1998 GMC SIERRA oil

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example.
these symbols are used
on an
originnl battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD
BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols are important
for you
and
your passengers whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e e
TURN
RUNNING
*'***'O
DAYTIME LAMPS
*
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WIPER Q
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE k
COOLANT - td
TEMP -
CHARGING BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(@)
rr
ENGINE OIL w,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE -%-
t
LIGHTER
HORN
)tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL no
V
ProCarManuals.com

Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
In very cold weather, 0°F (- 1 SOC) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The engine coolant heater electrical cord
is located
on the driver’s side
of the engine compartment, near
the power steering reservoir.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and 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 outside temperature, the
kind of
oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer
in the area where you‘ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give
you the best advice for that
particular area.
ProCarManuals.com

Oil Pressure Gage
0
Y3
80
The oil pressure gage shows
the engine oil pressure in psi (pounds per square inch)
when the engine
is running.
Canadian vehicles indicate
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.
A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or some other problem causing
low oil pressure. Check
your oil as soon as possible.
I
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become
so hot that it
catches fire.
You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems
can be costly and is not covered by your warranty.
2-72
ProCarManuals.com

Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light
:::o e..
This light goes on whenever
the
DRL are on.
Check Gages Light
CHECK
GAGES
This light will come on
briefly when you are
starting the engine.
When
it begins to get dark, the DRL indicator light is a
reminder to turn on your headlamps. 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.
2-74
ProCarManuals.com

If your vehicle is equipped with the AM-FM Stereo with
Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN or ACCESSORY.
2. Turn the radio off.
3. Press and hold the TAPE AUX button for
five seconds. The tape symbol
on the display will
flash for two seconds.
4. Insert the scrubbing action cleaning cassette.
5. Eject the cleaning cassette after the manufacturer's
recommended cleaning time.
When the cleaning cassette has been ejected, the cut tape
detection feature is active again.
You may also choose
a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses
a cassette with a fabric belt to clean
the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will not
eject
on its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner may
not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner.
The use of
a non-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaning
cassette is not recommended
After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for
five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio
will
display --- to show the indicator was reset.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality
may
degrade over time. Always Incake sure the cassette tape is in
good condition before you have yo~~r tape player serviced.
Care of Your Compact Discs
Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases
or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight
and dust.
If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a
clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and
clean
it, wiping from the center to the edge.
Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling
discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the
edge of the hole and the outer edge.
Care of Your Compact Disc Player
The use of CD lens cleaner discs is not advised, due to
the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with
lubricants internal to the CD mechanism.
Fixed Mast Antenna
The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes
without being damaged.
If the mast should ever become
slightly bent, you can straighten
it out by hand. If the
mast is badly bent, as it might be by vandals, you should
replace it.
Check every once
in a while to be sure the mast is still
tightened
to the cowl.
ProCarManuals.com

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.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to oe wed 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
GM
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:
0 Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
0
0
0
0
0
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: 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?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip
a short
time
to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”?
Or is
it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There
is something about an easy stretch of road with the
same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road,
the drone of
the engine, and the rush of the wind against
the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave
the road in less
than n second, and you could crash and be injured.
4-33
ProCarManuals.com

Use one of the following charts to determine how much
your vehicle can weigh, based upon your vehicle model
and options.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming the
driver and one passenger are in the tow vehicle and
it
has all the required trailering equipment. The weight of
additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in
the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the maximum
trailer weight.
Above the
2,000 lbs. (908 kg) trailer rating, the engine
oil cooler
is required on C/K- 1500 and C/K-2500
models with gas engines. Refer
to the Trailering Guide
for oil cooler recommendations.
Above the
5,000 lbs. (2 270 kg) trailer rating,
heavy-duty or gas shock absorbers are required
on
C- 1500 models, and heavy-duty shock absorbers
or the off-road chassis package are required on
K- 1500 models.
C-1500 (2WD)
Engine (Trans.)
4.3L (Auto.)
4.3L (Manual)
5.0L (Auto.)
5.0L (Manual)
5.x
Axle Ratio 3.08
3.42
3.08
3.42
3.73
3.08
3.42
3.73
3.08
3.42
3.08
3.42
3.73
Max. Trailer Wt.
4,000 lbs. (1 800 kg)
5,000 lbs. (2 270 kg)
2,000 lbs.
(908 kg)
2,500 lbs.
(1 135 kg)
3,000 lbs.
(1 362 kg)
4,500 lbs.
(2 043 kg)
5,500 Ibs. (2 497 kg)
6,500 Ibs. (2 951 kg)
2,000 lbs.
(908 kg)
3,000 Ibs. (1 362 kg)
5,000 lbs. (2 270 kg)
6,000 lbs. (2 724 kg)
7,000 lbs. (3 178 kg)
4-51
ProCarManuals.com

Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If
you don’t shift
down,
you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would
get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed
to around 45 mph (70 kdh) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transmission overheating.
If you have an automatic transmission, you can tow in
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@). You may want to
shift the transmission
to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a
lower gear selection
if the transmission shifts too often
(e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions).
If
you have a manual transmission and you are towing a
trailer, it’s better not to
use FIFTH (5) gear. Just drive in
FOURTH
(4) gear (or, as you need to, a lower gear).
When towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant
will boil at a
lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If you turn
your engine off immediately after towing
at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the
engine run while parked (preferably on level ground) with
the automatic transmission in
PARK (P) (or the
manual transmission out of gear and the parking brake
applied) for a few minutes before turning the engine
off.
If you do get the overheat warning, see “Engine
Overheating’’ in
the Index.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a
hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK
(P) yet for an automatic transmission, or into
gear for a manual transmission.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks are
in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake and
shift into PARK (P) for an automatic
transmission, or REVERSE (R)
for a manual
transmission.
4-58
ProCarManuals.com