2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO fuel additives

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuel E-85 (85% Ethanol).................................5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-9
Filling Your Tank............................................5-9
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-11
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-12
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-25
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Except Allison Transmission
®) ....................5-27
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Allison Transmission
®) ...............................5-30
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-33
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-34Engine Coolant.............................................5-35
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-38
Engine Overheating.......................................5-38
Cooling System............................................5-41
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-46
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-46
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-47
Brakes........................................................5-49
Battery........................................................5-52
Jump Starting...............................................5-53
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-58
Rear Axle.......................................................5-59
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-60
Noise Control System.....................................5-61
Tampering with Noise Control System
Prohibited.................................................5-61
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-63
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-63
Headlamps..................................................5-63
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Daytime Running Lamps.............................5-65
Roof Marker Lamps......................................5-66
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
and Cargo Lamp.......................................5-68
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work
properly. You should not have to add anything to your
fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency regulations. General
Motors recommends that you buy gasolines that
are advertised to help keep fuel injectors and intake
valves clean. If your vehicle experiences problems due
to dirty injectors or valves, try a different brand
of gasoline.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area to contribute to clean air. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines, particularly if
they comply with the specications described earlier.Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors does
not recommend the use of such gasolines. Fuels
containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs and
the performance of the emission control system may
be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer
for service.
5-7

Fuel E-85 (85% Ethanol)
The 8th digit of your vehicle identication number (VIN)
shows the code letter or number that identies your
engine. You will nd the VIN at the top left of the
instrument panel. SeeVehicle Identication Number
(VIN) on page 5-122.
If your vehicle has the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code Z only),
you may use either regular unleaded gasoline or ethanol
fuel containing up to 85% ethanol (E-85); also seeFuel
on page 5-5. In all other engines, including the 5.3L V8
(VIN Code T), use only regular unleaded gasoline.
Only vehicles that have the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code Z)
may use 85% ethanol fuel (E-85). General Motors
encourages the use of E-85 in vehicles that are designed
to use it. The ethanol in E-85 is a “renewable” fuel,
meaning it is made from renewable sources such as corn
and other crops.
Many service stations will not have an 85% ethanol
fuel (E-85) pump available. The U. S. Department
of Energy has an alternative fuels website
(http://www.afdc.doe.gov/refueling_mapsite.shtml) that
can help you nd E-85 fuel. Those stations that do have
E-85 should have a label indicating ethanol content. Do
not use the fuel if the ethanol content isgreaterthan 85%.
Your vehicle may not operate properly if the ethanol
content is greater than 85%.
At a minimum, E-85 should meet ASTM
Specication D 5798.To insure quick starts in the wintertime, the E-85 fuel
must be formulated properly for your climate according
to ASTM specication D 5798. If you have trouble
starting on E-85, it may be because your E-85 fuel is
not properly formulated for your climate. If this happens,
switching to gasoline or adding gasoline to your fuel
tank may improve starting. Your vehicle is designed to
accommodate a mixture of gasoline and E-85 fuel.
For good starting and heater efficiency below 32°F
(0°C), the fuel mix in the fuel tank should contain no
more than 70% ethanol.
E-85 has less energy per gallon than gasoline, so you
will need to rell your fuel tank more often when
using E-85 than when you are using gasoline. Regular
unleaded gasoline is recommended when pulling a
trailer. For payload capacity with ethanol fuel, see
Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-56.
Notice:Some additives are not compatible with
E-85 fuel and may harm your fuel system. Damage
caused by additives would not be covered by
your new vehicle warranty. Do not use additives
with E-85 fuel.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.
5-8

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-19
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.........4-63
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-48
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-123
Add-On Equipment..........................................4-62
Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)..................3-75, 3-79, 3-90, 3-104
After Off-Road Driving.....................................4-35
Air Bag
Off Light.....................................................3-37
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-40
Readiness Light..........................................3-36
Air Bag Systems.............................................1-67
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-83
Air Bag Off Switch.......................................1-73
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-71
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-78
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-83
What Makes an Air Bag Inate?....................1-71
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inates?......1-72
When Should an Air Bag Inate?...................1-70
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-68
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-25
Air Conditioning..............................................3-30
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-58
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.........................2-48
AM .............................................................3-128
AM-FM Radio.................................................3-73
Antenna, Fixed Mast......................................3-130
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System........................................3-130
Anti-lock Brake System..................................... 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-44
Appearance Care..........................................5-114
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-117
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-120
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle..............5-114
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle............5-117
Finish Damage..........................................5-120
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-120
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-120
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-121
Weatherstrips............................................5-117
Approaching a Hill..........................................4-28
Ashtrays........................................................3-20
Audio Output................................................3-116
Audio System(s).............................................3-72
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-73
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-127
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-129
Care of Your CD and DVD Player................3-130
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.......................3-130
Chime Level Adjustment.............................3-130
Fixed Mast Antenna...................................3-130
1

Fluid
Automatic Transmission........................5-27, 5-30
Manual Transmission....................................5-33
Power Steering...........................................5-46
Windshield Washer......................................5-47
FM Stereo....................................................3-128
Fog Lamps....................................................3-16
Folding the Rear Seat....................................... 1-9
Following Distance..........................................4-91
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-36, 5-60
Four-Wheel-Drive Light....................................3-51
Front Axle Locking Feature...............................2-36
Front Reading Lamps......................................3-18
Front Storage Area.........................................2-68
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
E-85 (85% Ethanol)....................................... 5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-11
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-9
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-9
Gage.........................................................3-52
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Low Warning Light.......................................3-53Fuel Information Button....................................3-56
FUEL LEVEL LOW.........................................3-66
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-123
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-123
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-46
Fuel..........................................................3-52
Oil Pressure...............................................3-50
Speedometer..............................................3-35
Tachometer.................................................3-35
Transmission Temperature.............................3-46
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-42
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-6
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving................4-25
Glove Box.....................................................2-67
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-5
7