2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN fuel additives

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of the Vehicle.............................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-6
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)..................................5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-9
Filling the Tank............................................5-10
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-13
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-14
Hood Release..............................................5-14
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-16
Engine Oil...................................................5-17
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-22
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(4-Speed Transmission)..............................5-24Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission)..............................5-27
Engine Coolant.............................................5-31
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-34
Engine Overheating.......................................5-34
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . .5-36
Cooling System............................................5-37
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-41
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-42
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-43
Brakes........................................................5-44
Battery........................................................5-47
Jump Starting...............................................5-48
Rear Axle.......................................................5-54
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-55
Front Axle......................................................5-56
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-58
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-61
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-61
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps...................................5-61
License Plate Lamp......................................5-63
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-63
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-64
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 6.2L V8 engine (VIN Code 8),
use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 91 or higher. You can also use regular unleaded
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s
acceleration could be slightly reduced, and you might
notice a slight audible knocking noise, commonly referred
to as spark knock. If the octane is less than 87, you might
notice a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as
soon as possible. Otherwise, you could damage the
engine. If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher and you hear heavy knocking, the engine needs
service.
For all engines except the 6.2L V8 engine (VIN Code 8),
use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87,
you might notice an audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as spark knock. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher and you hear heavy knocking, the engine needs
service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM specication
D 4814 in the United States or CAN/CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in
Canada. Some gasolines contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend against the use of
gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives on page 5-6
for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California Emissions
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specications. See the underhood emission
control label. If this fuel is not available in states adopting
California emissions standards, your vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal specications, but
emission control system performance might be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp could turn on and your
vehicle might fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 3-44. If this occurs, return to your
authorized dealer/retailer for diagnosis. If it is determined
that the condition is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs might not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
5-6

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work properly. In most
cases, you should not have to add anything to the 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/retailer has additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines might be available in
your area. We recommend 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 can contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. We recommend against
the use of such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT
can reduce the life of spark plugs and the performance
of the emission control system could be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp might turn on. If this
occurs, return to your dealer/retailer for service.
5-7

It is best not to alternate repeatedly between gasoline
and E85. If you do switch fuels, it is recommended that
you add as much fuel as possible — do not add less
than three gallons (11 L) when refueling. You should
drive the vehicle immediately after refueling for at least
seven miles (11 km) to allow the vehicle to adapt to
the change in ethanol concentration.
E85 has less energy per gallon than gasoline, so you
will need to rell the fuel tank more often when using E85
than when you are using gasoline. SeeFilling the Tank
on page 5-10.
Notice:Some additives are not compatible with
E85 fuel and can harm your vehicle’s fuel system.
Do not add anything to E85. Damage caused by
additives would not be covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
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.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.
5-9

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-20
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.........4-41
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-90
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-119
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-28
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-22
Air Conditioning......................................3-22, 3-24
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-38
Readiness Light..........................................3-37
Airbag System................................................1-76
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-90
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-83
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-85
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-90
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-83
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-84
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-81
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-78
Antenna, Rear Side Window...........................3-118
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . 3-118
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Anti-lock Brake, System Warning Light...............3-42Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-114
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-112
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-116
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-113
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-110
Finish Care...............................................5-113
Finish Damage..........................................5-116
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.....................................5-111
Interior Cleaning........................................5-109
Leather....................................................5-111
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-115
Tires........................................................5-115
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-116
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-117
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-112
Weatherstrips............................................5-112
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades......5-114
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Ashtray.........................................................3-21
Audio System.................................................3-75
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-116
Navigation/Radio System, see
Navigation Manual..................................3-105
Radio Reception........................................3-117
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)...............................3-114
Setting the Clock.........................................3-76
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-116
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-118
1

Entry Lighting.................................................3-19
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-17
Exit Lighting...................................................3-19
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-50
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-22
Finish Damage.............................................5-116
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-89
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-90
Flat Tire, Storing...........................................5-105
Fluid
Automatic Transmission........................5-24, 5-27
Power Steering...........................................5-42
Windshield Washer......................................5-43
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-17
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-48
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-36, 5-55
Front Axle......................................................5-56
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
E85 (85% Ethanol)........................................ 5-8Fuel (cont.)
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-13
Filling the Tank...........................................5-10
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-9
Gage .........................................................3-49
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-6
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Low Warning Light.......................................3-50
Running Out of...........................................2-46
Fuses
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block.............5-121
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-119
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-120
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-122
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-119
GGage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-43
Fuel..........................................................3-49
Oil Pressure...............................................3-47
Speedometer..............................................3-36
Tachometer.................................................3-36
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-40
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-62
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-6
Specications............................................... 5-6
Glove Box.....................................................2-70
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-7
5