2011 GMC SIERRA brake fluid

Black plate (33,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-33
Checking Brake Fluid
Check brake fluid by looking at the
brake fluid reservoir. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6.
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.
See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑8.
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 fluid
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 fluid.
.If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces,
the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not
to spill brake fluid on the
vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately.

Black plate (108,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
10-108 Vehicle Care
6. Use an adequate clampingdevice designed for towing to
ensure that the front wheels are
locked into the straight position.
{WARNING
Shifting a four-wheel-drive
vehicle's transfer case into
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). The driver or others
could be injured. Make sure the
parking brake is firmly set before
the transfer case is shifted to
N (Neutral).
7. Shift the transfer case to N (Neutral). See “Shifting into
Neutral” underFour-Wheel Drive
on page 9‑54 for the proper
procedure to select the neutral
position for the vehicle.
8. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
After towing, see “Shifting Out of
Neutral” underFour-Wheel Drive on
page 9‑54.
Appearance Care
Exterior Care
Silicone grease on weatherstrips
will make them last longer, seal
better, and not stick or squeak.
Apply silicone grease with a clean
cloth. During very cold, damp
weather frequent application may
be required. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 11‑8.
Washing the Vehicle
The best way to preserve the
vehicle's finish is to keep it clean
by washing it often.
Notice: Certain cleaners contain
chemicals that can damage the
emblems or nameplates on the
vehicle. Check the cleaning
product label. If it states that it
should not be used on plastic
parts, do not use it on the vehicle
or damage may occur and it
would not be covered by the
warranty. Do not wash the vehicle in direct
sunlight. Use a car washing soap.
Do not use cleaning agents that
are petroleum based or that contain
acid or abrasives, as they can
damage the paint, metal or plastic
on the vehicle. Approved cleaning
products can be obtained from your
dealer. Follow all manufacturers'
directions regarding correct
product usage, necessary safety
precautions and appropriate
disposal of any vehicle care
product.
Rinse the vehicle well, before
washing and after to remove all
cleaning agents completely. If they
are allowed to dry on the surface,
they could stain.
Dry the finish with a soft, clean
chamois or an all-cotton towel to
avoid surface scratches and water
spotting.

Black plate (3,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-3
If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 miles since
the last service. Reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on
page 10‑11.
Every Engine Oil Change
.Change engine oil and
filter. Reset oil life system.
See Engine Oil on page 10‑7
and Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑11. An Emission Control
Service.
.Engine coolant level check.
See Engine Coolant on
page 10‑22.
.Engine cooling system
inspection. Visual inspection
of hoses, pipes, fittings, and
clamps and replacement,
if needed.
.Windshield washer fluid level
check. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑29.
.Windshield wiper blade
inspection for wear, cracking,
or contamination and windshield
and wiper blade cleaning,
if contaminated. See Exterior
Care on page 10‑108. Worn
or damaged wiper blade
replacement. See Wiper Blade
Replacement on page 10‑41.
.Tire inflation pressures
check. See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑66.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑73.
.Rotate tires if necessary.
See Tire Rotation on
page 10‑73.
.Fluids visual leak check
(or every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). A leak in any
system must be repaired and
the fluid level checked.
.Engine air cleaner filter
inspection. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 10‑19.
.Brake system inspection
(or every 12 months, whichever
occurs first).
.For vehicles with Allison
Transmission®only: At the first
engine oil change only, replace
external transmission filter.
.Steering and suspension
inspection. Visual inspection
for damaged, loose, or missing
parts or signs of wear.

Black plate (4,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
11-4 Service and Maintenance
.Lubricate the front suspension,
steering linkage, and parking
brake cable guides. Control arm
ball joints on 2500/3500 series
vehicles require lubrication but
should not be lubricated unless
their temperature is−12°C
(10°F) or higher, or they could
be damaged. Control arm ball
joints on 1500 series vehicles
are maintenance‐free. Vehicles
used under severe commercial
operating conditions require
lubrication on a regular basis
every 5 000 km/3,000 miles.
.Body hinges and latches, key
lock cylinders, folding seat
hardware, and tailgate hinges,
linkage, and handle pivot points lubrication. See
Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on
page 11‑8. More frequent
lubrication may be required
when the vehicle is exposed
to a corrosive environment.
Applying silicone grease on
weatherstrips with a clean cloth
makes them last longer, seal
better, and not stick or squeak.
.Restraint system component
check. See Safety System
Check on page 3‑27.
.Fuel system inspection for
damage or leaks.
.Exhaust system and nearby heat
shields inspection for loose or
damaged components.
.Vehicles with diesel engine
or GVWR above 4 536 kg
(10,000 lbs) only: Shields
inspection for damage or
looseness. Adjust or replace
as required. This is a Noise
Emission Control Service.
Applicable to vehicles sold in the
United States and recommended
for vehicles sold in Canada.

Black plate (5,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-5
Additional Required Services
At the First 160 km/100 Miles,
1 600 km/1,000 Miles, and
10 000 km/6,000 Miles
.For vehicles with dual
wheels: Check dual wheel
nut torque. For proper
torque, seeCapacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
Every 12 000 km/7,500 Miles
.Rotate tires. Tires should
be rotated every 12 000 km/
7,500 miles. See Tire Rotation
on page 10‑73.
At Each Fuel Stop
.Engine oil level check.
See Engine Oil on page 10‑7.
.Engine coolant level check.
SeeEngine Coolant on
page 10‑22.
.Windshield washer fluid level
check. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑29. Once a Month
.Tire inflation pressures
check. See
Tire Pressure on
page 10‑66.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑73.
.Sunroof track and seal
inspection, if equipped.
See Sunroof (Extended Cab) on
page 2‑21 orSunroof (Crew
Cab) on page 2‑22.
Once a Year
.See Starter Switch Check on
page 10‑39.
.See Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control Function
Check on page 10‑40.
.See Ignition Transmission Lock
Check on page 10‑40.
.See Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check on
page 10‑40.
.Accelerator pedal check for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed.
.Underbody flushing service.
.Hood/Decklid/Liftgate/Liftglass
Support Gas Strut Service:
Visually inspect gas strut,
if equipped, for signs of wear,
cracks, or other damage. Check
the hold open ability of the gas
strut. Contact your dealer if
service is required.

Black plate (8,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
11-8 Service and Maintenance
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
This maintenance section applies to vehicles with a gasoline engine. If the vehicle has a diesel engine and/or an
Allison Transmission, see the maintenance schedule section in the DURAMAX®Diesel manual.
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 10‑22.
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).

Black plate (1,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
INDEX i-1
A
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Active Fuel Management
®. . . . . 9-44
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-125
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 9-125
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . 10-19
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Airbag Light On-Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48
How Does an AirbagRestrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34 Airbag System (cont.)
What Will You See After
an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . 3-31
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46
On-Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
On-Off Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37
Passenger Status Indicator . . . 5-23
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
Alarm System Anti-Theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Antenna Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
Anti-Theft Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Alarm System Messages . . . . . 5-48 Antilock Brake
System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-68
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-108
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-112
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Assistance Program,
Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-8, 13-10
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
CD/DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
Audio System Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Rear Seat (RSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . 7-2
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . 9-46 Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13, 10-16
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Shift Lock ControlFunction Check . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40

Black plate (2,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
i-2 INDEX
AuxiliaryRoof Mounted Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Auxiliary Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-34
Axle, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Axle, Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
B
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34 Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-98
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Voltage and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . 10-41
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-50
Brake Pedal and AdjustableThrottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Brake System Warning Light . . . 5-27
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-68
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-69 Brakes (cont.)
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-69
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48 Center High-MountedStoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . 10-48
Pickup-Box Identification and Fender Marker
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-77
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
California
Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 9-85
Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Camera, Rear Vision . . . . . . . . . . 9-78
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . iii
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Cautions, Danger, and
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
CD/DVD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . 4-2