2008 GMC ACADIA coolant temperature

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for ve years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs rst, if you add only
DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating or if you need to add coolant to
the radiator, seeEngine Overheating on page 5-25.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at the rst maintenance
service after each 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.
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 DEX-COOL
®coolant.
5-22

Engine Overheating
There is an engine coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-49.
Your vehicle may also have an ENGINE OVERHEATED
IDLE ENGINE and ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE message displayed in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-66.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay
away from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it. Turn it off and get everyone
away from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait
until there is no sign of steam or coolant
before you open the hood.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If you keep driving when the vehicles
engine is overheated, the liquids in it can
catch re. You or others could be badly
burned. Stop your engine if it overheats,
and get out of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 5-26for
information on driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. SeeOverheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode on page 5-26for
information on driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
5-25

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or hear
no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. If your air conditioner is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.
3. If you are in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving — DRIVE (D) or LOW (L).
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, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.If there is still no sign of steam, idle the engine for 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. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode” later in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
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.
5-26

Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When adding windshield washer uid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If operating
your vehicle in an area where the temperature may
fall below freezing, use a uid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
When the windshield washer uid reservoir is low, a
WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID message will
be displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-66
for more information.
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it. Add
washer uid until the
tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-14for reservoir
location.Notice:
When using concentrated washer uid, follow
the manufacturer’s instructions for adding
water.
Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer uid.
Water can cause the solution to freeze and
damage your washer uid tank and other parts
of the washer system. Also, water does not
clean as well as washer uid.
Fill the washer uid tank only three-quarters full
when it is very cold. This allows for uid
expansion if freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is completely full.
Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in your
windshield washer. It can damage the vehicle’s
windshield washer system and paint.
5-34

Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-55
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-58
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-46
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-94
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-93
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-90
Finish Care.................................................5-93
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-91
Interior.......................................................5-89
Leather......................................................5-91
Tires..........................................................5-95
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-96
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-92
Weatherstrips..............................................5-92
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades.......5-94
Climate Control System...................................3-26
Dual Automatic............................................3-29
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-36
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System......3-36
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System,
Electronic................................................3-38Clock............................................................3-85
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-10
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-88
Compass.......................................................2-40
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-21
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Convenience Net............................................2-58
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-49
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-49
Heater, Engine............................................2-29
Cooling System..............................................5-27
Courtesy Lamps.............................................
3-17
Cruise Control................................................3-12
Cruise Control Light........................................3-55
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-55
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-9
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-5
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-6
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-14
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-14
3

Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-20
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-50
Coolant......................................................5-22
Coolant Heater............................................2-29
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-49
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-49
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-15
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-14
Exhaust.....................................................2-38
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-18
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-26
Overheating................................................5-25
Running While Parked..................................2-39
Starting......................................................2-27
Entry Lighting.................................................3-17
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-16
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-36
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-20
Finish Damage...............................................5-95
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire........................................................5-71
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-72
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-84
Floor Mats.....................................................2-57
Fluid.............................................................5-21
Power Steering...........................................5-33
Windshield Washer......................................5-34
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-16
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-55
Fuel............................................................... 5-6
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-12
Filling the Tank............................................. 5-9
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-8
Gage.........................................................3-56
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-6
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-100
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-100
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-103
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-100
5

G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-49
Fuel..........................................................3-56
Speedometer..............................................3-41
Tachometer.................................................3-41
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-46
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-50
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-6
Specications............................................... 5-6
Glove Box.....................................................2-55
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-6
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints..............................................1-10
Headlamp
Aiming.......................................................5-45
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-45
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic
Headlamp System....................................3-16
Delayed.....................................................3-15
Exterior Lamps............................................3-14
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-9Headlamps (cont.)
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-45
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-9
Head-Up Display (HUD)...................................3-20
Heated Seats................................................... 1-5
Heater...........................................................3-26
Heater...........................................................3-29
Height Adjuster, Driver Seat............................... 1-3
High Voltage Devices and Wiring......................5-99
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-55
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-15
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-16
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-12
Release.....................................................5-13
Horn............................................................... 3-6
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-22
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-26
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-39
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-55
Instrument Panel
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Storage Area..............................................2-55
Instrument Panel (I/P)
Brightness..................................................3-17
Cluster.......................................................3-40
6

J
Jump Starting.................................................5-39
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-49
Lamps
Courtesy....................................................3-17
Dome........................................................3-17
Dome Lamp Override...................................3-17
Reading.....................................................3-19
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-30
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-47
License Plate Lamps.......................................5-46
Liftgate
Carbon Monoxide........................................2-13
Liftgate, Power...............................................2-14
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-42
Antilock Brake System Warning.....................3-48Light (cont.)
Brake System Warning.................................3-47
Charging System.........................................3-45
Cruise Control.............................................3-55
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning.............3-49
Fog Lamp..................................................3-55
Highbeam On.............................................3-55
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-50
Oil Pressure...............................................3-54
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-43
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-41
Security.....................................................3-54
StabiliTrak®Indicator....................................3-48
Tire Pressure..............................................3-50
Tow/Haul Mode...........................................3-55
Lighting
Delayed Entry.............................................3-18
Delayed Exit...............................................3-18
Entry.........................................................3-17
Parade Dimming..........................................3-18
Lights
Exterior Lamps............................................3-14
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-9
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-9
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-21
Lockout Protection..........................................2-12
7