2007 GMC SAVANA radiator cap

Service........................................................ 286
Accessories and Modifications................... 286
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 286
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 287
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 287
Fuel............................................................. 288
Gasoline Octane........................................ 288
Gasoline Specifications.............................. 288
California Fuel........................................... 289
Additives................................................... 289
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)............................ 290
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 291
Filling the Tank......................................... 292
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 294
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 294
Hood Release........................................... 295
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 296
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine).................... 297Engine Oil Life System
(Gasoline Engine).................................. 300
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 302
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 303
Engine Coolant.......................................... 306
Radiator Pressure Cap.............................. 309
Engine Overheating................................... 309
Cooling System......................................... 311
Engine Fan Noise..................................... 317
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 317
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 318
Brakes...................................................... 319
Battery...................................................... 323
Jump Starting............................................ 324
All-Wheel Drive........................................... 330
Rear Axle.................................................... 331
Front Axle................................................... 331
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
283

A. Battery. SeeBattery on page 323.
B. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure
Cap on page 309.
C. Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System
on page 311.
D. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick. See
“Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 303.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on
page 297.
F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on
page 297.
G. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 302.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 317.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 319.
J. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 318.Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Engine
Oil” in the DURAMAX®Diesel Engine Supplement.
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 296
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.
297

Checking Coolant for Gasoline Engines
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Checking
Coolant” under “Van Models” in the DURAMAX®
Diesel Supplement for information on checking
your vehicle’s coolant.
The coolant recovery
tank is located near the
center of the engine
compartment. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 296
for more information
on location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When
your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the COLD FILL mark, or a little higher.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture at the coolant
recovery tank, but be careful not to spill it.
{CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when
the engine and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to blow out
and burn you badly. With the coolant
recovery tank, you will almost never
have to add coolant at the radiator. Never
turn the radiator pressure cap — even
a little — when the engine and radiator
are hot.
308

{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant
on hot engine parts. Coolant contains
ethylene glycol, and it will burn if the
engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
Occasionally check the coolant level in the
radiator. For information on how to add coolant to
the radiator, seeCooling System on page 311.
Radiator Pressure Cap
The radiator pressure cap is located near the
center of the engine compartment. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 296for more
information on location.
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and possible engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
You will find an engine coolant temperature gage
on your vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Gage on page 178for more
information.
309

If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about 10 minutes. If the warning does not come
back on, you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, and you have not
stopped, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle
right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is about
twice as fast as normal idle speed for at least
three minutes while you are parked. If you
still have the warning, turn off the engine and get
everyone out of the vehicle until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to
get service help right away.Cooling System
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Van
Models” under “Cooling System” in the
DURAMAX
®Diesel Supplement.
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is
what you will see:
A. Radiator Pressure Cap
B. Coolant Recovery Tank
C. Engine Cooling Fan(s)
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
311

When the engine is cold, the coolant level should
be at or above the COLD FILL mark. If it is not, you
may have a leak at the pressure cap or in the
radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump,
or somewhere else in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater, fuel operated heater (FOH),
radiator hoses, and other engine parts,
can be very hot. Do not touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If
you run the engine, it could lose all
coolant. That could cause an engine re,
and you could be burned. Get any leak
xed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine
again. See if the engine cooling fan speed
increases when idle speed is doubled by pushing
the accelerator pedal down. If it does not, your
vehicle needs service. Turn off the engine.Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by
your warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing sooner, at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank for Gasoline Engines
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “How
to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tank”
under “Van Models” in the Cooling System section
of the DURAMAX
®Diesel Supplement for the
proper coolant fill procedure.
If you have not found a problem yet, but the
coolant level is not at the COLD FILL mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®engine coolant at the coolant
recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant on page 306
for more information.
312

{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant
on hot components in the engine
compartment. Coolant contains ethylene
glycol, and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill coolant on a
hot engine or components in the engine
compartment.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is
at the COLD FILL mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there is
one more thing you can try. You can add the
proper coolant mixture directly to the radiator,
but be sure the cooling system is cool before
you do it.
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system can blow out and burn you
badly. They are under pressure, and if you
turn the radiator pressure cap — even a
little — they can come out at high speed.
Never turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever
have to turn the pressure cap.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator for
Gasoline Engines
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “How to
Add Coolant to the Radiator” under “Van Models”
in the Cooling System section of the DURAMAX
®
Diesel Supplement for the proper radiator fill
procedure.
314

1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap
when the cooling system, including the radiator
pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise until it first stops. Do not
press down while turning the pressure cap.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss
means there is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now
push down as you turn it. Remove the
pressure cap.3. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler
neck. SeeEngine Coolant on page 306for
more information about the proper coolant
mixture.
315