that’s what they had on the shelf, and then wonder why the valvetrain sounds like a coffee grinder. The factory says 5W-20 or 10W-30 depending on temp range. Page numbers? I don’t need to give you a list—the bookmark tree is clean enough that even a beginner can find “ENGINE OIL—GASOLINE ENGINES” without wasting an hour.

Jump Starting Procedure – Do It Right or Cook the PCM

The SERVICE PROCEDURES section starts with JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE. Sounds basic, right? Wrong. Hook up the cables backwards on a modern Chrysler and you’ll fry the body control module. This manual gives you the exact hookup sequence: positive to dead battery, positive to good battery, negative to good battery, negative to engine ground on the dead car. No shortcuts. There’s also a TOWING RECOMMENDATIONS section that covers flat towing, front wheel lift, rear wheel lift, and flatbed tie-downs. If you’re towing a disabled NS with the drive wheels on the ground, you will damage the transmission unless you follow the procedure here. I’ve seen it happen. Don’t be that guy.

Fluid Capacities: Not All Gallons Are Equal

Look up FLUID CAPACITIES in the TOC. You’ll see specs for manual transmission fluid (A-558 and A-598 models), engine oil capacities for both gas and diesel, and what type of coolant to use. These are factory numbers—not “approximately 5 quarts” from a forum post. I’ve had to drain and refill a transmission because somebody used 75W-90 instead of the specified ATF+4. This manual stops that nonsense cold. And if you’re dealing with the diesel addendum, the capacities are listed separately under ENGINE OIL—DIESEL ENGINES. Keep the book on the bench next to your funnel.

Hoisting and Towing: Read This Before You Lift

HOISTING RECOMMENDATIONS covers where to place the lift pads so you don’t crush the pinch welds or the fuel lines. There’s a separate subsection for FLAT BED TOWING TIE DOWNS that specifies how many straps and where to hook them. On the NS, the factory says use the tow hooks for front lifts—page numbers aren’t going to help you if you ignore the warning about ground clearance. The manual says “This vehicle has low ground clearance; use caution when driving onto a flatbed.” I’ve ripped off a front bumper cover because I was in a hurry. Now I always check the factory hoist points first.

For more context on why OEM documentation beats third-party reprints, read the Automotive Industry Overview to see how the rest of the industry handles service info. And if you’re curious about the engineering behind the engine, Internal Combustion Engine gives you the big picture.

OEM Documentation vs. Aftermarket Reprints

I’ve worked at shops where the lead tech had a stack of photocopied manual pages that were so blurry you couldn’t read the torque values. That’s not a manual; that’s a liability. This 16-page document is a direct scan of the original Chrysler print. The font is readable, the diagrams are sharp, and the warnings (like the WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS under towing) are bolded so you don’t skip them. Aftermarket books omit the addendum pages and the unscheduled inspection items. This one includes GROUP 0 ADDENDUM PAGES with the diesel engine sections intact. If you’re working on either gas or diesel, you’ve got the full picture.

I don’t trust a manual that doesn’t tell you the SAE viscosity grade for both engine types, or that skips the UNSCHEDULED INSPECTION steps. The factory manual covers all of that. Every time I reach for this book on the bench, I save myself at least one phone call back to the owner asking “What oil did you use?” You want to fix it once and move on to the next job? Get the factory book.

Related Manuals

• Chrysler NS Series Manuals
• Towing and Hoisting Procedures

How many pages does this manual have?

16 pages total, covering both gasoline and diesel variants.

Does it include torque specs for head bolts or transmission bolts?

This particular manual focuses on lubrication, maintenance, and service procedures (jump starting, towing, hoisting). It does not include engine overhaul torque specs. For internal engine specs, you need the full factory service manual that covers the specific engine. However, the fluid capacities and maintenance schedules are complete for routine service. If you’re rebuilding a cylinder head, look for the larger Chrysler NS/GS service manual (usually 800+ pages). This 16-pager is best kept as a quick-reference for oil changes, towing, and hoisting.

You’ve got the vehicle in the bay. The clock is ticking. Don’t waste time digging through forum posts or calling the parts store twice. Access the Factory Manual now and keep it on your tablet or print it out. Sixteen pages, no guesswork, no reprints. Just the original Chrysler documentation that your job needs.