2007 CHEVROLET COLORADO oil additives

Service........................................................ 324
Accessories and Modications................... 324
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 324
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 325
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of Your Vehicle......................... 325
Fuel............................................................. 326
Gasoline Octane........................................ 326
Gasoline Specications.............................. 326
California Fuel........................................... 326
Additives................................................... 326
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 327
Filling the Tank......................................... 328
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 330
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 331
Hood Release........................................... 331
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 332
Engine Oil................................................. 333
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 336Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 338
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 339
Manual Transmission Fluid........................ 342
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 344
Engine Coolant.......................................... 345
Radiator Pressure Cap.............................. 348
Engine Overheating................................... 348
Cooling System......................................... 350
Engine Fan Noise..................................... 355
Power Steering Fluid................................. 355
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 356
Brakes...................................................... 357
Battery...................................................... 361
Jump Starting............................................ 362
Rear Axle.................................................... 368
Four-Wheel Drive........................................ 368
Front Axle................................................... 369
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
321

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 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.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not use
fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in the fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage would
not be covered under your warranty.Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT.
General Motors recommends against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system may be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your dealer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel might 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.
327

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

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant
mixture, you do not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and the proper coolant.Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not be
covered by your warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system,
you could damage your vehicle. Use only
the proper mixture of the engine coolant
listed in this manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 452for more information.
Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery
tank cap has this
symbol on it.
346