2010 GMC SIERRA radiator

Cooling System
If your vehicle has the DURAMAX®Diesel engine, see
the DURAMAX®Diesel manual for more information.
The Cooling System allows the engine to maintain the
correct working temperature.
5.3L Engine (4.3L, 4.8L, 6.0L and 6.2L Similar)
A. Coolant Surge Tank
B. Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
C. Engine Cooling Fan
{WARNING:
An electric engine cooling fan can start even
when the engine is not running. To avoid injury,
always keep hands, clothing, and tools away from
any engine cooling fan.
{WARNING:
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 fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
6-30

Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL®can
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant could
require changing sooner, at 50 000 km (30,000 miles)
or 24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in
the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in the vehicle for five years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first.
The following explains the cooling system and how to
check and add coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating, see Engine
Overheating on page 6‑34.
What to Use
{WARNING:
Adding only plain water to the cooling system can
be dangerous. Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. The vehicle's coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, the engine could
get too hot but you would not get the overheat
warning. The engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant. If using this mixture, nothing else
needs to be added. This mixture:
.Gives freezing protection down to −34°F (−37°C),
outside temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C),
engine temperature.
6-31

.Protects against rust and corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine temperature.
Notice: If an improper coolant mixture is used, the
engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core, and
other parts.
Notice: If extra inhibitors and/or additives are used
in the vehicle's cooling system, the vehicle could be
damaged. Use only the proper mixture of the engine
coolant listed in this manual for the cooling system.
See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on
page 7‑12for more information.
Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page 6‑16for more
information on location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking
the coolant level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the coolant surge
tank. If the coolant inside the coolant surge 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 FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling system is
cool before this is done.
The coolant level should be at or above the FULL
COLD mark. If it is not, you may have a leak in the
cooling system.
If the 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 4‑65.
6-32

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank for Gasoline Engines
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see“Cooling System”
in 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 specific coolant fill
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause the engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
{WARNING:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood can
start up even when the engine is not running and
can cause injury. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
{WARNING:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn the coolant surge
tank pressure cap —even a little —they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and coolant surge tank pressure cap to cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.
If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add coolant
as follows:
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.
6-33

Once a Month
.Tire inflation check. SeeInflation - Tire Pressureon page 6‑72.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire Inspection and
Rotation on page 6‑80.
Once a Year
.Starter switch check. See Owner Checks and
Services on page 7‑11.
.Parking brake and automatic transmission P (Park)
mechanism check. See Owner Checks and
Services on page 7‑11.
.Automatic transmission shiftlock control system
check. See Owner Checks and Serviceson
page 7‑11.
.Ignition transmission lock check. See Owner
Checks and Services on page 7‑11.
.Engine cooling system and pressure cap pressure
check. Radiator and air conditioning condenser
outside cleaning. See Cooling System
on
page 6‑30.
.Exhaust system and nearby heat shields
inspection for loose or damaged components.
.Accelerator pedal check for damage, high effort,
or binding. Replace if needed.
First Engine Oil Change After Every
40 000 km/25,000 Miles
.Fuel system inspection for damage or leaks.
.Four‐wheel drive only: Transfer case fluid change
(extreme duty service) for vehicles mainly driven
off‐road in four‐wheel drive. Vehicles used for
farming, mining, forestry, Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), and snow plowing occupations
meet this definition. Check vent hose at transfer
case for kinks and proper installation. Check to be
sure vent hose is unobstructed, clear, and free of
debris. During any maintenance, if a power washer
is used to clean mud and dirt from the underbody,
care should be taken to not directly spray the
transfer case output seals. High pressure water
can overcome the seals and contaminate the
transfer case fluid. Contaminated fluid will
decrease the life of the transfer case and should
be replaced.
7-6

First Engine Oil Change After Every
160 000 km/100,000 Miles
.Automatic transmission fluid change (normal
service). SeeAutomatic Transmission Fluid
(4-Speed Transmission)
on page 6‑23or
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed
Transmission) on page 6‑26.
.Four‐wheel drive only: Transfer case fluid change
(normal service). Check vent hose at transfer case
for kinks and proper installation. Check to be sure
vent hose is unobstructed, clear, and free of
debris. During any maintenance, if a power washer
is used to clean mud and dirt from the underbody,
care should be taken to not directly spray the
transfer case output seals. High pressure water
can overcome the seals and contaminate the
transfer case fluid. Contaminated fluid will
decrease the life of the transfer case and should
be replaced.
.Spark plug replacement and spark plug wires
inspection. An Emission Control Service.
First Engine Oil Change After Every
240 000 km/150,000 Miles
.Engine cooling system drain, flush, and refill,
cooling system and cap pressure check, and
cleaning of outside of radiator and air conditioning
condenser (or every 5 years, whichever occurs
first). SeeEngine Coolant
on page 6‑31.
An Emission Control Service.
.Engine accessory drive belt inspection for fraying,
excessive cracks, or obvious damage and
replacement, if needed. An Emission Control
Service.
7-8