2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE oil change

When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished,
it indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message comes on. Change
the oil as soon as possible within
the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is
possible that, if driving under the best
conditions, the oil life system might
not indicate that an oil change is
necessary for over a year. However,
the engine oil and lter must be
changed at least once a year and at
this time the system must be reset.
Your dealer/retailer has trained
service people who will perform this
work using genuine parts and reset
the system. It is also important to
check the oil regularly and keep it at
the proper level.If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 3,000 miles (5 000 km)
since the last oil change. Remember
to reset the oil life system whenever
the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
The Engine Oil Life System
calculates when to change the
engine oil and lter based on vehicle
use. Whenever the oil is changed,
reset the system so it can calculate
when the next oil change is required.
If a situation occurs where the oil
is changed prior to a CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message being
turned on, reset the system.If the vehicle does not have Driver
Information Center (DIC) buttons:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN, with
the engine off. The vehicle must
be in P (Park) to access this
display. Press the trip odometer
reset stem until OIL LIFE
REMAINING displays.
2. Press and hold the trip
odometer reset stem until OIL
LIFE REMAINING shows 100%.
Three chimes sound and the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message goes off.
3. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message comes back on
when the vehicle is started, the
engine oil life system has not
reset. Repeat the procedure.
5-14 Service and Appearance Care

If the vehicle has Driver Information
Center (DIC) buttons:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN,
with the engine off.
2. Press the vehicle information
button until OIL LIFE
REMAINING displays.
3. Press and hold the set/reset
button until 100% is displayed.
Three chimes sound and
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message goes off.
4. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or
properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer’s warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your own
oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
lter before disposal. Never dispose
of oil by putting it in the trash, pouring
it on the ground, into sewers, or into
streams or bodies of water. Recycle
it by taking it to a place that collects
used oil.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
When to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/lter at the
MaintenanceIIintervals and replace
it at the rst oil change after each
50,000 mile (80 000 km) interval.
SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 6-3for more information. If you
are driving in dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect the lter at each engine oil
change.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 5-10for the location of
the engine air cleaner/lter.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/lter,
remove the lter from the vehicle and
lightly shake the lter (away from
vehicle) to release loose dust and
dirt. If the lter remains caked with
dirt, a new lter is required.
Service and Appearance Care 5-15

If No Steam Is Coming From
The Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the
engine can get a little too hot when
the vehicle:
Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
Stops after high-speed driving.
Idles for long periods in traffic.
Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest
temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.3. If in a traffic jam, shift to
N (Neutral), otherwise, shift
to the highest gear while
driving —D (Drive) or L (Low).
If the temperature overheat gage is
no longer in the overheat zone or an
overheat warning no longer displays,
the vehicle can be driven. Continue
to drive the vehicle slow for about
10 minutes. Keep a safe vehicle
distance from the car in front of you.
If the warning does not come back
on, continue to drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle
the engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode”
next in this section.
Overheated
Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode lets
the 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. See
Engine Oil on page 5-11.
Service and Appearance Care 5-23

Maintenance
Schedule
Maintenance ScheduleIntroduction..........................6-1
Maintenance Requirements.....6-1
Your Vehicle and the
Environment........................6-1
Using the Maintenance
Schedule............................6-2
Scheduled Maintenance.........6-3
Additional Required Services. . .6-6
Maintenance Footnotes..........6-7
Owner Checks and Services. . .6-9
At Each Fuel Fill...................6-9
At Least Once a Month..........6-9
At Least Once a Year..........6-10
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants.........................6-12
Maintenance Replacement
Parts................................6-14
Engine Drive Belt Routing.....6-15
Maintenance Record............6-16
Maintenance
Schedule
Introduction
Important: Keep engine oil at the
proper level and change as
recommended.
Have you purchased the GM
Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements the vehicle warranties.
See the Warranty and Owner
Assistance booklet or your
dealer/retailer for details.
Maintenance
Requirements
Notice:Maintenance intervals,
checks, inspections, replacement
parts, and recommended uids
and lubricants as prescribed
in this manual are necessary to
keep this vehicle in good working
condition. Any damage caused
by failure to follow scheduled
maintenance might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Your Vehicle and the
Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only
helps to keep the vehicle in good
working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended
maintenance is important. Improper
vehicle maintenance can even affect
the quality of the air we breathe.
Maintenance Schedule 6-1

To purchase service information,
seeService Publications Ordering
Information on page 7-15.
Owner Checks and Services on
page 6-9tells what should be
checked, when to check it, and what
can easily be done to help keep
the vehicle in good condition.
The proper replacement parts,
uids, and lubricants to use are
listed inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12and
Maintenance Replacement Parts
on page 6-14. When the vehicle is
serviced, make sure these are used.
All parts should be replaced and all
necessary repairs done before you
or anyone else drives the vehicle.
We recommend the use of genuine
parts from your dealer/retailer.Scheduled Maintenance
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message displays, service is
required for the vehicle. Have the
vehicle serviced as soon as possible
within the next 600 miles (1 000 km).
It is possible that, if driving under the
best conditions, the engine oil life
system might not indicate that
vehicle service is necessary for over
a year. However, the engine oil and
lter must be changed at least once
a year and at this time the system
must be reset. Your dealer/retailer
has trained service technicians who
will perform this work using genuine
parts and reset the system.If the engine oil life system is ever
reset accidentally, service the vehicle
within 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since
the last service. Remember to reset
the oil life system whenever the oil
is changed. SeeEngine Oil Life
System on page 5-13for information
on the Engine Oil Life System and
resetting the system.
When the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message appears,
certain services, checks, and
inspections are required. Required
services are described in the
following for “MaintenanceI” and
“MaintenanceII.” Generally, it is
recommended that the rst service
be MaintenanceI, the second
service be MaintenanceII, and then
alternate MaintenanceIand
MaintenanceIIthereafter. However,
in some cases, MaintenanceIImay
be required more often.
Maintenance Schedule 6-3

MaintenanceI—Use
Maintenance Iif the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message
displays within 10 months since
the vehicle was purchased or
Maintenance IIwas performed. Maintenance
II—Use
Maintenance IIif the previous
service performed was
Maintenance I. Always use
Maintenance IIwhenever the message displays 10 months or
more since the last service or if the
message has not come on at all
for one year.
Scheduled Maintenance
Service
MaintenanceIMaintenance II
Change engine oil and lter. See Engine Oil on page 5-11. Reset oil life
system. See Engine Oil Life System on page 5-13 .An Emission Control
Service. ••
Visually check for any leaks or damage. See footnote (g). ••
Inspect engine air cleaner lter. If necessary, replace lter. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-15 .See footnote (l). •
Rotate tires and check ination pressures and wear. See Tire Inspection and
Rotation on page 5-48 and “Tire Wear Inspection” in At Least Once a Month on
page 6-9. ••
6-4 Maintenance Schedule

(e)Make sure the safety belt
reminder light and safety belt
assemblies are working properly.
Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety
belt system from doing its job, have
it repaired. Have any torn or frayed
safety belts replaced. Also see
Checking the Restraint Systems
on page 1-59.
(f)Lubricate all key lock cylinders,
hood latch assemblies, secondary
latches, pivots, spring anchor and
release pawl, hood and door hinges,
rear folding seats, and liftgate
hinges. More frequent lubrication
may be required when exposed to
a corrosive environment. Applying
silicone grease on weatherstrips with
a clean cloth will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick
or squeak.
(g)A fluid loss in any vehicle system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired and
the fluid level checked. Add fluid if
needed.(h)Change automatic transmission
fluid if the vehicle is mainly driven
under one or more of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the
outside temperature regularly
reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer
towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police,
or delivery service.
(i)Drain, flush, and refill cooling
system. This service can be
complex; you should have your
dealer/retailer perform this service.
See Engine Coolant on page 5-17 for
what to use. Inspect hoses. Clean
radiator, condenser, pressure cap,
and filler neck. Pressure test the
cooling system and pressure cap.(j)Check system for interference or
binding and for damaged or missing
parts. Replace parts as needed.
Replace any components that have
high effort or excessive wear. Do not
lubricate accelerator or cruise control
cables.
(k)Visually inspect belt for fraying,
excessive cracks, or obvious
damage. Replace belt if necessary.
(l)If driving regularly under dusty
conditions, inspect the filter at each
engine oil change.
(m)Change transfer case fluid if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one
or more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the
outside temperature regularly
reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer
towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police,
or delivery service.
6-8 Maintenance Schedule

Hood
Checking Things Under....... 5-9
Release............................ 5-9
Horn .................................... 3-5
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly..........................1-17
I
Ignition Positions..................2-21
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints........................1-29
Ination - Tire Pressure.........5-42
Instrument Panel
Brightness.......................3-13
Cluster............................3-31
Overview........................... 3-4
Storage Area....................2-52
Introduction........................... 6-1
J
Jump Starting......................5-29
K
Keyless Entry, Remote
Operation.......................... 2-4
Keyless Entry System............ 2-3
Keys.................................... 2-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall..........5-37
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator.........3-39
Lamps
Courtesy.........................3-14
Dome .............................3-14
Dome Lamp Override........3-14
Reading..........................3-15
Lap-Shoulder Belt................1-22
LATCH System for Child
Restraints........................1-35
Liftgate
Carbon Monoxide.............2-10
Liftgate, Power....................2-11
Lighting
Delayed Entry..................3-15
Delayed Exit....................3-15
Entry..............................3-14
Parade Dimming...............3-15Lights
Airbag Readiness.............3-33
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning..............3-37
Brake System Warning......3-36
Charging System..............3-34
Cruise Control..................3-43
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning.....3-38
Exterior Lamps.................3-11
Flash-to-Pass..................... 3-7
Highbeam On...................3-43
High/Low Beam Changer..... 3-7
Oil Pressure.....................3-42
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator.......................3-33
Safety Belt Reminders.......3-32
Security...........................3-43
StabiliTrak
®Indicator.........3-37
Tire Pressure...................3-39
Tow/Haul Mode................3-43
Loading Your Vehicle............4-16
Locks
Delayed Locking................. 2-8
Door ................................. 2-8
Lockout Protection.............. 2-9
i-6 INDEX