2006 CHEVROLET DURAMAX light

Water in Fuel Warning Light
(Van Models Only)
The light will come on to
warn you if there is water
in the diesel fuel system.
For more information on how this light works, seeDiesel
Fuel Requirements and Fuel System on page 5-2.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Pickup Models Only)
The Driver Information Center (DIC) is located on the
instrument panel cluster above the steering wheel. The
DIC comes on when the ignition is on. After a short delay
the DIC will display the current driver and the information
that was last displayed before the engine was last
turned off.
If a problem is detected, a warning message will appear
on the display. Pressing the select button on the DIC
steering wheel buttons, or the trip odometer reset stem
for vehicles without DIC steering wheel buttons, will
acknowledge some current warning or service messages.Some messages that your DURAMAX
®diesel may
show are:
ELEVATED IDLE OFF
This message will appear when the elevated
idle/exhaust restrictor feature has been turned off. For
more information on the elevated idle/exhaust restrictor
feature, seeStarting the Diesel Engine on page 2-2.
ELEVATED IDLE ON
This message will appear when the elevated
idle/exhaust restrictor feature has been turned on. For
more information on the elevated idle/exhaust restrictor
feature, seeStarting the Diesel Engine on page 2-2.
REDUCED ENGINE POWER
A computer monitors the operation of the electric
accelerator. If the REDUCED ENGINE POWER
message comes on while you are driving, the computer
is indicating that your vehicle has a problem. You
should take your vehicle in for service soon.
WATER IN FUEL
This message will come on to warn you if there is water in
the diesel fuel system. For more information on how this
message works, seeDiesel Fuel Requirements and Fuel
System on page 5-2.
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Diesel Fuel Requirements and Fuel System.......5-2
Diesel Engine Fuel.........................................5-2
What Fuel to Use...........................................5-3
Very Cold Weather Operation...........................5-5
Water in Fuel.................................................5-5
Water in Fuel Light Chart................................5-6
Running Out of Fuel.....................................5-11
Fuel Filter Replacement.................................5-12
Filling the Tank............................................5-15
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-17Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-18
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-18
Engine Oil...................................................5-21
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-24
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-25
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-29
Engine Coolant.............................................5-34
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-39
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-39
Engine Overheating.......................................5-39
Cooling System............................................5-41
Capacities and Specications..........................5-50
Specification Charts......................................5-50
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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Diesel Fuel Requirements and
Fuel System
Some states and provinces have restrictions on the
purchase of diesel fuel for light-duty vehicles and require
you to buy permits or pay special taxes. Some of these
restrictions apply only to residents, and others apply
to both residents and visitors. These restrictions can
change. To learn the current restrictions in any state
or province, contact your auto club, the police or other
officials.
Diesel Engine Fuel
Notice:Diesel fuel or fuel additives not
recommended in this manual could damage your
fuel system, fuel-operated heater (FOH) (Van models
only) and engine. Your warranty would not cover
this damage. And:
Diesel fuel that has been mixed with engine oil
or automatic transmission uid could damage
your engine and emission controls.
Aftermarket diesel fuel additives are not tested
by General Motors. Some additives, particularly
those which contain alcohol or water emulsiers,
may damage your fuel system. If you believe that
unique circumstances call for a fuel additive to
be used, consult your dealer for advice.
If you ever run out of diesel fuel, it can be difficult
to restart your engine. To avoid all this, never let
your tank get empty.
If gasoline is ever accidentally added to the fuel
tank, to avoid severe engine damage, do not run
the engine until the fuel tank can be drained.
If you run out of fuel,Running Out of Fuel on page 5-11
tells you how to restart your engine.
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If you have a pickup model and this happens, a WATER
IN FUEL message will appear on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). The water must be drained.
If you have a van model
and this happens, this
water in fuel warning
light will appear on the
instrument panel cluster.
The water must be drained from both chassis mounted
fuel filters. Your dealer can show you how to do this.Water in Fuel Light Chart
If the WATER IN FUEL DIC message or water in fuel
warning light comes on, use this chart.
Water In Fuel Light/Message Chart
Problem Recommended Action
Light/Message comes on
intermittently.Drain water from fuel
filter.
Light/Message stays on:
•At temperatures
above freezing.Drain fuel filter
immediately. If no water
can be drained and light
stays on, see your dealer
for assistance.
•At temperatures
below freezing.Drain fuel filter
immediately. If no water
can be drained — water
may be frozen in water
drain system. Water may
be frozen in the fuel lines.
Move the vehicle to a
warm location to thaw
out, and then drain filter
system.
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Water In Fuel Light/Message Chart
(cont’d)
Problem Recommended Action
•Immediately after
refueling, large
amount of water
possibly pumped
into fuel tank.Fuel tank purging
required. See your
dealer for assistance.
Notice:If you drive when this warning indicator is
on, you can damage your fuel injection system and
your engine. If the indicator comes on right after you
refuel, it means water was pumped into your fuel
tank. Turn off your engine immediately. Then, have
the water drained at once.
Hard starting, hesitation or flat performance at high speed
or during hard acceleration may be an indication of
premature fuel filter plugging due to dirty or contaminated
fuel. The filter element may need to be changed if this
happens. SeeFuel Filter Replacement on page 5-12.To drain water, do the following:
1. Stop and park the vehicle in a safe place.
Turn off the engine and apply the parking brake.
2. Remove the fuel cap.
3. Place a fuel-resistant container under the fuel
filter(s). For pickup models, the filter drain valve
is located in the engine compartment, on the
passenger’s side of the vehicle, on the bottom of the
fuel filter. For van models, the filter drain valves for
the primary and secondary fuel filters are located in
the chassis (inside frame rail) compartment. They
are on the driver’s side of the vehicle, below the
fuel filters.
4. For pickup models,
open the drain valve
by turning it two to
three turns. When fuel
empties from the valve,
all the water has been
drained. Close the
valve hand tight. To
help remove all the
water, press the priming
pump several times.
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5. For van models, in order to drain the water from the
system, you will have to repeat the operation for the
primary and secondary fuel filters.6. Remove the fuel-resistant container and properly
dispose of the contaminated fuel. To find out how
to properly dispose of contaminated diesel fuel,
see “What to Do With Used Oil” underEngine Oil
on page 5-21.
7. Install the fuel cap.
8. For pickup models, start the engine and let it run for a
few minutes. If the engine stalls, the fuel system may
need to be primed. While draining the water from the
fuel filter, air may enter the fuel system. If air has
entered the fuel system the fuel system will need to
be primed. For van models, start the engine and let it
run for a few minutes.
If the WATER IN FUEL message/warning light comes
on again after driving a short distance or the engine runs
rough or stalls, a large amount of water has probably
been pumped into the fuel tank. The fuel tank should
be purged.
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4. If the engine does not run after repeating Steps 1
and 2 three times, turn the ignition key off for
60 seconds, allowing the Electronic Control
Module (ECM) to reset.
5. Repeat the above steps until the engine starts.
6. If the engine runs, but does not run smoothly,
increase the engine speed slightly by pressing
the accelerator pedal. This will help to force
out air through the system.
7. If the engine starts and runs but stalls again, turn the
ignition key off for 60 seconds to reset the ECM and
repeat the steps above.
8. When the engine starts, let it idle for a few minutes
and check the filters for any leaks.Running Out of Fuel
Pickup Models
If the engine stalls and you think that you have run out
of fuel, do this to restart your engine:
{CAUTION:
Diesel fuel is ammable. It could start a re if it
gets on hot engine parts. You could be burned.
Do not let too much fuel ow from the air bleed
valve, and wipe up any spilled fuel with a cloth.
1. If you are parked on a level surface, add at least
two gallons of fuel. However, if you are parked on a
slope, you may need to add up to five gallons of fuel.
2. Follow the fuel priming procedure earlier in this
section to prime the fuel filter.
3. Close the air bleed valve.
4. Turn the ignition key to START for 10 to 15 seconds
at a time until your engine starts. If the engine tries to
run, but does not run smoothly, increase the rpm a
little using the accelerator pedal. This will help force
air through the system.
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Van Models
If the engine stalls and you think that you may have run
out of fuel, do this to restart your engine:
1. If you are parked on a level surface, add at least
one gallon of fuel. However, if you are parked on a
slope, you may need to add up to five gallons of fuel.
2. Follow the vehicle fuel system priming procedure
earlier in this section to re-prime the system and
re-start the engine.
Your check engine light may come on if the vehicle has
run out of fuel. This light may stay on for a few drive
cycles after the condition is corrected, but will eventually
clear itself.
Fuel Filter Replacement
Pickup Models
If you want to change the fuel filter yourself, here’s how
to do it:
{CAUTION:
Diesel fuel is ammable. It could start a re if
something ignites it, and you could be burned.
Do not let it get on hot engine parts, and keep
matches or other ignition sources away.
First, drain any water from the filter following the
procedure for draining water listed previously.
Your vehicle’s engine should be off until the end of this
procedure.
The fuel filter is located in the engine compartment on
the passenger’s side of the vehicle, or on the driver’s
side frame rail in front of the fuel tank.
1. Apply the parking brake.
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