2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE 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............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuel E-85 (85% Ethanol).................................5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-8
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...................................................5-17
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-22
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-24
Engine Coolant.............................................5-26
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-29Engine Overheating.......................................5-29
Cooling System............................................5-32
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-37
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-38
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-39
Brakes........................................................5-40
Battery........................................................5-44
Jump Starting...............................................5-44
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-50
Rear Axle.......................................................5-51
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-52
Front Axle......................................................5-53
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-54
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-54
Headlamps..................................................5-54
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps.........................................5-56
Side Identication Marker Lamps.....................5-57
Roof Marker Lamps......................................5-57
Taillamps.....................................................5-59
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-60
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

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 4-58.
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.Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
5-8

Notice:Use only engine oil identied as meeting
GM Standard GM6094M and showing the American
Petroleum Institute Certied 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 of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below−20°F (−29°C), 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
Do not add anything to your oil. The recommended
oils with the starburst symbol that meet GM Standard
GM6094M 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 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 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.
5-20

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:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
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 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
®coolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not 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 do not
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful.
5-27

Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-74
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-27
Dual Climate Control System............................3-23
DVD
Rear Seat Entertainment System..................3-123
DVD Distortion..............................................3-133
DVD Messages.............................................3-133
DVD Player..................................................3-126
E
Easy Exit Seat...............................................2-68
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-110
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-110
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-110
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-110
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-52
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-22
Battery.......................................................5-44
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-50
Coolant......................................................5-26
Coolant Heater............................................2-24
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-47
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-17
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-14Engine (cont.)
Exhaust.....................................................2-43
Fan Noise..................................................5-37
Oil .............................................................5-17
Overheating................................................5-29
Starting......................................................2-23
ENGINE COOLANT HOT.................................3-70
Engine Hour Meter Display...............................3-41
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-20
ENGINE OVERHEATED..................................3-70
Entering or Exiting the Third Row Seats.............1-10
Entry Lighting.................................................3-19
Environmental Concerns..................................4-27
Erasing HomeLink
®Buttons..............................2-61
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
Exit Lighting...................................................3-19
Express-Down Windows...................................2-17
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-47
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-22
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™).......................3-85, 3-97, 3-112
Finding a Station..................3-78, 3-83, 3-95, 3-110
Finish Care..................................................5-104
6

Finish Damage.............................................5-107
Fixed Mast Antenna.......................................3-139
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire........................................................5-80
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-80
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-24
Power Steering...........................................5-38
Windshield Washer......................................5-39
FM Stereo....................................................3-137
Fog Lamps....................................................3-17
Folding the Seatback.......................................1-18
Folding the Seatbacks.....................1-11, 1-13, 1-23
Following Distance..........................................4-75
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-30, 5-52
Four-Wheel-Drive Light....................................3-54
Front Axle......................................................5-53
Front Axle Locking Feature...............................2-30
Front Reading Lamps......................................3-19
Front Storage Area.........................................2-63
Frontal Air Bags.............................................1-80
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
E-85 (85% Ethanol)....................................... 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-11
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-9
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-8
Gage.........................................................3-55Fuel (cont.)
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-55
Fuel Information Button....................................3-59
FUEL LEVEL LOW.........................................3-71
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-110
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-110
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-47
Fuel..........................................................3-55
Oil Pressure...............................................3-53
Speedometer..............................................3-41
Tachometer.................................................3-41
Transmission Temperature.............................3-48
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-44
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-58
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-5
Gate Operator and Canadian Programming........2-61
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving................4-28
Glove Box.....................................................2-63
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-5
7