2003 GMC SAFARI check oil

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Neverll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do notll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.
Bring thell nozzle in contact with the
inside of thell opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until thelling is complete.
Don’t smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start are. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brakeuid, windshield washer and
otheruids, 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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A. Windshield Washer Fluid
B. Engine Coolant
C. Engine Oil Dipstick
D. Transmission Dipstick
E. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
F. Engine Oil Fill
G. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
I. Battery
Engine Oil
Checking 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 has a yellow ring and is located
near the center of the engine compartment. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for 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.
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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.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD line, 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, seeCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-92.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.
The engine oilfill cap is
located on the valve cover
in the engine compartment
on the passenger’s side
of the vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 5-12for more
information on location.
Be sure tofill it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you’re through.
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How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the engine air cleaner/filter remove thefilter
from the vehicle and lightly shakefilter to release
loose dust and dirt. If thefilter remains caked with dirt, a
newfilter is required.
To inspect or replace thefilter, do the following:
1. Unsnap both clips on the cover.
2. Remove the cover.
3. Change thefilter.
4. Snap both clips to secure the engine air
cleaner/filter cover.
{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/lter
off can cause you or others to be burned. The
air cleaner not only cleans the air, it helps to
stopame if the engine backres. If it isn’t there
and the engine backres, you could be burned.
Don’t drive with it off, and be careful working on
the engine with the air cleaner/lter off.Notice:If the air cleaner/lter is off, a backre can
cause a damaging enginere. And, dirt can
easily get into your engine, which will damage it.
Always have the air cleaner/lter in place when
you’re driving.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmissionfluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both thefluid andfilter every 15,000 miles
(25 000 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 thefluid andfilter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km).
SeePart A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on
page 6-4.
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transmissionfluid to use. SeePart D:
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-34.
Addfluid only after checking the transmissionfluid while
it is hot. (A cold check is used only as a reference.) If
thefluid level is low, add only enough of the properfluid
to bring the level up to the HOT area for a hot check.
It doesn’t take muchfluid, generally less than one pint
(0.5 L).Don’t overfill.
Notice:We recommend you use onlyuid labeled
DEXRON
®-III, becauseuid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused byuid other than DEXRON
®-III is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
•After addingfluid, recheck thefluid level as
described under“How to Check.”
•When the correctfluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way; thenflip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle isfilled 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 occursfirst, 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, seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-28.
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 occursrst.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL
®is not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
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What to Use
Use a mixture of one-halfclean, drinkable waterand
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant 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 wouldn’t get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catchre and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and the proper coolant.
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.
Checking Coolant
The engine coolant tank is
located in the engine
compartment on the
passenger’s side at the
front. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for more
information on location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at ADD, or a
little higher. When your engine is warm, the level
should be up to FULL HOT, or a little higher.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixtureat the coolant recovery tank.
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Capacities and Specifications
ApplicationCapacities
English Metric
Cooling Capacities
Quantity without Rear Heater
Quantity with Rear Heater13.5 quarts
16.5 quarts12.8 L
15.6 L
Engine Oil with Filter 4.5 quarts 4.3 L
Fuel Tank 27.0 gallons 101.8 L
Transmission Fluid (Drain and Refill) 5.0 quarts 4.7 L
Differential Fluid
Front Axle
Rear Axle2.6 pints
3.5 pints1.2 L
1.7 L
Refrigerant Type 134a
Front A/C
Front and Rear A/C2.25 lbs.
3.0 lbs.1.02 kg
1.36 kg
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the appropriate level, as recommended in this
manual. recheck the fluid level after filling. SeePart D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-34for
more information.
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Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level and
change as recommended.
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet or your dealer
for details.
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. Improper vehicle maintenance can
even affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper
fluid levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase
the level of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect
our environment, and to keep your vehicle in good
condition, be sure to maintain your vehicle properly.
Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections and
recommended fluids and lubricants as prescribed in this
manual are necessary to keep your vehicle in good
working condition. Any damage caused by failure to
follow scheduled maintenance may not be covered by
warranty.
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