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How To Use This Manual
These symbols are used on warning lights in your vehicle:
1-
Engine Coolant Temperature
BRAKE
Brake Battery
Charging
System
I RELEASE
Parking Brake Release
s Fuel
SHIFT
Shift Light
Engine Oil
Pressure
Low
Coolant
Here are some other symbols you may see:
Fuse
I II
Hood Release Lighter Horn
PO594
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When your engine is cold, let it run for a few minutes before you move your
vehicle. This lets oil pressure build up. Your engine will sound louder when
it's cold.
NOTIP
-
If you're not in an idling vehicle and the engine overheats, you wouldn't
there to see the coolant temperature gage. This could damage your
hicle. Don't let vour enaine run when you're not
in vour vehicle.
Cold Weather Starting (Diesel Engine)
The following tips will help you get good starting in cold weather.
Use
SAE IOW-30 oil when the outside temperature drops below freezing.
When the outside temperature drops below
0°F (-18"C), use your engine
block heater.
If you park your vehicle in a garage, you shouldn't need to use \
the block
heater until the garage temperature goes below
0°F (-18"C), no matter how
cold it is outside.
To use the engine block heater, first turn
off the engine. Then open the hood,
unwrap the electrical cord and plug it in. It uses normal house voltage
(110
volts), but:
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Oil Pressure Gage
Standard Cluster, Gas Standard Cluster, Diesel
60
K2335
Tachometer Cluster, Gas Tachometer Cluster, Diesel
The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure in psi (pounds per
square inch) when the engine is running. Canadian vehicles ind\
icate 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.
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Cold Weather Operation
In cold weather (below 20”F, or -7°C)’ use 1-D or “Winterized” Number 2-D
fuel (a blend of 1-D and 2-D). Be sure you get the right fuel. In very cold
temperatures (when it stays below
0°F or -18”C), use Number 1-D.
If you’re driving in very cold temperatures and can’t get\
Number 1-D or a
“winterized” Number 2-D, you can use one gallon of kerosene for every two
gallons of diesel fuel. Once you add the kerosene, run your engine for
several minutes
so the fuels will mix. Add kerosene only when the
temperature falls below
0°F (-18°C)’ because the fuel economy of kerosene
isn’t as good as that of diesel fuel.
NOTICE I
Never use home heatina oil o
I
1
In cold weather, your fuel filter may become clogged, especiall\
y if you use
Number 2-D diesel fuel that hasn’t been “winterized.” To unclog it, just warm the
filter to between 32°F and
50°F (0°C to 10°C). You won’t need to replace it.
Water in Fuel
Sometimes, water can be pumped into your fuel tank along with \
your diesel
fuel. This can happen
if a service station doesn’t regularly inspect and clean
its fuel tanks, or
if it gets contaminated fuel from its suppliers.
If this happens, a WATER IN FUEL light will come on. If it does, the excess
water must be drained. Your dealer can
do this for you.
AT€
PBOlO
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HOT
WEATHER
COLD
WEATHER
LA t
i SAE low-30
SAE SW-30
PREFERRED
IF NEiTHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30
GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30
GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES
ABOVE
40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C).
ANY OTHER GRADE
OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
DO
NOT USE
SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR
PO344
SAE 5W-30
Vehicles with Light Duty Emissions (8500 GVWR or less).
As
shown in this chart, SAE 5W-30 is best for your vehicle. However,
you can use
SAE IOW-30 if it’s going to be 0°F (-18°C) or above.
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Service & Appearance Care
HOT
WEATHER LOOK FOR THIS
LABEL
SAE 5W-30
SAE 1OW-30
PREFERRED
above 0°F (-18°C)
IF NEITHER
SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30
GRADE
OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30
GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES
ABOVE
40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C).
DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR
ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
PO347
SAE 1OW-30
Vehicles with Heavy Duty
Emissions (8501 GVWR or more).
As shown in this 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, below 0°F (-18"C), you
should use
SAE 5W-30.
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Service & Appearance Cam
heavy-duty applications at temperatures above freezing, 32°F (O’C), SAE
30 grade oil is recommended.
These numbers on an oil container show its viscosity, or thickness.
Do not use other viscosity oils such as
SAE IOW-40 or SAE 2OW-50.
This doughnut-shaped logo (symbol) is used on most oil contai\
ners to help
you select the correct oil.
You should
look for this on the oil container, and use only those oils that
display the logo.
GM Goodwrench@ oil (in Canada, GM Engine Oil) meets all the \
requirements
for your vehicle.
Engine Oil Additives:
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your GM dealer is ready to advise if you think
something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil:
See if any one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km).
It’s below freezing outside and most trips are less than 10 miles (16
The engine is at low speed most of the time (as in door to door
You tow a trailer often.
Most trips are through dusty places. km).
delivery, or in stop-and-go traffic).
The vehicle is frequently operated off-road .
If any one of these is true for your vehicle, then you need to change your
oil and filter every 2,500 miles (4000 km) or 3 months-whichever comes
first.
If none of these is true, change the oil and filter every 5,000 miles (8000
km) or 12 months-whichever comes first.
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Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid level is when the
engine oil is changed. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to change your fluid. See "Scheduled Maintenance Services" in the \
Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a General Motors 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.
I Too much or too little fluid can damage your transmission. Too much can
nean that some of the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts,
itarting
a fire. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
ransmission ftuid.
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 must be at normal operating temperature,
which is 180°F
to 200°F (82°C to 93°C).
To check the transmission fluid hot: Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F (1 0°C). If
it's colder than
50°F (lO°C), drive the vehicle in D (3rd gear) until the engine
temperature gage moves and then remains steady for ten minutes. Then
follow the hot check procedures.
To check 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. A hot check must follow when fluid is
added during a cold check.
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