1995 GMC SIERRA Owners Manual

What Kind of Oil to Use
Look for these two things:
CF-4/SH
CF-4/SH
is the best oil for your vehicle. However. if you can not find
CF4SH oil, you may use
CF4SG or CE/SH or CE/SG oil.
These may be listed as shown or in reverse order, for example
SHKF-4. Other letters may
also be listed, such as SH/CD, CE, CF4.
These letters show American Petroleum Institute
(API) levels of
quality.
NOTICE:
If you use oils that don’t have these designations, you can ca\
use
engine damage which is not covered
by your warranty.
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DIESEL ENGINES
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
SELECT THE SAE GRADE OIL BASE0 ON
THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE
BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE
HOT
WEATHER r
:' F
I- 100
+ 60
+ 32
0
-20
- -
-
- -+16
-3 0
- - -16
- - -29
1 +
/c3'
FOR LOOK THIS @
SYMBOL
SAE 1OW-30
- SAE J 30
SAE 15W4
PREFERRED
above 0°F (-1 8°C)
WEATHER
00 NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER
GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
a SAE 15W-40
As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE 15W-40 is best for your vehicle.
However, you can use
SAE IOW-30 if it's going to be colder than
32°F (0°C) before your next oil change. When it's very cold, below
0°F (-18"C), you should use SAE low-30 to improve cold starting.
Also, SAE 30 may be used at temperatures above freezing, 32°F (0°C).
These numbers on the
oil container show its viscosity, or thickness. Do
not use other viscosity oils such as SAE 10W-40 or SAE 20W-50.
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This doughnut-shaped logo (symbol) is used on most oil containers 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:
0 Most trips are less than 5 to IO miles (8 to 16 km). This is particularly
important when outside temperatures are below freezing.
0 Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent driving in stop and
e 00 traffic).
0 You operate your vehicle in dusty areas or off-road frequently.
0 You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of your vehicle.
If any of these is true for your vehicle, then you need to change your oil and
filter every
2,500 miles (4 000 km) or 3 months - whichever comes first.
If none of them is true, change the oil and filter every
5,000 miles (8 000
km) or 12 months - whichever comes first.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer? Don‘t let used oil stay
on your skin for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and water,
or
a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw away clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. (See the manufacturer’s warnings about the use
and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be a real threat
to the environment. If you change your own oil,
be sure
to drain all free-flowing oil from the filter before disposal. Don’t
ever dispose of oil by putting it
in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle
it by taking it to
a place that collects used oil. If you have a problem properly disposing of
your used oil, ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center
for help.
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Air Cleaner
To avoid the possibility of un-filtered air being drawn into the engine, make
sure the air cleaner cover
is on straight and the wing nuts are properly
tightened. If there
is an arrow on the air cleaner cover, it should point to the
front of the engine.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to replace
the air
filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
A CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air cleaner not only cleans the air, it
stops flame if the engjne backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the
engine backfires, you could be burned. Don’t drive with it
off,
and be careful working on the engine with the air cleaner off.
I NOTICE: I
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a damaging engine
fire. And, dirt can easily get into your engine, which will damage
it. Always have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
To remove the air cleaner filter on a gasoline engine or a 6.5 liter naturally
aspirated diesel engine, turn the wing nuts to the left. Remove the cover and
change
the filter.
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To remove the air cleaner filter on a 6.5 liter turbocharged diesel engine,
first remove the rubber elbow. Remember to observe the caution about
turbocharger blades on the rubber elbow.
Then, unhook the
cover retaining clips
and push the rear
of
the cover toward the
engine.
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 your
GM dealer 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.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your transmission. 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. Be \
sure
to get an accurate reading if you check your transmission fluid.
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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 should be at normal operating
temperature, which is 180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
To check transmission fluid hot: 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 (lO"C), drive the vehicle in DRIVE (3) 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 (IOOC), you
may have to idle the engine longer. Should the fluid level be low during a
cold check, you
must perform a hot check before adding fluid. This will
give you a more accurate reading of the fluid level.
To check the fluid hot or cold
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever in PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through each
gear range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then,
position the shift lever
in PARK (P).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
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Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
,
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and then pull it back out
clean rag
or paper towel.
again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower level. The fluid
level must be in the
COLD area for a cold check or in the HOT area or
cross-hatched area for a hot check.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the dipstick back in all
the way; then
flip the handle down to lock the dipstick in place.
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of transmission
fluid
to use. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Add fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
HOT. (A COLD check
is used
only as a reference.) If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the
proper fluid to bring the level up
to the HOT area for a hot check. It doesn’t
take much fluid, generally less than a
int. Don ’t overfill. We recommend
you use only fluid labeled DEXRON
-111, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission. Damage caused by fluid
other than DEXRON@-I11 is not covered by your
new vehicle warranty.
8
0 After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as described under “How to
Check.”
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the dipstick back in all
the way; then flip the handle down
to lock the dipstick in place.
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is changed. However,
the fluid
in your manual transmission doesn’t require changing.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may choose to have this.
done at your
GM dealer Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions here, or you could
get a false reading.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your transmission. 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.
Be sure
to get an accurate reading if you check your transmission fluid.
Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the vehicle is parked on
a level place and the transmission is cool enough for you to rest your fingers
on the transmission case.
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