2010 GMC SAVANA PASSENGER checking oil

Service............................................................6-3
Accessories and Modifications..........................6-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................6-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....6-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................6-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of the
Vehicle......................................................6-5
Fuel................................................................6-5
Gasoline Octane............................................6-6
Gasoline Specifications....................................6-6
California Fuel...............................................6-7
Additives.......................................................6-7
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)..................................6-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................6-9
Filling the Tank............................................6-10
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................6-12
Checking Things Under the Hood....................6-12
Hood Release..............................................6-13
Engine Compartment Overview.......................6-14
Engine Oil...................................................6-15
Engine Oil Life System..................................6-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................6-19
Automatic Transmission Fluid (4-Speed
Transmission)...........................................6-20
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed
Transmission)...........................................6-23Cooling System............................................6-26
Engine Coolant.............................................6-28
Engine Overheating.......................................6-33
Engine Fan Noise.........................................6-34
Power Steering Fluid.....................................6-35
Windshield Washer Fluid................................6-36
Brakes........................................................6-37
Battery........................................................6-40
Jump Starting...............................................6-41
All-Wheel Drive.............................................
.6-45
Rear Axle.......................................................6-46
Front Axle......................................................6-46
Noise Control System.....................................6-47
Tampering with Noise Control System
Prohibited.................................................6-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................6-48
Halogen Bulbs..............................................6-49
Headlamps..................................................6-49
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking
Lamps .....................................................6-51
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........6-51
Taillamps.....................................................6-52
License Plate Lamp......................................6-53
Replacement Bulbs.......................................6-53
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............6-54
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
6-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{WARNING:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in the
vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel vapor. You can be
badly burned and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:
•Dispense fuel only into approved containers.
•Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed, or on
any surface other than the ground.
•Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the inside
of the fill opening before operating the nozzle.
Contact should be maintained until the filling
is complete.
•Do not smoke while pumping fuel.
•Do not use a cellular phone while
pumping fuel.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{WARNING:
Things that burn can get on hot engine or fuel
operated heater (FOH) parts and start a fire.
These include liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake
fluid, windshield washer and other fluids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others could be burned.
Be careful not to drop or spill things that will burn
onto a hot engine or fuel operated heater (FOH).
6-12

A. Battery. SeeBattery on page 6-40.
B. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System on
page 6-26.
C. Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System on
page 6-26.
D. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick. See
“Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (4-Speed Transmission)
on page 6-20orAutomatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission) on page 6-23.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 6-15.
F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 6-15.
G. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 6-19.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 6-35.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 6-37.
J. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 6-36.Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see “Engine Oil” in the
DURAMAX®Diesel manual.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each
fuel fill. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 6-14for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If this is not done, the
oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and check the level.
6-15

When to Check and Change Automatic
Transmission Fluid
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change the fluid and filter at the intervals listed in
Scheduled Maintenance on page 7-3, and be sure to
use the transmission fluid listed inRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 7-11.
How to Check Automatic Transmission
Fluid
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at the dealer/retailer service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
Notice:Too much or too little uid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the uid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a re.
Too little uid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if
you check your transmission uid.Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if you have been driving:
•When outside temperatures are above 32°C (90°F).
•At high speed for quite a while.
•In heavy traffic — especially in hot weather.
•While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at
normal operating temperature, which is 82°C to 93°C
(180°F to 200°F).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 24 km
(15 miles) when outside temperatures are above
10°C (50°F). If it is colder than 10°C (50°F), drive the
vehicle in D (DRIVE) until the engine temperature gage
moves and then remains steady for 10 minutes.
A cold fluid check can be made after the vehicle has
been sitting for eight hours or more with the engine off,
but this is used only as a reference. Let the engine
run at idle for five minutes if outside temperatures are
50°F (10°C) or more. If it is colder than 10°C (50°F), you
may have to idle the engine longer. Should the fluid
level be low during this cold check, you must check the
fluid hot before adding fluid. Checking the fluid hot
will give you a more accurate reading of the fluid level.
6-21

If it is decided to check the fluid level, be sure to follow
all the instructions here, or a false reading on the
dipstick may occur.
Notice:Too much or too little uid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the uid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a re.
Too little uid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes with the engine Off, before
checking the transmission fluid level if the vehicle has
been driven:
•In hot weather, when outside temperatures are
above 32°C (90°F).
•The vehicle is heavily loaded.
•At high speed for quite a while in hot weather.
•In heavy traffic and hot weather.
•While pulling a trailer.
After driving under these conditions, a hot check can be
performed. The fluid should be Hot, which is 71°C
to 93°C (160°F to 200°F).
A cold fluid level check can be performed after the
vehicle has been sitting for eight hours or more with the
engine Off, but this is used only as a reference. Letthe engine run at idle for five minutes if outside
temperatures is between 15°C to 32°C (60°F to 90°F).
Should the fluid level be low during this cold check,
the fluid must be checked Warm or Hot before adding
fluid. If the outside temperature is colder than 15°C
(60°F) or hotter than 32°C (90°F), a cold check cannot
be performed.
A warm fluid level check can be performed by driving
the vehicle under lightly loaded conditions and outside
temperatures between 10°C to 27°C (50°F to 80°F). The
vehicle should be driven for at least 15 miles before
performing a warm check. Checking the fluid Warm or
Hot will give a more accurate reading of the fluid
level than a cold check.
Because the vehicle is equipped with a high-efficiency
air-to-oil cooler, the transmission fluid temperature
may not reach the required Hot fluid level checking
temperature under normal lightly loaded driving vehicle
conditions.Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare the vehicle as follows:
1. Park the vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.
2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in P (Park).
6-24

Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking
the coolant level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the coolant recovery
tank. If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is not at
or above the COLD FILL mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at
the coolant recovery tank, but be sure the cooling
system is cool before this is done.
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
or above the COLD FILL mark. If it is not, there could
be a leak in the cooling system.
If the coolant is low, add the coolant or take the vehicle
to a dealer/retailer for service.
How to Add Coolant to the Recovery
Tank for Gasoline Engines
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “How to Add
Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tank” under “Van
Models” in the Cooling System section of the
DURAMAX
®Diesel Supplement for the proper coolant
fill procedure.
{WARNING:
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.
Notice:This vehicle has a specic coolant ll
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause the engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
If coolant is needed, add the proper DEX-COOL
®
coolant mixture at the coolant recovery tank.
6-29

Checking Brake Fluid
Check brake fluid by looking at the brake fluid reservoir.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 6-14.
The fluid level should be
above MIN. If it is not,
have the brake hydraulic
system checked to
see if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the level is above the MIN but not over the
MAX mark.
What to Add
Use only new DOT 3 brake fluid from a sealed container.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 7-11.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This helps keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
{WARNING:
With the wrong kind of fluid in the brake hydraulic
system, the brakes might not work well. This could
cause a crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in the brake hydraulic system can damage
brake hydraulic system parts so badly that they
will have to be replaced. Do not let someone
put in the wrong kind of uid.
If brake uid is spilled on the vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint nish can be damaged. Be
careful not to spill brake uid on the vehicle.
If you do, wash it off immediately. SeeWashing
Your Vehicle on page 6-99.
6-38