2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX fuel additives

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................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....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-21
Engine Coolant.............................................5-21
Engine Overheating.......................................5-24Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-26
Cooling System............................................5-26
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-31
Brakes........................................................5-32
Battery........................................................5-34
Jump Starting...............................................5-35
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-39
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-41
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-41
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-42
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-44
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-45
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-45
Tires..............................................................5-47
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-48
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-50
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-53
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-54
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-55
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your dealer before adding equipment to the outside of
your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the
proper maintenance of your vehicle.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87,
you may notice an audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as spark knock. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as
soon as possible. If you are using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking, your
engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
General Motors recommends against the use of
gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives on page 5-6
for additional information.
5-5

California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California Emissions
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specications. See the underhood emission
control label. If this fuel is not available in states adopting
California emissions standards, your vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal specications, but
emission control system performance may be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on and your
vehicle may fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 3-31. If this occurs, return to your
authorized GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is determined
that the condition is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by your warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work
properly. In most cases, you should not have to add
anything to your fuel. However, some gasolines contain
only the minimum amount of additive required to
meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean,
or if your vehicle experiences problems due to
dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that is
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Also, your
GM dealer has additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area. General Motors recommends that you use
these gasolines if they comply with the specications
described earlier. However, E85 (85% ethanol)
and other fuels containing more than 10% ethanol must
not be used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
5-6

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlet(s)...............................3-17
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-84
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18
Air Conditioning..............................................3-18
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-26
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-55
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle............................1-65
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-62
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-64
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-62
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-63
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-61
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-58
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-39
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System.........................4-11
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-29
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-80
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-78
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-81
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-78Appearance Care (cont.)
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-74
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-75
Finish Care.................................................5-79
Finish Damage............................................5-81
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and
Other Plastic Surfaces..............................5-77
Leather......................................................5-77
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-81
Tires..........................................................5-80
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-81
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-82
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-78
Weatherstrips..............................................5-78
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-79
Ashtray(s)......................................................3-18
Audio System(s).............................................3-38
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-81
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-83
Care of Your CDs........................................3-83
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-84
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-83
Radio with CD....................................3-40, 3-51
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-67
Setting the Time..........................................3-39
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-81
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-82
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-84
Automatic Door Lock......................................... 2-8
1

F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-18
Finish Damage...............................................5-81
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-83
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-62
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-63
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-72
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-21
Windshield Washer......................................5-31
Fog Lamps....................................................3-15
Folding Rear Seat...........................................1-10
Folding Seatback, Passenger............................. 1-8
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-10
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-36Fuel (cont.)
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-37
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-86
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-84
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-85
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-84
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-31
Fuel..........................................................3-36
Speedometer..............................................3-25
Tachometer.................................................3-25
Garment Hooks..............................................2-35
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-5
Gate Ajar Light...............................................3-36
Glove Box.....................................................2-34
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-5
5