2008 CHEVROLET KODIAK check oil

If the light does not come on when the engine is cold,
your vehicle needs service.
If your batteries do not have enough charge to start
your engine, seeBattery on page 5-66.
Be sure you have the right oil for your engine, and that
you have changed the oil at the proper times. If you
use the wrong oil, your engine may be harder to start.
Be sure you are using the proper fuel for existing
weather conditions. SeeWhat Fuel to Use on page 5-9.
If the engine starts, runs a short time, then stops,
your vehicle needs service.
{CAUTION:
Do not use gasoline or starting aids, such as
ether, in the air intake. They could damage
your engine. There could also be a re, which
could cause serious personal injury.
Engine Alarm and Automatic
Shutdown
Your check gages warning light will come on if the
system senses high engine temperature, and a low or
high engine oil pressure. If high engine temperature
is detected, you will hear a tone alarm at two beats per
second. If a low or high engine oil pressure is
detected, you will also hear a tone alarm at two beats
per second. The alarm and the light will remain on until
the condition is fixed. If the engine temperature or oil
pressure condition worsens, the tone alarm will go to
five beats per second.
If the system senses low engine coolant, the five beat
per second alarm and the low coolant warning light
will come on.
The five beats per second tone alarm means that your
engine will shut down in about 25 to 30 seconds.
There is also an engine shutdown light to indicate that
the engine will shut down. SeeEngine Shutdown
Warning Light on page 3-39.
2-18

Pull off the road and shut off the engine. Do not start it
until the reason for the problem is known, and the
problem is fixed. If the engine shuts down when you are
still in traffic, you can restart the engine and get another
25 to 30 seconds of operation. Do this only if you have to,
since there is a problem that can harm the engine if it is
not fixed. Engine automatic shutdown, for gasoline
engines, requires activation by your dealer/retailer.
Notice:If you try to operate the vehicle after the
engine automatically shuts down, you may damage
the vehicle. Have your vehicle repaired as soon
as possible.
Ambulance, Fire, and Rescue Packages
Your check gages warning light will come on if the
system senses high engine temperature or low engine
oil pressure. If high engine temperature or low engine oil
pressure is detected, you will also hear a tone alarm
at two beats per second. The alarm and the light
will remain on until the condition is fixed. If the engine
temperature or oil pressure condition worsens, the
tone alarm will go to five beats per second.
If the system senses low engine coolant, the five beat
per second alarm and the low coolant warning light
will come on.
The engine will not shutdown, but you should have the
vehicle checked as soon as you can. SeeCheck
Gages Warning Light on page 3-42for more information.
Idle Shutdown
If your vehicle has a diesel engine it could have an
engine idle shutdown feature.
This feature automatically shuts down the engine after it
idles continuously for five minutes and if the following
conditions are met:
•The parking brake is set.
•The vehicle is at a complete stop.
•The automatic transmission is in NEUTRAL (N) or
PARK (P).
If the parking brake is not engaged, then the engine
shuts down after 15 minutes of continuous idling
operation.
The driver can reset the engine shutdown timer by
momentarily changing the position of the accelerator,
brake, or clutch pedal or by shifting the transmission out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Once reset, the engine
idle shutdown will restart the shutdown sequence
described above, and will continue to do so until the
engine shuts down or the vehicle is driven.
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During this warm-up period, check your warning lights
and gages:
•If oil pressure does not begin to rise within
15 seconds of starting, stop the engine and find the
cause. SeeOil Pressure Gage on page 3-37for
more information.
•If the engine coolant temperature gage needle goes
into the hot area on the gage, stop the engine and
find the cause of the overheating. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-35for more
information.
•If you have air brakes, the dual-needle air pressure
gage should read at least 115 psi (790 kPa) for both
service systems before you try to move the vehicle.
When air pressure is below 60 psi (420 kPa), the
LOW AIR light will come on and you will hear a tone
alarm. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-32for more information. If the pressure does
not build up or drops during warm-up, stop the
engine and find the cause before you try to move the
vehicle. Recommended air pressure before driving is
120 psi (830 kPa). SeeAir Pressure Gage on
page 3-46for more information.
•The charging system light should come on when the
ignition key is turned to ON/RUN or START and
should go out when the engine is running above idle.
If the light does not go out or comes back on during
normal engine operation, have the charging system
checked right away. (This light tells you if the
generator is not charging; it does not reflect the
condition of the battery.) SeeCharging System Light
on page 3-30for more information.
•The voltmeter charge indicator gage tells you the
condition of your battery’s charge. The gage should
be in the center area during engine operation. The
red area on the left indicates an undercharge
condition; the red area on the right indicates an
overcharge. If the gage is in either red area, have the
battery and charging system checked right away.
SeeVoltmeter Gage on page 3-31for more
information.
Notice:Do not allow the engine to operate at low
idle for more than ve minutes. This can cause
low engine operating temperatures which can affect
engine operation and reduce engine life. Engine
idle speed should be increased to 1200 rpm
whenever extended idle is required. Once started,
the engine should be placed under load to allow the
engine coolant temperature to reach 150°F (66°C)
before shutting off the engine.
2-24

For vehicles with Power Take-Off (PTO), monitor the
instrument panel cluster for lights related to the DPF.
All engines consume some amount of engine oil. This is
normal. The by-product of combustion of engine oil is
ash. The ash will become trapped in the DPF over
the life of the vehicle. Eventually, the buildup of ash will
restrict the exhaust gases and the DPF will need to
be cleaned or replaced.
SeeAccessories and Modifications on page 5-4for
important information.
Manual Regeneration Procedure
{CAUTION:
During DPF regeneration, the exhaust system
and exhaust gases are very hot. Stay clear of
the tailpipe area and do not park over things
that burn. You or others could be burned or
your vehicle could catch re. SeeParking Over
Things That Burn on page 2-44.If the yellow or red DPF indicator is on, you can clean
the DPF by performing a manual regeneration.
When it is safe to do so, stop the vehicle. Perform
manual DPF regeneration in a well ventilated area.
Manual DPF regeneration must be performed outdoors,
as follows. Once manual regeneration is started,
complete the regeneration in a single operation if
possible. If manual regeneration is not completed, as
indicated by the green DPF indicator going off, and the
yellow or red indicator light remains on, automatic
regeneration might not be allowed until the vehicle is
stopped and manual regeneration is performed
until completed.
1. Check engine oil and engine coolant levels to be
sure they are at proper operating levels.
2. To prevent running out of fuel during regeneration,
make sure there is at least a quarter of a tank
of fuel.
3. Check to make sure the area near the exhaust
tailpipe and under the exhaust system are clear
of any materials that could catch fire. Keep people
away from the area of the exhaust system and
exhaust gases.
2-48

Oil Pressure Gage
The engine oil pressure
gage, on the lower right
portion of your instrument
panel cluster, shows
engine oil pressure in
psi (pounds per square
inch) or in kPa
(kilopascals).
Oil pressure may vary with outside temperature and oil
viscosity, but readings of 30 to 40 psi (205 to 275 kPa)
on gasoline engines at operating temperature and
moderate road speeds are normal. If you have a diesel
engine, the normal operating range should be between
35 and 70 psi (240 to 480 kPa).A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or other problem.
If you have a Caterpillar®diesel engine, also see your
Caterpillar®Operation & Maintenance Manual.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that
it catches re. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
engine oil.
3-37

Low Oil Level Light
Your vehicle may have a
low oil level light.
This light should come on as a check, when you start
your engine. If the light fails to come on, have it repaired
as soon as possible so you will be aware when the oil
level is low.
Vehicles that have Caterpillar
®diesel engines may not
have a low oil level light. In this case, the light will
neither come on as a check when you start your engine,
nor will it come on to indicate a low oil level.
If this light comes on and stays on, it means your
engine is low on oil. You need to check the oil level
right away. SeeEngine Oil (Caterpillar
®Diesel Engine)
on page 5-23orEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on
page 5-24orEngine Oil (DURAMAX
®Diesel Engine) on
page 5-28orEngine Oil (Isuzu Diesel Engine) on
page 5-32for further information.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance may
damage the engine. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always follow the maintenance
schedule in this manual for changing engine oil.
Change Engine Oil Light
The change engine oil light
should come on briefly as
a bulb check when you
start the engine. If the light
does not come on, have
it serviced.
If the change engine oil light comes on and stays on
after you start the engine, have the oil changed.
For additional information on when to change engine oil
for gasoline engines or DURAMAX
®diesel engines,
seeEngine Oil (Caterpillar®Diesel Engine) on page 5-23
orEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-24or
Engine Oil (DURAMAX
®Diesel Engine) on page 5-28or
Engine Oil (Isuzu Diesel Engine) on page 5-32and
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-5. To reset the
change engine oil light, seeEngine Oil Life System
(Gasoline Engine) on page 5-36orEngine Oil Life
System (DURAMAX
®/Isuzu Diesel Engines) on
page 5-37orEngine Oil Life System (Caterpillar®Diesel
Engine) on page 5-39.
3-38

Engine Overspeed Warning Light
If your vehicle has this
light, it will come on if your
engine is operating at
too many revolutions per
minute (rpm).
It will also come on for a moment as a check when you
start your engine.
If it comes on when you’re driving, reduce your engine
speed immediately.
Engine Shutdown Warning Light
If your vehicle has the
engine shutdown feature,
this light will come on
when engine shutdown
is active.
SeeEngine Alarm and Automatic Shutdown on
page 2-18for more information.
Transmission Temperature Gage
If you have an automatic
transmission and this
gage, it is located
above the switchbank
in the center of the
instrument panel.
When your ignition is on, the gage shows the
temperature of the transmission oil. A reading in the
warning zone, the red area beginning at 300°F (150°C),
means you must stop driving and check into the cause.
One possible cause is a low oil level in the transmission.
Notice:If you drive your vehicle with the
transmission temperature gage above normal
operating range, you can damage the transmission.
This could lead to costly repairs that would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not drive your
vehicle while the transmission temperature gage
reading is above normal. See your dealer for service.
3-39

Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
This light is located above
the climate controls in the
center of the instrument
panel.
This light will come on when your vehicle is low on
windshield washer fluid.
For more information, seeWindshield Washer Fluid on
page 5-55.
Power Take-Off Light
For vehicles with Power
Take-Off (PTO), this light
is located in the center
of the instrument panel.
This light will come on when the PTO switch is in the
ON position. SeePower Take-Off (PTO) on page 2-32
for more information.
Check Gages Warning Light
This light will come on
briefly when the engine is
started.
If this light comes on and stays on while you are driving.
It means that either the engine coolant temperature
gage or the engine oil pressure gage may be showing a
reading in the warning zone.
When the check gages light comes on, you will also
hear a warning tone. The tone and the light will
stay activated until the problem is corrected.
This light may also come on if your vehicle is has
automatic engine shutdown system and engine
shutdown has begun. SeeEngine Alarm and Automatic
Shutdown on page 2-18.
3-42