Page 1 of 100
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ............. 2-2
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ........... 3-2
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Towing ..................................................... 4-2 Service and Appearance Care
.......................... 5-1
Diesel Fuel Requirements and Fuel System ..... 5-2
Checking Things Under the Hood ...............5-18
Capacities and Specifications .....................5-50
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
2006 DURAMAX®Diesel EngineM
Index ......................................................................... 1
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Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators...............3-2
Instrument Panel Cluster.................................3-2
Malfunction Indicator Lamp..............................3-4
Oil Pressure Gage..........................................3-6
Wait to Start Light..........................................3-7Reduced Engine Power Light (Van Models Only) . . .3-7
Fuel Gage.....................................................3-8
Water in Fuel Warning Light (Van Models Only).....3-9
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Pickup Models Only)....................................3-9
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1
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Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
Instrument Panel Cluster
United States Pickup automatic transmission version shown, manual transmission and Canada similar
3-2
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Page 21 of 100

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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Towing
Towing a Trailer
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following:
Engine coolant will boil at a lower temperature than sea
level. If you turn your engine off immediately after towing
at high altitude on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may
show signs similar to engine overheating.To avoid this, let the engine run while parked (preferably
on level ground) with automatic transmission equipped
vehicles in PARK (P) or manual transmission equipped
vehicles in NEUTRAL with the park brake applied for at
least five minutes before turning the engine off. If you do
get the overheat warning, seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-39.
4-2
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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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