1996 GMC SIERRA check oil

Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfxes as soon
as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside
of Your Vehicle” in the Index.
When you put the cap back
on, turn it to the right until
you hear at least three clicks. Make sure you fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been
left off or improperly installed. This would
allow
fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. See
“Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in the Index.
I NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system
might be damaged.
Checking Things Under the Hood
h
I ! CAUTION:
If your vehicle has air conditioning, the auxiliary
engine fan under the hood can start up and
hjure you even when the engine
is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline or
diesel fuel, oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield
washer and other fluids, and plastic or rubber.
You
or others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
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Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Engine Oil
(Diesel Engine)” in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the
oil must
be warm and the vehicle must
be on level ground. Turn
off the
engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not.show the actual level.
Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then
push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
The engine oil dipstick has a yellow ring handle and is
located on the passenger side
of the engine.
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Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check a1 C’ -ge
A good time to check your auromarlc transmission fluid
level
is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle’s GVWR is over 8,600 or
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If your vehicle’s GVWR is not over 8,600 and you do
not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, the
fluid and filter
do not require changing.
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 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.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
i 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.
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).
0 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).
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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 dealership
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.
II
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.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
3. If the fluid level is good, install the plug and be sure
it is fully seated. If the fluid level is low, add more
fluid as described in the next steps.
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Maintenance Schedule
I Short Trip/City Definition -- Gasoline Engines . I ~
Follow the Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule if any
one of these conditions is true for your vehicle:
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
off-road frequently.
0 Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
0 You operate your vehicle in dusty areas or
You frequently tow a trailer.
If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
One of the reasons you should follow this schedule if you
operate your vehicle under any of these conditions is that
these conditions cause engine oil to break down soonez
or other commercial application.
I Short Trip/City Intervals -- Gasoline Engines I
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change
(or 3 months, whichever occurs first). Chassis
Lubrication (or
3 months, whichever occurs first). Drive
Axle Service (or
3 months, whichever occurs first).
At 6,000 Miles (10 000 km) -- Then Every
12,000 Miles (20
000 km): 'Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Shields and
Underhood Insulation Inspection
(GVWR above
8,500 lbs. only). Thermostatically Controlled Engine
Cooling Fan Check (or every
12 months, whichever
occurs first). Front Wheel Bearing Repack
(2WD only)
(or at each brake relining, whichever occurs first).
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Fuel Filter Replacement.
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic
Transmission Service (vehicles over
8600 GVWR or
driven under severe conditions only).
Evwy 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines
Inspection. Exhaust Gas Recirculation System
Inspection. Evaporative Control System Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
Spark Plug Wire Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Positive Crankcase Ventilation
(PCV) Valve Inspection.
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete maintenance schedule
on
the following pages.
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Maintenance Schedule
Long Trip/Highway Definition -- Gasoline Engines 1
Follow this maintenance schedule only if none of the
conditions from the Short TripKity Maintenance
Schedule is true.
Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine
under highway conditions causes engine oil to break
down slower:
I Long Tripmighway Intervals -- Gasoline Engines I
Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or every
12 months, whichever occurs first).
Chassis Lubrication (or every
12 months, whichever
occurs first). Drive Axle Service.
At 7,500 Miles (12 500 km) -- Then Every
15,000 Miles (25
000 km): Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Shields and
Underhood Insulation Inspection (GVWR above
8,500 lbs. only). Thermostatically Controlled Engine
Cooling Fan Check (or every
12 months, whichever
occurs first).
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Fuel Filter
Replacement. Front Wheel Bearing Repack
(2WD only) (or at each brake relining, whichever
occurs first).
Transmission Service (vehicles over
8600 GVWR or
driven under severe conditions only).
-Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory I
Drive Belt Inspection. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines
Inspection. Exhaust Gas Recirculation System
Inspection. Evaporative Control System Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
Spark Plug Wire Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Valve Inspection.
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete maintenance schedule
on the following pages.
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic
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Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule -- Gasoline Engines
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(1 66 000 km) should be performed after 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) at the same intervals.
Footnotes
T The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board has determined that
the failure to perform this maintenance item will
not
nullify the emission warranty or limit recall liability
prior
to the completion of the vehicle‘s useful life.
We, however, urge that all recommended
maintenance services be performed at the indicated
intervals and the maintenance be recorded.
# Lubricate the front suspension, kingpin bushings,
steering linkage, transmission shift linkage, transfer
case shift linkage, parking brake cable guides, rear
driveline center splines, front axle propshaft splines
and brake pedal springs. Ball joints and kingpin
bushings should not be lubricated unless their
temperature is 10°F
(- 12°C) or higher, or they
could be damaged.
:f: :1:
0
0
0
e
Drive axle service:
Locking Differential
-- Drain fluid and refill at first
engine
oil change. At subsequent oil changes, check
fluid level and add fluid as needed. If driving in
dusty areas or towing a trailer, drain fluid and refill
every 15,000 miles
(25 000 km).
Standard Differential -- Check fluid level and add
fluid
as needed at every oil change. If driving in
dusty areas or towing a trailer, drain fluid and refill
every
I5,OOO miles (25 000 km).
More frequent lubrication may be required for
heavy-duty or off-road
use.
3500 HD Models with applications requiring extreme
overload/trailer towing conditions and high-speed
(above
45 mph or 70 kmh) conditions for extended
periods
of time must have the drive axle fluid changed
evey
30,000 miles (50 000 km). See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants’’
in this section.
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I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule -- Gasoline Engines I
3,000 Miles (5 000 km)
c] Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
0 Lubricate chassis components; see footnote #
(or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Check readfront axle fluid level and add
fluid as needed. Check constant velocity
joints and axle seals for leaking.
**
6,000 Miles (10 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
0 Lubricate chassis components; see footnote #
(or every 3 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Check readfront axle fluid level and add fluid
as needed. Check constant velocity joints and
axle seals for leaking.
**
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation”
in the Index for proper rotation pattern and
additional information. During
tire rotation,
check brake calipers for freedom of movement. Refer to
the appropriate GM service manual for
proper caliper service procedures.
I DATE I ACTUALMILEAGE I SERVICED BY I
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