2009 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 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.....................5-12
Checking Things Under
the Hood....................................................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-13
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-15
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-19
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-21
Cooling System............................................5-24
Engine Coolant.............................................5-25Engine Overheating.......................................5-30
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-33
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-33
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-34
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-35
Brakes........................................................5-36
Battery........................................................5-39
Jump Starting...............................................5-40
Rear Axle......................................................
.5-45
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-46
Front Axle......................................................5-47
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-48
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-51
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-51
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps...................5-51
License Plate Lamp......................................5-53
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-53
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-54
Tires..............................................................5-55
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-56
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-60
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-63
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Gasoline Octane
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. See
Additives on page 5-7for additional information.
California Fuel
If the 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, the
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 the vehicle might fail a smog-check
test. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-39.
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 the
vehicle experiences problems due to dirty injectors or
valves, look for gasoline that is advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
For customers who do not use TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline regularly, one bottle of GM Fuel System
Treatment PLUS, added to the fuel tank at every engine
oil change, can help clean deposits from fuel injectors
and intake valves. GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS is
the only gasoline additive recommended by General
Motors.
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:This 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 the
vehicle 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

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 the vehicle’s fuel system.
Do not add anything to E85. Damage caused
by additives would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Notice:This 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 the
vehicle 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 the vehicle 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.................................3-19
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-77
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-107
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-35
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-19
Air Conditioning......................................3-20, 3-23
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-33
Readiness Light..........................................3-32
Airbag System................................................1-62
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-77
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-68
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-70
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-76
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-68
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-69
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-67
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-65
Antenna, Fixed Mast......................................3-132
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . 3-132
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-37Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-105
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-102
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-106
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-103
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-101
Finish Care...............................................5-104
Finish Damage..........................................5-106
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-102
Interior Cleaning........................................5-100
Leather....................................................5-102
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-106
Tires........................................................5-105
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-106
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-103
Weatherstrips............................................5-103
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-104
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Ashtray.........................................................3-20
Audio System.................................................3-76
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-130
Fixed Mast Antenna...................................3-132
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.................................................3-108
Radio Reception........................................3-131
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)...............................3-128
1

Electronic Immobilizer
PASS-Key®III+...........................................2-30
Electronic Immobilizer Operation
PASS-Key
®III+...........................................2-30
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-19
Check and Service Engine Soon Lamp...........3-39
Coolant......................................................5-25
Coolant Heater............................................2-36
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-38
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-16
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-14
Exhaust.....................................................2-53
Fan Noise..................................................5-33
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-18
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-33
Overheating................................................5-30
Starting......................................................2-34
Entry/Exit Lighting...........................................3-18
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-17
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-37
Exterior Cargo Lamps......................................3-17
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-19
Finish Damage.............................................5-106
Fixed Mast Antenna.......................................3-132
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-79
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-80
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-95
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-21
Power Steering...........................................5-34
Windshield Washer......................................5-35
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-16
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-43
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-43, 5-46
Front Armrest Storage Area..............................2-76
Front Axle......................................................5-47
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Driving for Better Economy............................. 4-2
5