2006 GMC SIERRA 1500 fuel additives

Service............................................................5-4
Accessories and Modications..........................5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-5
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-6
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-7
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)..................................5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-9
Filling the Tank............................................5-10
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-11
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-13
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)..........................5-20
Engine Oil Life System (Gasoline Engine)........5-23
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (Gasoline Engines).......5-25
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Except Allison Transmission
®) ....................5-28Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Allison Transmission
®) ...............................5-30
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-33
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-34
Engine Coolant.............................................5-35
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-37
Engine Overheating.......................................5-37
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
(V8 Engines Only)......................................5-39
Cooling System............................................5-40
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-45
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-45
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-46
Brakes........................................................5-47
Battery........................................................5-51
Jump Starting...............................................5-52
Rear Axle.......................................................5-58
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-59
Front Axle......................................................5-60
Noise Control System.....................................5-62
Tampering with Noise Control System
Prohibited.................................................5-62
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Gasoline
The 8th digit of your vehicle identication number (VIN)
shows the code letter or number that identies your
engine. You will nd the VIN at the top left of the
instrument panel. SeeVehicle Identication
Number (VIN) on page 5-122.
If your vehicle has the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code Z),
you may use either regular unleaded gasoline or ethanol
fuel containing up to 85% ethanol (E85); also see
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on page 5-8. In all other
gasoline engines, use only regular unleaded gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
For all vehicles, except those with the 6.0L V8 engine
(VIN Code N), 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.If your vehicle has the 6.0L V8 engine (VIN Code N), use
premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating
of 91 or higher. You may also use regular unleaded
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s
acceleration may be slightly reduced, and you may notice
a slight audible knocking noise, commonly referred to as
spark knock. If the octane is less than 87, you may notice
a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
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 5-7
for additional information.
5-6

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 3-46. 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.
5-7

To ensure quick starts in the wintertime, the E85 fuel
must be formulated properly for your climate according to
ASTM specication D 5798. If you have trouble starting
on E85, it may be because your E85 fuel is not properly
formulated for your climate. If this happens, switching to
gasoline or adding gasoline to your fuel tank may improve
starting. Your vehicle is designed to accommodate a
mixture of gasoline and E85 fuel. For good starting and
heater efficiency below 32°F (0°C), the fuel mix in the fuel
tank should contain no more than 70% ethanol.
E85 has less energy per gallon than gasoline, so you will
need to rell your fuel tank more often when using E85
than when you are using gasoline. Regular unleaded
gasoline is recommended when pulling a trailer. For
payload capacity with ethanol fuel, seeLoading Your
Vehicle on page 4-48.
Notice:Some additives are not compatible with E85
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 E85 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.
5-9

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-4
Accessory Power Outlet(s)...............................3-20
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.........4-54
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-86
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-123
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-25
Air Conditioning..............................3-21, 3-22, 3-25
Airbag
Off Light.....................................................3-35
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-37
Readiness Light..........................................3-35
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-70
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-86
Airbag Off Switch........................................1-78
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-76
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-81
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-86
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-76
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-76
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-74
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-72
AM-FM Radio.................................................3-72
Antenna, Fixed Mast......................................3-132
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . 3-133Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-42
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-118
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-116
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-120
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-117
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle..............5-113
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-114
Finish Care...............................................5-117
Finish Damage..........................................5-120
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.....................................5-115
Leather....................................................5-115
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-119
Tires........................................................5-119
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-120
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-121
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-116
Weatherstrips............................................5-116
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-118
Ashtray(s)......................................................3-20
Audio System(s).............................................3-70
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-72
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-129
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-131
Care of Your CD and DVD Player................3-132
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.......................3-132
Chime Level Adjustment.............................3-133
Fixed Mast Antenna...................................3-132
1

Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-7
E85 (85% Ethanol)........................................ 5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-11
Filling Your Tank..........................................5-10
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-9
Gage.........................................................3-51
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-6
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Low Warning Light.......................................3-51
Fuses
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block.............5-126
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-123
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-124
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-127
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-123
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-43
Fuel..........................................................3-51
Oil Pressure...............................................3-48
Speedometer..............................................3-33
Tachometer.................................................3-34
Transmission Temperature.............................3-44
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-40
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-75Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-6
Specications............................................... 5-6
Glove Box.....................................................2-79
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-7
Headlamps............................................3-14, 5-63
Automatic Headlamp System.........................3-15
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-63
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-15
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-9
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps........................................5-64
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-63
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
On Reminder..............................................3-14
Pickup Box Identication and Fender Marker
Lamps....................................................5-68
Roof Marker Lamps.....................................5-66
Heated Seats................................................... 1-5
Heater...................................................3-21, 3-22
Heater...........................................................3-25
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-49
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-39
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-40
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