2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX oil change

Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode lets your vehicle be
driven to a safe place in an emergency situation. If an
overheated engine condition exists, an overheat
protection mode which alternates ring groups of
cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
there is a signicant loss in power and engine
performance. The temperature gage indicates an
overheat condition exists. Driving extended distances
and/or towing a trailer in the overheat protection
mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any
repair. The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause of coolant loss, change the oil
and reset the oil life system. SeeEngine Oil
on page 5-15.
Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is what
you will see:
A. Electric Engine Cooling Fans
B. Coolant Surge Tank
5-26

Do not clean your vehicle using the following cleaners
or techniques:
Never use a knife or any other sharp object to
remove a soil from any interior surface.
Never use a stiff brush. It can cause damage to
your vehicle’s interior surfaces.
Never apply heavy pressure or rub aggressively
with a cleaning cloth. Use of heavy pressure can
damage your interior and does not improve the
effectiveness of soil removal.
Use only mild, neutral-pH soaps. Avoid laundry
detergents or dishwashing soaps with degreasers.
Using too much soap will leave a residue that leaves
streaks and attracts dirt. For liquid cleaners, about 20
drops per gallon (3.78 L) of water is a good guide.
Do not heavily saturate your upholstery while
cleaning.
Damage to your vehicle’s interior may result from the
use of many organic solvents such as naptha,
alcohol, etc.
Fabric/Carpet
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather, plastic, and painted surfaces
with a clean, damp cloth.
Your dealer/retailer has cleaners for the cleaning of
fabric and carpet. They will clean normal spots and
stains very well.
If the vehicle has the Ultra Lux
®suede fabric, follow the
listed procedures except do not use any solvents or
dry cleaning products.
Here are some cleaning tips:
Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
Clean up stains as soon as you can, before
they set.
Carefully scrape off any excess stain.
Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean
area often. A soft brush may be used if stains are
stubborn.
To avoid forming a ring on fabric after spot cleaning,
clean the entire area immediately or it will set.
5-90

Special Fabric Cleaning Problems
Stains caused by such things as catsup, coffee, tea,
milk, fruit, fruit juice, jelly, cheese, chocolate, vomit,
urine, and blood can be removed using the club soda
water instructions given earlier in this section. If an odor
lingers after cleaning vomit or urine, treat the area with a
water and baking soda solution: 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of
baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml) of lukewarm water. Let dry.
Stains caused by oil and grease can be cleaned with an
approved GM cleaner and a clean, white cloth.
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain.
2. Clean with cool water and allow to dry completely.
3. If a stain remains, follow the cleaner instructions
described earlier.
Leather
A soft cloth dampened with water can be used to
remove dust. If a more thorough cleaning is necessary,
a soft cloth dampened with a mild soap solution can
be used. Allow the leather to dry naturally. Do not use
heat to dry. Never use steam to clean leather. Never
use spot lifters or spot removers on leather. Many
commercial leather cleaners and coatings that are sold
to preserve and protect leather may permanently
change the appearance and feel of your leather and are
not recommended. Do not use silicone or wax-based
products, or those containing organic solvents to clean
your vehicle’s interior because they can alter the
appearance by increasing the gloss in a non-uniform
manner. Never use shoe polish on leather.
5-92

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level and
change as recommended.
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet or your
dealer/retailer for details.
Maintenance Requirements
Notice:Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections,
replacement parts, and recommended uids and
lubricants as prescribed in this manual are
necessary to keep your vehicle in good working
condition. Any damage caused by failure to follow
scheduled maintenance might not be covered by
warranty.
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance is
important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even affect
the quality of the air we breathe. Improper uid levels or
the wrong tire ination can increase the level of emissions
from your vehicle. To help protect our environment, and
to keep your vehicle in good condition, be sure to
maintain your vehicle properly.
Using the Maintenance Schedule
We want to help you keep your vehicle in good working
condition. But we do not know exactly how you will
drive it. You might drive very short distances only a few
times a week. Or you might drive long distances all the
time in very hot, dusty weather. You might use your
vehicle in making deliveries. Or you might drive it to work,
to do errands, or in many other ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You might need more
frequent checks and replacements. So please read the
following and note how you drive. If you have any
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition,
see your dealer/retailer.
6-2

Scheduled Maintenance
When the change engine oil light and/or CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message comes on, it means that
service is required for your vehicle. Have your vehicle
serviced 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 engine oil life system may not
indicate that vehicle service 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 service technicians
who will perform this work using genuine parts and reset
the system.
If the engine oil life system is ever reset accidentally,
you must service your vehicle within 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) since your last service. Remember to reset
the oil life system whenever the oil is changed. See
Engine Oil Life System on page 5-18for information on
the Engine Oil Life System and resetting the system.When the change engine oil light and/or CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message appears, certain services,
checks, and inspections are required. Required services
are described in the following for “MaintenanceI” and
“MaintenanceII.” Generally, it is recommended that your
rst service be MaintenanceI, your second service be
MaintenanceII, and that you alternate MaintenanceIand
MaintenanceIIthereafter. However, in some cases,
MaintenanceIImay be required more often.
MaintenanceI— Use MaintenanceIif the
light/message comes on within 10 months since the
vehicle was purchased or MaintenanceIIwas
performed.
MaintenanceII— Use MaintenanceIIif the previous
service performed was MaintenanceI. Always use
MaintenanceIIwhenever the light/message comes on
10 months or more since the last service or if the
light/message has not come on at all for one year.
6-4

Scheduled Maintenance
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Change engine oil and lter. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-15. Reset oil life
system. SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 5-18.An Emission Control Service.••
Visually check for any leaks or damage.See footnote (k).••
Inspect engine air cleaner lter. If necessary, replace lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-19.See footnote (l).•
Rotate tires and check ination pressures and wear. SeeTire Inspection and
Rotation on page 5-67and “Tire Wear Inspection” inAt Least Once a Month
on page 6-9.••
Inspect brake system.See footnote (a).••
Check engine coolant, power steering uid (3.6L V6 engine only), and windshield
washer uid levels and add uid as needed.••
Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required Services” in
this section.••
Inspect suspension and steering components.See footnote (b).•
Inspect engine cooling system.See footnote (c).•
Inspect wiper blades.See footnote (d).•
Inspect restraint system components.See footnote (e).•
Lubricate body components.See footnote (f).•
Replace passenger compartment air lter.See footnote (g).•
3.6L V6 Engine Only: Check automatic transmission uid level and add uid
as needed.•
Inspect throttle system.See footnote (j).•
6-5

(h)Change automatic transmission fluid if the vehicle is
mainly driven under one or more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police, or delivery
service.
(i)Drain, flush, and refill cooling system. This service
can be complex; you should have your dealer/retailer
perform this service. See Engine Coolant on page 5-22
for what to use. Inspect hoses. Clean radiator,
condenser, pressure cap, and filler neck. Pressure test
the cooling system and pressure cap.
(j)Check system for interference or binding and for
damaged or missing parts. Replace parts as needed.
Replace any components that have high effort or
excessive wear.(k)A fluid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired
and the fluid level checked. Add fluid if needed.
(l)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions, inspect
the filter at each engine oil change.
(m)Visually inspect belt for fraying, excessive cracks, or
obvious damage. Replace belt if necessary.
Owner Checks and Services
These owner checks and services should be performed
at the intervals specied to help ensure the safety,
dependability, and emission control performance of your
vehicle. Your dealer/retailer can assist you with these
checks and services.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any uids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
inRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
6-8

Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-19
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-38
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-34
Coolant......................................................5-22
Coolant Heater............................................2-23
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-33
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-33
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-15
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-35
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-18
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-26
Overheating................................................5-24
Reduced Power Light...................................3-39
Running While Parked..................................2-36
Starting......................................................2-22
Entry Lighting.................................................3-16
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-17
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-30
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-19
Finish Damage...............................................5-97Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-75
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-76
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-86
Fluid.............................................................5-21
Power Steering...........................................5-31
Windshield Washer......................................5-32
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-15
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-38
Folding Rear Seat...........................................1-10
Folding Seatback, Passenger............................. 1-8
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-10
Filling the Tank............................................. 5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-41
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Low Warning Light.......................................3-42
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.................5-103
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-100
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-101
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-100
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