2002 GMC YUKON XL oil level

6-
6-1Section 6 Service and Appearance CareHere you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
- 2 Service
6
- 3 Fuel
6
- 5 Fuels in Foreign Countries
6
- 6 Filling Your Tank
6
- 8 Filling a Portable Fuel Container
6
- 8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
- 11 Engine Oil
6
- 17 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
- 19 Passenger Compartment Air Filter
6
- 20 Automatic Transmission Fluid
6
- 23 Rear Axle
6
- 24 All
- Wheel Drive
6
- 26 Engine Coolant
6
- 29 Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
6
- 30 Power Steering Fluid 6
- 31 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
- 32 Brakes
6
- 36 Battery
6
- 37 Bulb Replacement
6
- 41 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
6
- 42 Tires
6
- 51 Appearance Care
6
- 51 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
- 55 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
- 59 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
- 60 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
- 61 Electrical System
6
- 69 Replacement Bulbs
6
- 70 Capacities and Specifications
6
- 71 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

6-11A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
B. Coolant Surge Tank
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator
D. Engine Oil Dipstick
E. Engine Oil Fill
F. Automatic Transmission Dipstick
G. Fan
H. Remote Negative (
- ) Terminal (GND)
I. Remote Positive (+) Terminal
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Out of View)
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir
L. Underhood Fuse Block
M. Battery
N. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are on
properly. Pull down the hood and close it firmly. Engine Oil If the CHECK ENG OIL
LEVEL message appears
on the instrument cluster,
it means you need to check
your engine oil level
right away.
For more information, see ªCHECK ENG OIL LEVELº
in the Index.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.

6-12Checking Engine Oil 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.
The engine oil dipstick is a
loop handle and is located
in the engine compartment
on the passenger's side of
the vehicle. See ªEngine
Compartment Overviewº in
the Index for more
information on location. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
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.

6-13When to Add Engine Oil If the oil is at or below the ADD mark, then you'll need
to add at least one quart of oil. But you must use the
right kind. This part explains what kind of oil to use.
For engine oil crankcase capacity, see ªCapacities and
Specificationsº in the Index.
NOTICE: Don't add too much oil. If your engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross
- hatched area that shows the proper
operating range, your engine could be damaged. Your vehicle may have an engine oil fill cap with text
and a graphic or just a graphic as shown.
The engine oil fill cap is located on the valve cover on
the passenger's side of the vehicle. See ªEngine
Compartment Overviewº in the Index for further
location information.
Be sure to fill it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you're through.

6-15As in the chart shown previously, SAE 5W
- 30 is best for
your vehicle. However, you can use SAE 10W
- 30 if it's
going to be 0  F (
- 18  C) or above. These numbers on an
oil container show its viscosity, or thickness. Do not use
other viscosity oils, such as SAE 20W
- 50.
NOTICE: Use only engine oil with the American Petroleum
Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use the
recommended oil can result in engine damage not
covered by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench

oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
If you are in an area where the temperature falls below
- 20  F (
- 29  C), consider using either an SAE 5W
- 30
synthetic oil or an SAE 0W
- 30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Don't add anything to your oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol are all you will need for good
performance and engine protection. When to Change Engine Oil
(GM Oil Life System  )Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on
engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not on
mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at
which an oil change will be indicated can vary
considerably. For the oil life system to work properly,
you must reset the system every time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL message will
come on. Change your oil as soon as possible within the
next two times you stop for fuel. It is possible that, if
you are driving under the best conditions, the oil life
system may not indicate that an oil change is necessary
for over a year. However, your engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a year and at this time the
system must be reset. It is also important to check your
oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must change
your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your last oil
change. Remember to reset the oil life system whenever
the oil is changed.

6-20Automatic Transmission Fluid When to Check and Change A good time to check your automatic 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 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.

In hilly or mountainous terrain.

When doing frequent trailer towing.

Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, change the fluid and filter
every 100,000 miles (166 000 km).
See ªScheduled Maintenance Servicesº in the Index. How to Check Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the 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
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire.
Too little fluid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if
you check your transmission fluid.

6-26 When the differential is cold, add enough lubricant
to raise the level to 1/2 inch (12 mm) below the filler
plug hole.
When the differential is at operating temperature
(warm), add enough lubricant to raise the level to
the bottom of the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. See ªRecommended Fluids
and Lubricantsº in the Index.
Engine Coolant The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX
- COOL 
engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX
- COOL 
extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how
to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index. A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
- COOL 
coolant will:

Give freezing protection down to
- 34  F (
- 37  C).

Give boiling protection up to 265  F (129  C).

Protect against rust and corrosion.

Help keep the proper engine temperature.

Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
NOTICE: When adding coolant, it is important that you
use only DEX
- COOL 
(silicate
- free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX
- COOL is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the
use of coolant other than DEX
- COOL 
is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.

Scheduled Maintenance
7-6 Engine Oil and Chassis Lubrication
Scheduled Maintenance Change engine oil and filter as indicated by the
GM Oil Life System  (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs first). Reset the system.
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on
engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not on
mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at
which an oil change will be indicated can vary
considerably. For the oil life system to work properly,
you must reset the system every time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL message will
come on. Change your oil as soon as possible within
the next two times you stop for fuel. It is possible that,
if you are driving under the best conditions, the oil life system may not indicate that an oil change is necessary
for over a year. However, your engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a year and at this time the
system must be reset. It is also important to check your
oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must change
your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your last oil
change. Remember to reset the oil life system whenever
the oil is changed. See ªOil Life Systemº in the Index
for information on resetting the system.
An Emission Control Service.
Lubricate chassis components with each engine oil and
filter change. Lubricate the front suspension, ball joints,
steering linkage, transmission shift linkage and parking
brake cable guides. Ball joints should not be lubricated
unless their temperature is 10
F (
- 12
C) or higher,
or they could be damaged.