2008 GMC SIERRA heater

CAUTION: (Continued)
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.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core, and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer/retailer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or additives
in your vehicle’s cooling system, you could damage
your vehicle. Use only the proper mixture of the
engine coolant listed in this manual for the cooling
system. SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 6-15for more information.
Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14
for more information on location.
{CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn
you badly. Never turn the surge tank pressure
cap — even a little — when the engine and
radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the FULL
COLD mark on the coolant surge tank.
If your vehicle has a low coolant sensor and the LOW
COOLANT LEVEL message comes on and stays on, it
means you are low on engine coolant. See “LOW
COOLANT LEVEL” underDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-63.
5-29

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE or the
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE message, along
with a low coolant condition, can indicate a serious
problem.
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. SeeTowing a Trailer on page 4-55.If you get the ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE
or the ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message with no sign of steam, try this for a
minute or so:
1. If you have an air conditioner and it 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 stopped in a traffic jam, apply the brake,
shift to NEUTRAL (N); otherwise, shift to the
highest gear while driving — DRIVE (D) or
THIRD (3).
5-32

The coolant level should be at or above the FULL
COLD 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 and 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.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
(V8 Engines Only) on page 5-33for information
on driving to a safe place in an emergency.
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 the warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in the vehicle.
5-35

Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
{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.1. Remove the coolant
surge tank pressure
cap when the cooling
system, including the
coolant surge tank
pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise
about one full turn. 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 slowly, and
remove it.
5-37

Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp...............................................5-61
Center Seat...................................................1-12
Chains, Tire...................................................5-90
Charging System Light....................................3-43
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-48
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-12
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-120
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-42
Infants and Young Children...........................1-38
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-45
Older Children.............................................1-35
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-55
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Front Seat Position...................................1-57
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................1-58, 1-62, 1-66
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-44
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-24
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-118
Exterior Lamps/Lenses................................5-116
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-114
Finish Care...............................................5-116
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-115Cleaning (cont.)
Interior.....................................................5-112
Leather....................................................5-114
Tires........................................................5-119
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-119
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-116
Weatherstrips............................................5-115
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-117
Climate Control System...........................3-25, 3-27
Dual Automatic............................................3-28
Outlet Adjustment........................................
3-33
Clock, Setting.................................................3-81
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-11
Compass...............................................2-55, 2-57
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-18
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-46
Heater, Engine............................................2-26
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-30
Cooling System..............................................5-34
Cruise Control................................................3-14
Cruise Control Light........................................3-52
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-75
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-9
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-5
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-5
3

Electrical System (cont.)
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-124
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-123
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-126
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-123
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-19
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-48
Coolant......................................................5-28
Coolant Heater............................................2-26
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-46
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-18
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-14
Exhaust.....................................................2-53
Fan Noise..................................................5-39
Fast Idle System.........................................2-25
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-18
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-33
Overheating................................................5-30
Running While Parked..................................2-54
Starting......................................................2-24
Entry Lighting.................................................3-21
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-17
Exit Lighting...................................................3-21
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-35
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-17F
Fast Idle System............................................2-25
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-19
Finish Damage.............................................5-119
Fixed Mast Antenna.......................................3-126
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-11
Flat Tire........................................................5-91
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-92
Flat Tire, Storing...........................................5-108
Fluid.....................................................5-22, 5-25
Power Steering...........................................5-39
Windshield Washer......................................5-40
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-20
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-52
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-36, 5-52
Four-Wheel-Drive Light....................................3-53
Front Axle......................................................5-54
Fuel............................................................... 5-6
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-7
E85 (85% Ethanol)........................................ 5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-12
Filling the Tank...........................................5-10
5

Fuel (cont.)
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-9
Gage.........................................................3-53
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-6
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Low Warning Light.......................................3-54
Fuses
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block.............5-125
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-123
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-124
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-126
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-123
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-46
Fuel..........................................................3-53
Oil Pressure...............................................3-50
Speedometer..............................................3-36
Tachometer.................................................3-36
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-43
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-68
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-6
Specications............................................... 5-6
Glove Box.....................................................2-74
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-6
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-8
Head Restraints..............................................1-10
Headlamp
Aiming.......................................................5-56
Headlamps....................................................5-60
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-59
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-18
Exterior Lamps............................................3-17
Flash-to-Pass..............................................3-11
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-59
High/Low Beam Changer..............................3-11
On Reminder..............................................3-18
Pickup Box Identication and Fender
Marker Lamps.........................................5-62
Heated Seats................................................... 1-6
Heater...................................................3-25, 3-27
Heater...........................................................3-28
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-52
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-29
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-30
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-12
Release.....................................................5-13
Horn............................................................... 3-8
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-19
6