
Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-7
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part number, or specification can be obtained from your dealer.Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine Oil The engine requires engine oil approved to the dexos™
specification. Oils
meeting this specification can be identified with the dexos™ certification
mark. Look for and use only an engine oil that displays the dexos™
certification mark of the proper viscosity grade. See Engine Oil on
page 10‑7.
Engine Coolant 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL Coolant.
See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑17.
Hydraulic Brake System DOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid (GM Part No. 12377967, in
Canada 89021320).
Windshield Washer Optikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Power Steering System GM Power Steering Fluid (GM Part No. 89021184, in Canada 89021186).
Automatic Transmission DEXRON
®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock Cylinders Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Chassis Lubrication Chassis Lubricant (GM Part No. 12377985, in Canada 88901242) or
lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI #2, Category LB or GC-LB.

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2011
11-8 Service and Maintenance
UsageFluid/Lubricant
Front Axle (1500 Series Vehicles with Four-Wheel Drive) SAE 80W-90 Axle Lubricant (GM Part No. 89021671, in
Canada 89021672).
Front Axle (2500 Series Vehicles with Four-Wheel Drive) SAE 75W-90 Synthetic Axle Lubricant (GM Part No. 89021677, in
Canada 89021678).
Rear Axle SAE 75W-90 Synthetic Axle Lubricant (GM Part No. 89021677, in
Canada 89021678).
Transfer Case (Four‐Wheel Drive) DEXRON
®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Front Axle Propshaft Spline or One-Piece Propshaft Spline
(Two-Wheel Drive with Auto. Trans.) Spline Lubricant, Special Lubricant (GM Part No. 12345879, in
Canada 10953511).
Hood Hinges Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Outer Tailgate Handle Pivot Points Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Weatherstrip Conditioning Weatherstrip Lubricant (GM Part No. 3634770, in Canada 10953518) or
Dielectric Silicone Grease (GM Part No. 12345579, in Canada 992887).
Weatherstrip Squeaks Synthetic Grease with Teflon, Superlube (GM Part No. 12371287, in
Canada 10953437).

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2011
Technical Data 12-3
ApplicationCapacities
Metric English
Transmission Fluid (Pan Removal and Filter Replacement)
6L80-E Transmission 5.7 L 6.0 qt
6L90-E Transmission 6.0 L 6.3 qt
Transfer Case Fluid 1.5 L 1.6 qt
Wheel Nut Torque 190 Y140 lb ft
†Oil filter should be changed at every oil change.
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the approximate level, as recommended in this
manual. Recheck fluid level after filling.
Engine Specifications
Engine VIN CodeTransmission Spark Plug Gap
5.3L V8 FlexFuel with Active
Fuel Management™ (Iron
Block) 0
Automatic 1.01 mm (0.040 in)
5.3L V8 FlexFuel with Active
Fuel Management™ (Aluminum
Block) 3
Automatic 1.01 mm (0.040 in)
6.0L V8 with Active Fuel
Management™ (Iron Block) G
Automatic 1.01 mm (0.040 in)

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2011
INDEX i-1
A
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Active Fuel Management™ . . . . 9-37
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-97
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-97
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 3-54
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . 10-15
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-13
Airbag System
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-56
How Does an AirbagRestrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47 Airbag System (cont.)
What Will You See After
an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . 3-48
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-45
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . 3-43
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54
Passenger Status Indicator . . . 5-20
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Alarm System Anti-Theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Antenna Rear Side Window . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Anti-Theft Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Alarm System Messages . . . . . 5-46
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25 Appearance Care
Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-98
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-102
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7, 13-10
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
CD/DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
Audio System Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Rear Seat (RSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-46
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . 7-2
Automatic Dimming Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Level Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-58
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . 9-39 Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control
Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Auxiliary
Roof Mounted Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2011
i-4 INDEX
Dual Automatic ClimateControl System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
DVD Rear Seat EntertainmentSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
DVD/CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
E
E85 Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-74
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-97
Electrical System Engine Compartment
Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 10-6
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17 Engine (cont.)
Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Cooling System Messages . . . 5-40
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-4
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 9-38
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-87
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . 13-17
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 6-2
F
Fan Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Filter Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 6-5
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71
Flat Tire, Changing . . . . . . . . . . . 10-73
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-105
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . 10-12
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Four-Wheel DriveTransfer Case . . . . . . . . . 9-46, 9-51
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Fog Lamps
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29, 9-46, 9-51
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2011
INDEX i-7
Lights (cont.)Front Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-2
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . 5-18
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
StabiliTrak
®Indicator . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Locks Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . 5-28
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
SYSTEM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-65
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-10
Maintenance Schedule Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . 11-3
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . 9-46, 9-51
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . 5-22
Manual Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Messages Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Anti-Theft Alarm System . . . . . . 5-46
Battery Voltage andCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . . 5-40
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Key and Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Object Detection System . . . . . 5-43 Messages (cont.)
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . . 5-44
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Vehicle Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Mirrors Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Automatic Dimming
Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Park Tilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Trailer Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Monitor System, Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2011
i-10 INDEX
S
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Lap Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Replacing After a Crash . . . . . . 3-40
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . 3-38
Safety Defects Reporting Canadian Government . . . . . . 13-16
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-16
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . 13-15
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . . 11-3
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 13-10
Seats
Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Center Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Heated and VentilatedFront . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10 Seats (cont.)
Heated Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Heated, Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . 3-6
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . 3-4
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Second Row . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11, 3-15
Third Row Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
Second Row Seats . . . . . . 3-11, 3-15
Secondary Latch System . . . . . 10-85
Securing Child
Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-74, 3-77
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Service Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Maintenance Records . . . . . . .11-10
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Parts Identification Label . . . . . 12-1
Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14
Scheduling Appointments . . . 13-10 Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 3-54
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Side Blind Zone Alert . . . . . . . . . . 9-63
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Snow Plow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-97
Specifications and Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light . . . . 5-26
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4 Fluid, Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Steps
Power Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2011
INDEX i-11
Stoplamps and Back-Up LampsBulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Storage Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Storage Areas Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
System Roof Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Taillamps
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . 13-6
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . 2-16 Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Third-Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
Throttle, Adjustable . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29 Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Tires
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-70
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-73
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Full-Size Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-71
Inflation Monitor System . . . . 10-60
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Pressure Monitor System . . . 10-58
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Secondary Latch System . . . 10-85
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-69
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-69
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65 Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Towing
Driving Characteristics . . . . . . . . 9-78
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-87
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 9-78
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . 10-93
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-82
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-93
Trailer Tow Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-82
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46, 9-51
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-10
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Turn Signal Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-38