2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO oil additives

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-5
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-8
Checking Things Under
the Hood......................................................5-8
Hood Release................................................5-9
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-10
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-21
Automatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmission
ž) ..........................................5-23Automatic Transmission Fluid (Allison
Transmission
ž) ..........................................5-26
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-28
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-29
Engine Coolant.............................................5-30
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-33
Engine Overheating.......................................5-33
Cooling System............................................5-36
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-41
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-42
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-43
Brakes........................................................5-44
Battery........................................................5-47
Jump Starting...............................................5-48
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-54
Rear Axle.......................................................5-55
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-56
Noise Control System.....................................5-58
Tampering with Noise Control System
Prohibited.................................................5-58
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

As in the chart shown previously, SAE 5W-30 is the
only viscosity grade recommended for your vehicle. You
should look for and use only oils which have the API
Starburst symbol and which are also identi®ed as
SAE 5W-30. If you cannot ®nd such SAE 5W-30 oils,
you can use an SAE 10W-30 oil which has the API
Starburst symbol, if it's going to be 0ÉF (-18ÉC)
or above. Do not use other viscosity grade oils, such as
SAE 10W-40 or SAE 20W-50 under any conditions.
Notice:Use only engine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certi®ed For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use the recommended
oil can result in engine damage not covered by
your warranty.
GM Goodwrench
žoil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below-20ÉF (-29ÉC), it is
recommended that you use 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 ®lter. 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 light 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 ®lter must be
changed at least once a year and at this time the system
must be reset. Your dealer has GM-trained service
people who will perform this work using genuine GM
parts and reset the system. 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.
5-19

Notice:When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only DEX-COOLž(silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOLžis 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 ®rst.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL
žis not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-halfclean, drinkable waterand
one-half DEX-COOLžcoolant which won't damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don't need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle's coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch ®re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
žcoolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn't be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use the proper coolant, you don't
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful.
5-31

Electrical System (cont.)
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-109
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-109
Electrochromic Mirror Operation................2-54, 2-57
Electronic Transfer Case..................................2-41
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-51
ENGINE COOLANT HOT.................................3-66
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................6-12
Engine Hour Meter Display...............................3-35
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-19
Engine Oil and Chassis Lubrication Scheduled
Maintenance................................................. 6-5
Engine Oil Level Check...................................6-12
ENGINE OVERHEATED..................................3-66
Engine..........................................................5-21
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-21
Battery.......................................................5-47
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-49
Compartment Overview................................5-10
Coolant Heater............................................2-24
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-47
Coolant......................................................5-30
Cooling System Inspection............................6-17
Exhaust.....................................................2-51
Fan Noise..................................................5-41
Oil .............................................................5-16
Overheating................................................5-33Engine (cont.)
Starting......................................................2-22
Entertainment System....................................3-125
Cleaning the Video Screen..........................3-125
DVD Distortion..........................................3-122
Entry Lighting.................................................3-18
Environmental Concerns..................................4-25
Exit Lighting...................................................3-18
Express Down Windows..................................2-16
Extended Cab and Crew Cab...........................1-50
Extended Cab................................................1-53
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-31
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter.............................................................5-21
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-21
Finding a PTY Station
(RDS and XMŸ).......................3-78, 3-88, 3-101
Finding a Station....................3-73, 3-76, 3-86, 3-99
Finish Care..................................................5-104
Finish Damage.............................................5-106
Five-Speed (VORTECŸ 4300 V6 and
4800 V8 Engines)........................................2-30
Five-Speed (VORTECŸ 6000 V8 Engine)...........2-29
Fixed Mast Antenna.......................................3-125
6

Flash-To-Pass Feature....................................... 3-9
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-80
Flat Tire........................................................5-79
Fluid.............................................................5-23
Automatic Transmission........................5-23, 5-26
Manual Transmission....................................5-28
Power Steering...........................................5-42
Windshield Washer......................................5-43
FM Stereo....................................................3-123
Fog Lamps....................................................3-16
Folding the Rear Seat....................................... 1-8
Following Distance..........................................4-86
Footnotes........................................................ 6-5
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-33, 5-56
Four-Wheel-Drive Light....................................3-52
Front Axle Locking Feature...............................2-33
Front Axle......................................................5-57
Front Reading Lamps (If Equipped)...................3-18
Front Storage Area.........................................2-65
Fuel Information Button....................................3-57
FUEL LEVEL LOW.........................................3-66
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-5
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-8
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6Fuel (cont.)
Gage.........................................................3-53
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-54
System Inspection.......................................6-17
Fuses..........................................................5-110
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-110
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-109
G
Gage............................................................3-47
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-47
Fuel..........................................................3-53
Oil Pressure...............................................3-51
Speedometer..............................................3-35
Tachometer.................................................3-35
Transmission Temperature.............................3-47
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-42
Gasoline......................................................... 5-4
Octane........................................................ 5-4
Speci®cations............................................... 5-5
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving................4-26
Glove Box.....................................................2-64
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-5
7