
Your Driving, the Road, and
the Vehicle
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here are some
driving tips to get the best fuel economy possible.
•Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
•Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
•Avoid idling the engine for long periods of time.
•When road and weather conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control, if equipped.
•Always follow posted speed limits or drive more
slowly when conditions require.
•Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
•Combine several trips into a single trip.
•Replace the vehicle’s tires with the same TPC Spec
number molded into the tire’s sidewall near the size.
•Follow recommended scheduled maintenance.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving defensively is to
wear your safety belt — SeeSafety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-11.
{CAUTION:
Assume that other road users (pedestrians,
bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they
might do and be ready. In addition:
•Allow enough following distance between you
and the driver in front of you.
•Focus on the task of driving.
Driver distraction can cause collisions resulting in
injury or possible death. These simple defensive
driving techniques could save your life.
4-2

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-71
Other Service Items........................................5-72
Fuel Filter....................................................5-72
Primary Fuel Filter and Water Separator..........5-73
Secondary Fuel Filter and Water Separator/
Heater (Caterpillar Diesel)............................5-74
Front Wheel Bearings with
Oil-Filled Hubs..........................................5-75
Tires..............................................................5-76
Inflation - Tire Pressure.................................5-77
Wheel Loading.............................................5-78
Dual Tire Operation.......................................5-78
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-78
Buying New Tires.........................................5-79
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-80
Tightening the Wheel Nuts.............................5-80
Wheel Replacement......................................5-84
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-85
Appearance Care............................................5-87
Interior Cleaning...........................................5-87
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-88
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces........................................5-89
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-89
Weatherstrips...............................................5-89
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-90Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-90
Finish Care..................................................5-90
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................5-91
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim..................................................5-92
Tires...........................................................5-92
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-93
Finish Damage.............................................5-93
Underbody Maintenance................................5-93
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-93
Vehicle Identification
......................................5-94
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).................5-94
Service Parts Identification Label.....................5-94
Electrical System............................................5-95
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-95
Headlamp Wiring..........................................5-95
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................5-95
Fusible Links................................................5-95
Power Windows and Other Power Options..........5-96
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-96
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................5-96
Underhood Fuse Block..................................5-99
Capacities and Specifications........................5-102
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........5-108
Maintenance Replacement Parts...................5-108
Engine Drive Belt Routing............................5-110
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and the vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a vehicle
without knowing enough about it.
•Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts, and
tools before attempting any vehicle
maintenance task.
•Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts, and
other fasteners. English and metric fasteners
can be easily confused. If the wrong fasteners
are used, parts can later break or fall off. You
could be hurt.If doing some of your own service work, use the proper
service manual. It tells you much more about how to
service the vehicle than this manual can. To order
the proper service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-10.
This vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, seeServicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-58.
Keep a record with all parts receipts and list the mileage
and the date of any service work performed. SeePart
D: Maintenance Record on page 6-33.
5-5

Engine Fan Breakage
{CAUTION:
Changing the Fan Drive Ratio or Engine Governed
Speed:
If you change the fan drive ratio or increase the
governed speed of the engine, you might increase
stress and the fan could eventually fail. If the fan
breaks apart while rotating, pieces can cause
severe injury to anyone — such as a service
technician — who is nearby. And, of course, the
pieces can severely damage the vehicle. Do not
change the fan drive ratio or increase the
governed speed of the vehicle without getting the
necessary information from your dealer/retailer.
Winter Fronts, Grille Covers, or Obstructions:
Winter Fronts, grille covers, or other add-on
equipment causing obstructions in front of or
behind the fan should not be used on this vehicle.
If this causes the fan to eventually break apart
while rotating, the pieces can cause severe injury
to anyone nearby, such as a service technician
working on the engine, and, of course, the pieces
can severely damage the vehicle.
Fuel
For diesel engine vehicles, seeDiesel Engine Fuel on
page 5-8.
For vehicles with gasoline engines, please read this.
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the
proper maintenance of this vehicle. To help keep the
engine clean and maintain optimum vehicle performance,
we recommend the use of gasoline advertised as TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline.
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.
5-6

Diesel Engine Fuel
For the Caterpillar®diesel, see the Caterpillar®
Operation & Maintenance Manual for information
concerning fuel usage.
Notice:Diesel fuel or fuel additives not
recommended in this manual could damage the fuel
system and engine. Your warranty would not
cover this damage. And:
•Diesel fuel that has been mixed with engine oil
or automatic transmission fluid could damage
the engine and emission controls.
•We do not test aftermarket diesel fuel additives.
Some additives, particularly those which
contain alcohol or water emulsifiers, could
damage the fuel system. If you believe that
unique circumstances call for a fuel additive to
be used, consult your dealer/retailer for
advice.
•If you ever run out of diesel fuel, it can be
difficult to restart the engine. To avoid this,
never let the tank get empty.
If gasoline is ever accidentally added to the fuel
tank, to avoid severe engine damage, do not run the
engine until the fuel tank can be drained.
If you run out of fuel,Running Out of Fuel on page 5-17
tells you how to restart the engine.
What Fuel to Use
Notice:Use of diesel fuel other than Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel (15 ppm sulfur maximum) or engine oil
other than low ash CJ-4 oil will cause permanent
damage to the DPF and related components. This
damage would not be covered by your warranty.
The emission control system requires the use of diesel
fuel with ultra low-sulfur (0.0015% by weight, or 15 ppm,
maximum) content. Both Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel and Low
Sulfur Diesel fuels are available in the United States and
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel is available in Canada. In
Mexico, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel is not available in all
regions.
At a minimum, the diesel fuel you use should meet the
latest version of ASTM specification D 975 (Grades
No. 2-D or No. 1-D S15 commonly known as Ultra Low
Sulfur diesel) in the United States. In addition, the
Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) has identified
properties of an improved diesel fuel for better engine
performance and durability. Diesel fuels corresponding to
the EMA Recommended Guideline on Premium Diesel
Fuel (FQP-1A) could provide better starting, less noise,
and better vehicle performance. If there are questions
about the fuel you are using, contact your fuel supplier.
5-8

4. Open the drain valve
by turning two to three
turns. When fuel
empties from the valve,
all the water has
been drained. Close
the valve hand-tight.
5. Remove the fuel-resistant container and properly
dispose of the contaminated fuel. To find out how to
properly dispose of contaminated diesel fuel, see
Engine Oil (DURAMAX Diesel Engine) on page 5-24
orEngine Oil (Caterpillar Diesel Engine) on
page 5-27orEngine Oil (Isuzu Diesel Engine) on
page 5-28orEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on
page 5-32.6. Install the fuel cap.
7. Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes.
If the engine stalls, the fuel system may need to
be primed. While draining the water from the
fuel filter, air may enter the fuel system. If air has
entered the fuel system, the fuel system will need
to be primed.
If the water-in-fuel light comes on again after driving a
short distance or the engine runs rough or stalls, a large
amount of water has probably been pumped into the
fuel tank. The fuel tank should be purged.
Fuel Priming
If the vehicle has a Caterpillar®diesel engine, see the
Caterpillar®Diesel Engine Operation and Maintenance
Manual provided with the vehicle.
If the vehicle has a DURAMAX
®diesel engine, in order
for the fuel system to work properly, the fuel lines
must be full of fuel and contain no air. If air gets into the
fuel lines, it will be necessary to prime the fuel lines
to eliminate air before operating the vehicle.
5-13

•American Petroleum Institute (API) symbol
This doughnut-shaped logo
(symbol) is used on most
oil containers to help you
select the correct oil. It
means that the oil has been
certified by the American
Petroleum Institute.
Look for this on the oil container, and use only
those oils that display this logo.
Notice:Use only engine oils that have the
designation CJ-4 for the diesel engine. Failure to
use the recommended oil can result in engine
damage not covered by the vehicle warranty.Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to the oil. The recommended oils
with the API service symbol are all you need for
good performance and engine protection.
When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles
Without the Engine Oil Life System)
Change the engine oil and filter every 15,000 miles
(24 000 km), or every 12 months, or every 750 hours of
engine operation, whichever occurs first. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-5.
Engine Oil (Caterpillar Diesel
Engine)
See the Caterpillar®Operation & Maintenance Manual
for information on oil quality and viscosities as well
as the temperature range chart.
5-27

•American Petroleum Institute (API) symbol
This doughnut-shaped logo
(symbol) is used on most
oil containers to help you
select the correct oil. It
means that the oil has been
certified by the American
Petroleum Institute.
Look for this on the oil container, and use only
those oils that display this logo.
Notice:Use only engine oils that have the
designation CJ-4 for the diesel engine. Failure to
use the recommended oil can result in engine
damage not covered by the vehicle warranty.Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to the oil. The recommended oils
with the API service symbol are all you need for
good performance and engine protection.
When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles
Without the Engine Oil Life System)
Change the engine oil and filter every 15,000 miles
(24 000 km), or every 12 months, or every 750 hours of
engine operation, whichever occurs first. If the vehicle
is used primarily for long trip, highway service, change
the engine oil and filter every 18,000 miles (28 800 km),
or every 12 months, or every 750 hours of engine
operation, whichever occurs first. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-5.
5-31