2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO transmission fluid

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

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
B. Coolant Surge Tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-35.
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-20.
E. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If equipped).
SeeAutomatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmission
®) on page 5-27orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (Allison Transmission®)on
page 5-30.
F. Fan. SeeCooling System on page 5-41.
G. Engine Oil Fill. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-20.H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-46.
I. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (GND). SeeJump
Starting on page 5-53.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-53.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. SeeBrakes on page 5-49.
L. Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped). SeeHydraulic
Clutch on page 5-34.
M. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-123.
N. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-52.
O. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-47.
5-15

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
B. Coolant Surge Tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-35.
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-20.
E. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped).
SeeAutomatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmission
®) on page 5-27orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (Allison Transmission®)on
page 5-30.
F. Engine Oil Fill. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-20.
G. Fan. SeeCooling System on page 5-41.H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (GND). SeeJump
Starting on page 5-53.
I. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-46.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-53.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. SeeBrakes on page 5-49.
L. Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped). SeeHydraulic
Clutch on page 5-34.
M. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-123.
N. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-52.
O. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-47.
5-17

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
B. Coolant Surge Tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-35.
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-20.
E. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped).
SeeAutomatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmission
®) on page 5-27orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (Allison Transmission®)on
page 5-30.
F. Engine Oil Fill. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-20.
G. Fan. SeeCooling System on page 5-41.H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (GND). SeeJump
Starting on page 5-53.
I. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-53.
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-46.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. SeeBrakes on page 5-49.
L. Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped). SeeHydraulic
Clutch on page 5-34.
M. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-123.
N. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-52.
O. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-47.
5-19

{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 stop ame if the engine backres. If it is not
there and the engine backres, you could be
burned. Do not 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 engine re. And, dirt can
easily get into your engine, which will damage it.
Always have the air cleaner/lter in place when you
are driving.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Except Allison Transmission
®)
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission uid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the uid and lter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle’s GVWR is over 8,600 or 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 your vehicle’s GVWR is not over 8,600 and you do
not use your vehicle under any of these conditions,
change the uid and lter every 100,000 miles
(166 000 km).
SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
5-27

Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK (P).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
The transmission dipstick
handle with the graphic is
located at the rear of
the engine compartment,
on the passenger’s side.SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14for
more information on location.
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the dipstick
and wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The uid level must be in the COLD area,
below the cross-hatched area, for a cold check or in
the HOT area or cross-hatched area for a hot
check. Be sure to keep the dipstick pointed down to
get an accurate reading.
4. If the uid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way; then ip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
5-29

How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission uid to use. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-13.
Add uid only after checking the transmission uid while
it is hot. (A cold check is used only as a reference.) If
the uid level is low, add only enough of the proper uid
to bring the level up to the HOT area for a hot check.
It doesn’t take much uid, generally less than one
pint (0.5 L).Don’t overll.
Notice:We recommend you use only uid labeled
DEXRON
®-III, because uid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by uid other than DEXRON
®-III is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding uid, recheck the uid level as
described underHow to Check.
When the correct uid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way; then ip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Allison Transmission
®)
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission uid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the uid and lter every 25,000 miles
(41 500 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 uid and lter every
50,000 miles (83 000 km).
SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
5-30

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 uid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the uid could come out and fall on hot engine
part or exhaust system parts, starting a re.
Too little uid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission uid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic – especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, run the engine
for at least once minute and shift to DRIVE (D).
Then shift to NEUTRAL (N) and then REVERSE (R)
to ll the hydraulic system. Then, position the
shift lever in PARK (P).
Allow the engine to run at idle (500–800 rpm).
Slowly release the brake pedal.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
Cold Check Procedure
The purpose of the cold check is to determine if the
transmission has enough uid to be operated safely until
a hot check can be made. The uid level rises as uid
temperature increases. DO NOT ll above the COLD
CHECK band if the transmission uid is below normal
operating temperatures.
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
5-31