
close behind you, you can allow a little extra time and flash\
your brake lights (in addition to your turn signal) as extra warning that you are about to slow
down and exit.
The exit ramp can be curvea, somerlmes quite sharply. The exit\
speed is
usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer,\
not to
your sense of motion. After driving for any distance at higher\
speeds, you
may tend to think you are going slower than you actually are.\
For example,
40 rnph (65 km/h) might seem like only 20 mph (30 km/h). Obviously, this
could lead to serious trouble
on a ramp designed for 20 mph (30 kmlh)!
Driving a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are made on freeways, there are\
still many
made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular highways is the s\
ame in some
ways. The trip has to be planned and the vehicle prepared, you drive at\
higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns behind the \
wheel. You’ll
enjoy your trip more
if you and your vehicle are in good shape. Here are
some tips for a successful long trip.
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 \
your vehicle’s
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
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
Lights: 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? inside and outside?
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antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Coolant” in the Index for more
information about the proper coolant mix.)
* 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 mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
for the proper coolant mix. With plain water or the wrong mix, 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
7 50/50 mix of clean water and a proper antifreeze.
I ln cold weather, water can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heate\
r
:ore and other parts. Use the recommended coolant.
PO206
I * You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts. CoolQni
A contains ethylene glycol and it will burn if the engine parts are hut
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery is at
or above COLD, start your
vehicle.
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Service & Appearance Care
Diesel Fuel Requirements
and Fuel System
Some states and provinces have restrictions on the purchase of diesel fuel
for light-duty vehicles and require you
to buy permits or pay special taxes.
Some of these restrictions apply only
to residents, and others apply to both
residents and visitors. These restrictions can change.
To learn the current
restrictions in any state or province, contact your auto club, \
the police or
other officials.
Fuel Requirements
1 NOTICE
Diesel fuel or fuel additives not recommended in this manual could
damage your fuel system and engine. Your warranty wouldn’t cover thi
damage. And:
Diesel fuel that has been mixed with engine oil could damage your
engine and emission controls.
Always check with your service station
his
diesel fuel, it can be difficult to restart your
engine. “Running Out of Fuel,” later
in this section, tells you how to
get
it started again. To avoid all this, try never to let. your tank get
What Fuel to Use:
You can use either Number I-D or Number 2-D diesel fuel, but you’ll get
better fuel economy using
2-D.
Diesel fuel may foam when you fill your tank. This can cause the automatic
pump nozzle
to shut off, even though your tank isn’t full. If this happens, just
wait for the foaming to stop and then continue to fill your tank.
1 CAUTION
- Heat coming from the engine may cause the fuel to expand and force
the fuel out of your tank. If something ignites the fuel, a \
fire could start
and people could be burned.
To help avoid this, fill your fuel tank only
until the automatic nozzle shuts
off. Don’t try to “top if off .” I
I
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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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Service & Appearance Care
Windshield Wiper Blade Inserts
I -
r
PO232
To replace the windshield wiper blade insert, lift the wiper arm and rotate the
blade until it is facing away from the windshield. Unlatch the\
end of the insert
from the holding clips. Remove the insert and slide a new one\
in place.
Make sure the blade is secured in the clips.
Air Conditioning
Every now and then have your dealership check your air conditi\
oning system
to be sure it has not lost any cooling ability.
If you think the system is not
working properly, have your dealership check it out as soon as\
possible.
The air conditioning will not work when the temperature is bel\
ow 40°F
(4°C).
Fluid Leak Check
After the vehicle has been parked for a while, inspect the su\
rface under the
vehicle
for water, oil, fuel or other fluids. Water dripping from the air
conditioning system after it has been used is normal, If you notice fuel leaks
or fumes, the causes should be found and corrected at once.
Lubrication
Accelerator Control System
Your maintenance schedule will tell you how often the accelerator linkage
pivot points must be lubricated. See “Recommended Fluids and \
Lubricants” in
the Index for the proper lubricant to use.
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Accelerator cables and cruise control cables should not be lubr\
icated. Any
cables that are worn or are hard to pull should be replaced. \
Remove external deposits from injector pump face cam on 6.2L d\
iesel
engines, when the engine is cold.
Hood Latches and Hood Hinge
Your maintenance schedule will tell you how often to lubricate the \
hood latch
and hood hinge assembly. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubrican\
ts” in the
Index for the proper lubricant to use.
Propeller Shaft Slip Splines
See your maintenance. schedule to find out how often the slip \
splines must
be lubricated. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in \
the Index for the
proper lubricant to use.
Constant Velocity Joints
See your maintenance schedule to find out how often the consta\
nt velocity
joints must be lubricated. See “Recommended Fluids and .Lubri\
cants” in the
Index for the proper lubricant to use.
80dy
Normal use of your vehicle will cause metal to metal wear at some points on
the cab and body
if they are not lubricated.
For exposed surfaces, such as door checks, door lock bolts, lo\
ck striker
plates, dovetail bumper wedges, etc., a thin film of engine oil should be
applied.
The seat adjusters and seat track should be lubricated with chassis grease.
Door weather strips and rubber hood bumpers should be lightly coated with a
rubber lubricant.
Never use too much of any lubricant and be sure to wipe up any extra
lubricant when you are finished.
Your maintenance schedule
will tell you how often to lubricate these Ilems.
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index for \
the proper
lubricant to use.
Lock Cylinders
To be sure your locks operate properly, they must be lubricated. \
Your vehicle’s
maintenance schedule
will tell you how often to lubricate them. See
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index for the proper lubricant to
use.
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