1994 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN engine coolant

These symbols are on some of your controls:
I I Windshield Wiper
rl
i Rear Window
Washer Windshield
Washer Windshield
Defroster
1
3c
Rear
Window
Defogger Ventilating Fan
These symbols are used on
warning and indicator lights:
Engine Coolant
Temperature
BRAKE
I Brake
I p3
Baftery Charging
System
Fuel
ANTI-
I LOCK
I 4 Wheel
Anti-Lock
I RELEASE
Parking Brake Release
I\J
Rear Window Wiper
Hatch
Release
I
Engine Oil
Pressure
I SHIFT
1 Shift Light
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3. If this light does not come on, or the instant the light goes off, turn your
ignition key to
START. When the engine starts, let go of the key.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in “Start” for longer than 15 seconds at a time
will cause your battery to be drained much sooner. And the
excessive heat can damage your starter motor.
4. If the engine does not start after 15 seconds of cranking, turn the
ignition key to
OFF. Wait one minute for the starter to cool, then try
the same steps again.
If you’re trying to start your engine after you’ve run out of fuel, follow the
steps
in “Running Out of Fuel” (see “Diesel Fuel Requirements and Fuel
System”
in the Index).
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.
NOTICE:
If you’re not in an idling vehicle and the engine overheats, you
wouldn’t be there to see the coolant temperature gage. This
could damage your vehicle. Don’t let your engine run when
you’re not in your vehicle.
Cold Weather Starting (Diesel Engine)
The following tips will help you get good starting in cold weather.
Use
SAE low-30 oil when the outside temperature drops below freezing.
When the outside temperature drops below 0°F
(-I S’C), use your engine
coolant heater.
If
you park your vehicle in a garage, you shouldn’t need to use the coolant
heater
until the garage temperature goes below 0°F (-1 Sac), no matter how
cold
it is outside.
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To use the engine coolant heater, first turn off the engine. Then open the
hood, unwrap the electrical cord and plug it in. It uses normal house voltage
(1 10 volts), but:
NOTICE:
After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to store the \
cord in
the manner it was, to help keep it away from moving engine
parts.
If you don’t, it could be torn and damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer
depends
on the weather, the kind of oil you have, and some other things.
Follow this chart.
Engine Coolant Heater Usage
Viscosity/
Oil Grade
SAE
1 OW-30
SAE
15W-40
32°F to 0°F 0°F to -10°F Below -10°F
(o0C to -18°C) (-18°C to-23°C) Below
-23°C
Not
Required
Not
Required Two
Hours*
Two
Hours* Eight Hours*
or Overnight
Eight Hours* or Overnight
*The times listed are minimum times.
It will not harm either the coolant
heater or the vehicle to leave the coolant heater plugged
in longer than the
times stated.
For best results
in cold weather, use Number 1-D diesel fuel or a
“winterized” Number
2-D fuel.
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If Your Diesel Engine Won’t Start
If you’ve run out of fuel, look at “Running Out of Fuel” (see “Diesel Fuel
Requirements and Fuel System” in the Index).
If you’re not out of fuel, and your engine won’t start, do this:
Turn your ignition key to RUN. Make sure that the “GLOW PLUGS” light
is out. Then turn the ignition key to
START.
If the light doesn’t go off, wait a few seconds, then try starting your engine
again. And, see your dealer as soon as you can for a starting system check.
If the light comes on and then goes off and you know your batteries are
charged, but your engine still won’t start, your vehicle needs service.
If the light does not come
on when the engine is cold, your vehicle needs
service.
If your batteries don’t have enough charge to start your engine, see
“Battery” in the Index.
Be sure you have the right oil for your engine, and that you’ve changed the
oil at the proper times. If you use the wrong oil, your engine may be harder
to start.
If the engine starts, runs a short time, then stops, your vehicle needs service.
Engine Coolant Heater (Engine Block Heater)
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In very cold weather, 0°F (- 1 8 “C) or colder, the engine coolant heater can
help. You’ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during engine
warn-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt outlet.
I
I
NOTICE:
After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to store the \
cord as
it was before
to keep it away from moving engine parts. If you
don’t, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer
depends on the weather, the kind of oil
you have, and some other things.
Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact a GM
dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give
you the best advice for that particular area.
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Low Coolant Warning Light
The orange Low
Coolant Warning
light, if
you have one,
is located in the upper
left corner of the
instrument cluster.
If
you have a diesel engine, you have a low coolant light. If this light comes
on anytime the engine is running, your system is low on coolant and the
engine may overheat. See “Engine Coolant”
in the Index and have your
vehicle serviced
as soon as you can.
Charging System Warning Light
The red Charging
System Warning light
is located at the upper
right corner of the
instrument cluster.
The Charging System Warning light should come on briefly when you turn
on the ignition, before starting the engine, as a check to show you it is
working. After the engine starts, the light should go out. If it stays on or
comes
on while you are driving, you may have a problem with your
charging system. It could indicate a problem with the alternator drive belt,
or
some other charging system problem. Have it checked right away.
Driving while this light is on could drain your battery.
If
you must drive a short distance with this light on, it helps to turn off all
your accessories, such
as the radio and air conditioner.
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This light will come on briefly when you are starting the engine. If the light
comes
on and stays on while you are driving, it could indicate a problem
with your vehicle. It could be a problem with your oil pressure, coolant
temperature, or some other problem. Check your various gages to see
if they
are
in the warning zones. If they are, have your vehicle serviced right away.
Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Indicator Light
(Canada Only)
The green Daytime
Running Lights
(DRL) Indicator light,
if you have one,
is
located near the upper
center of the
instrument cluster.
If your vehicle was first sold, when new,
in Canada, you will have this green
light on the instrument panel. It will light whenever the Daytime Running
Lights are on.
For more details about DRL, see “Headlights and Vehicle
Lighting” in this section.
Shift Indicator Light
The orange SHIFT
Indicator light, if you
have one, is located
near the upper left
corner
of the
instrument cluster.
This light, with the word
SHIFT and the upshift arrow, is used on some
models with manual transmissions. Depending
on your particular model,
your vehicle may not have this light. The SHIFT indicator light will help
you get the best fuel economy. See “Shift Light” or “Shift Speeds-
Vehicles Without Shift Light”
in this section for more information.
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Listed are four situations you may experience with your fuel gage:
0 At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before the gage reads full.
0 It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the fuel gage indicated.
For example, the gage may have indicated the tank was half full, but it
actually took a little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to fill the
tank.
0 The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or speed up.
0 The gage doesn’t go back to empty when you turn off the ignition.
None of these indicate a problem
with the fuel gage.
For information
on how to fill your fuel tank, see “Fuel - Filling Your
Tank”
in the Index.
For your fuel tank capacity, see “Fuel -Tank Capacity”
in the Index.
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves
into the red area, about
260°F (145°C) or more, your engine is too hot! It
means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating
your vehicle under normal operating conditions, you should pull
off the
road, stop your vehicle, and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
Hot Coolant Can Burn You Badly!‘
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to do. See “Engine
Overheating” in the Index.
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