2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE checking oil

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
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.......................................................5-6
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)..................................5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-8
Filling the Tank..............................................5-9
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-11
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-11
Hood Release..............................................5-12
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-18
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-21
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-23
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-25
Engine Coolant.............................................5-28
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-30
Engine Overheating.......................................5-30Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-32
Cooling System............................................5-32
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-38
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-39
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-40
Brakes........................................................5-41
Battery........................................................5-44
Jump Starting...............................................5-45
Rear Axle.......................................................5-51
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-52
Front Axle......................................................5-53
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-54
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-54
Headlamps..................................................5-55
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps..........................................5-57
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Daytime Running Lamps.............................5-59
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................5-61
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-61
License Plate Lamp......................................5-62
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-63
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-63
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll 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 not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed,
or on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the lling is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and
other uids, 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.
5-11

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-23.
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. SeeCooling
System on page 5-32andCoolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap on page 5-30.
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-23.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
F. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick. See
“Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 5-25.
G. Engine Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-32.H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (GND). SeeJump
Starting on page 5-45.
I. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Out of View). See
Power Steering Fluid on page 5-39.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-45.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-41.
L. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-117.
M. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-44.
N. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-40.
5-15

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-23.
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. SeeCooling
System on page 5-32andCoolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap on page 5-30.
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-23.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
E. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick. See
“Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 5-25.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
G. Engine Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-32.H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (GND). SeeJump
Starting on page 5-45.
I. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-45.
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-39.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-41.
L. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-117.
M. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-44.
N. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-40.
5-17

Engine Oil
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message appears on the
instrument cluster, it means you need to check
your engine oil level right away.
For more information, see CHECK OIL LEVEL under
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-53.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It is 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 handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. 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.
5-18

{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 ames 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.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transmission Fluid
A good time to check your automatic transmission uid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change the uid and lter at the intervals listed in
Additional Required Services on page 6-6, and be sure
to use the transmission uid listed inRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
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.
To get the right reading, the uid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
5-25

Checking Brake Fluid
You can check the brake uid without taking off the cap.
Look at the brake uid
reservoir. The uid level
should be above MIN. If it
is not, have your brake
system checked to
see if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the level is above the MIN but not over the
MAX mark.
What to Add
When you do need brake uid, use only DOT-3 brake
uid. Use new brake uid from a sealed container
only. SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 6-12.Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help
keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or
they may not even work at all. This could
cause a crash. Always use the proper
brake uid.
Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage brake
system parts. For example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in your
brake system can damage brake system
parts so badly that they will have to be replaced.
Do not let someone put in the wrong kind
of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint nish can be damaged. Be
careful not to spill brake uid on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off immediately. SeeWashing
Your Vehicle on page 5-107.
5-42

Fuel (cont.)
Gage .........................................................3-48
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Low Warning Light.......................................3-48
Fuses
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block.............5-116
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-113
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-114
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-117
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-113
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-41
Fuel..........................................................3-48
Oil Pressure...............................................3-45
Speedometer..............................................3-33
Tachometer.................................................3-33
Transmission Temperature.............................3-41
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-37
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-59
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-6
Glove Box.....................................................2-63
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-7
Headlamps....................................................5-55
Automatic Headlamp System.........................3-16
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-54
Daytime Running Lamps.......................3-16, 5-61
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-9
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps........................................5-59
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking
Lamps ....................................................5-57
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-54
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-9
On Reminder..............................................3-15
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Heater...........................................................3-22
Heater...........................................................3-24
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-47
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-38
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-38
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-11
Release.....................................................5-12
Horn ............................................................... 3-6
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-15
6