2007 CHEVROLET COLORADO Owners Manual

{CAUTION:
Fuel can spray out on you if you open the
fuel cap too quickly. If you spill fuel and
then something ignites it, you could be
badly burned. This spray can happen if
your tank is nearly full, and is more likely
in hot weather. Open the fuel cap slowly
and wait for any hiss noise to stop. Then
unscrew the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overll
the tank and wait a few seconds after you have
nished pumping before removing the nozzle.
Clean fuel from painted surfaces as soon as
possible. SeeWashing Your Vehicle on page 426.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn it clockwise
until it clicks. Make sure the cap is fully installed.
The diagnostic system can determine if the
fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed.
This would allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. If the fuel cap is not properly installed,the FUEL CAP message will appear on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) and the check engine
light will be lit on the instrument panel cluster.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 202
andMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 192
for more information.
{CAUTION:
If a re starts while you are refueling,
do not remove the nozzle. Shut off the
ow of fuel by shutting off the pump
or by notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure
to get the right type. Your dealer/retailer
can get one for you. If you get the wrong type,
it may not t properly. This may cause your
malfunction indicator lamp to light and
may damage your fuel tank and emissions
system. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 192.
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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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

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.
Do not use a cellular phone while
pumping gasoline.
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Checking Things Under
the Hood
{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.
Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:1. Pull the handle with
this symbol on it.
It is located inside
the vehicle on the
lower left side of the
instrument panel.
2. Release the secondary latch on the hood.
It is located below the front center of the hood.
3. Lift the hood.
4. Release the hood prop from its retainer and
put the hood prop into the slot in the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the ller caps
are on properly. Then lift the hood to relieve
pressure on the hood prop. Remove the hood
prop from the slot in the hood and return the prop
to its retainer. Lower the hood 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm) above the vehicle and release it
to latch fully. Check to make sure the hood is
closed and repeat the procedure if necessary.
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Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 2.9L engine (3.7L engine similar), you will see the following:
332

A. Windshield Washer Fluid. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid on
page 356.
B. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 345.
C. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 338.
D. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (low in engine
compartment). SeePower Steering Fluid
on page 355.
E. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick
(If Equipped). See “Checking the Fluid Level”
underAutomatic Transmission Fluid on
page 339.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 333.
G. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System
on page 350.
H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (GND).
SeeJump Starting on page 362.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 333.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 362.K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 357.
L. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 433.
M. Battery. SeeBattery on page 361.
N. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped).
SeeHydraulic Clutch on page 344.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the 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.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 332
for 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.
333

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area (L),
you need to add at least one quart/liter of oil.
But you must use the right kind. This section
explains what kind of oil to use. For engine
oil crankcase capacity, seeCapacities and
Specications on page 437.
Notice:Do not add too much oil. If the
engine has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the cross-hatched area that
shows the proper operating range, the
engine could be damaged.SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 332for the
location of the engine
oil ll cap.
Be sure to add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating range.
Push the dipstick all the way back in when
you are through.
334

What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Look for three things:
GM6094M
Your vehicle’s engine requires oil meeting
GM Standard GM6094M. Look for and use
only an oil that meets GM Standard GM6094M.
SAE 5W-30
As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE 5W-30
is best for your vehicle.These numbers on an oil container show its
viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other
viscosity oils such as SAE 20W-50.
Oils meeting these
requirements
should have the
starburst symbol
on the container.
This symbol indicates
that the oil has
been certied by the
American Petroleum
Institute (API).
Look for this information on the oil container, and
use only those oils that are identied as meeting
GM Standard GM6094M and have the starburst
symbol on the front of the oil container.
Notice:Use only engine oil identied as
meeting GM Standard GM6094M and showing
the American Petroleum Institute Certied
For Gasoline Engines starburst symbol. Failure
to use the recommended oil can result in
engine damage not covered by your warranty.
335

If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below−20°F (−29°C), it is
recommended that you use either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an SAE 0W-30 oil. Both provide
easier cold starting and better protection for
the engine at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to the oil. The recommended
oils with the starburst symbol that meet
GM Standard GM6094M are all you need for
good performance and engine protection.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you
know when to change the engine oil and lter.
This is based on engine revolutions and engine
temperature, and not on mileage. Based on driving
conditions, the mileage at which an oil changewill be indicated can vary considerably. For the oil
life system to work properly, you must reset the
system every time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has
been diminished, it will indicate that an oil change
is necessary. A CHANGE OIL message will
come on. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 202. Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible
that, if you are driving under the best conditions,
the oil life system might not indicate that an
oil change is necessary for over a year. However,
the engine oil and lter must be changed at
least once a year and at this time the system must
be reset. Your dealer/retailer has trained people
who will perform this work using genuine parts and
reset the system. It is also important to check
the oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change the oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since
your last oil change. Remember to reset the oil
life system whenever the oil is changed.
336