2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Owners Manual

Black plate (115,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-115
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
Notice:Do not add anything
electrical to the vehicle unless
you check with your dealer first.
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle and the
damage would not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty. Some
add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from
working as they should.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12‐volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 3‑38 andAdding
Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 3‑39.
Adding a Snow Plow or
Similar Equipment
Before installing a snow plow on the
vehicle, here are some things you
need to know:
Notice: If the vehicle does not
have the snow plow prep
package, adding a plow can
damage the vehicle, and the
repairs would not be covered by
warranty. Unless the vehicle was
built to carry a snow plow, do not
add one to the vehicle. If the
vehicle has the snow plow prep
package, called RPO VYU, then
the payload the vehicle can carry
will be reduced when a snow
plow is installed. The vehicle can
be damaged if either the front or
rear axle ratings or the Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) are
exceeded. Some vehicles are built with a
special snow plow prep package,
called RPO VYU. If the vehicle has
this option, you can add a plow to it,
provided certain weights, such as
the weights on the vehicle's axles
and the Gross Vehicle
Weight (GVW), are not exceeded.
The plow the vehicle can carry
depends on many things, such as:
.The options the vehicle came
with, and the weight of those
options.
.The weight and number of
passengers intended to be
carried.
.The weight of items added to
the vehicle, like a tool box or
truck cap.
.The total weight of any
additional cargo intended to be
carried.

Black plate (116,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
9-116 Driving and Operating
Say, for example, you have a 318 kg
(700 lb) snow plow. The total weight
of all occupants and cargo inside
the cab should not exceed 135 kg
(300 lb). This means that you may
only be able to carry one passenger.
But, even this may be too much if
there is other equipment already
adding to the weight of the vehicle.
Here are some guidelines for safely
carrying a snow plow on the vehicle:
.Make sure the weight on the
front and rear axles does not
exceed the axle rating for each.
.For the front axle, if more cargo
or passengers must be carried,
appropriate counter ballast must
be installed rear of the rear axle.
Counter ballast must be properly
secured so it will not move
during driving.
.Follow the snow plow
manufacturer's
recommendations regarding
rear ballast. Rear ballast may be
required to ensure a proper front
and rear weight distribution ratio,
even though the actual weight at
the front axle may be less than
the front axle rating.
.The snow plow manufacturer
or installer can assist you in
determining the amount of rear
ballast required, to help make
sure the snowplow/vehicle
combination does not exceed
the GVW rating, the front and
rear axle ratings, and the front
and rear weight distribution ratio.
.The total vehicle must not
exceed the GVW rating.Front axle reserve capacity is the
difference between the Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR) and the front
axle weight of the vehicle with full
fuel and passengers. Basically, it is
the amount of weight that can be
added to the front axle before
reaching the front GAWR.
The front axle reserve capacity
for the vehicle can be found in
the lower right corner of the
Certification/Tire label, as shown.

Black plate (117,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-117
United States
CanadaIn order to calculate the amount of
weight any front accessory, such as
a snow plow, is adding to the front
axle, use the following formula:
(W x (A + W.B.)) /W.B.= Weight the
accessory is adding to the
front axle.
Where:
W = Weight of added accessory
A = Distance that the accessory
is in front of the front axle
W.B. = Vehicle Wheelbase For example, adding a 318 kg
(700 lb) snow plow actually adds
more than 318 kg (700 lb) to the
front axle. Using the formula, if the
snow plow is 122 cm (4 ft) in front of
the front axle and the wheel base is
305 cm (10 ft), then:
W = 318 kg (700 lb)
A = 122 cm (4 ft)
W.B. = 305 cm (10 ft)
(W x (A + W.B.))/W.B. =
(318 x (122 + 305))/305 = 445 kg
(980 lbs)
So, if the front axle reserve capacity
is more than 445 kg (980 lbs), the
snow plow could be added without
exceeding the front GAWR.

Black plate (118,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
9-118 Driving and Operating
Heavier equipment can be added on
the front of the vehicle if it is
compensated for by carrying fewer
passengers, less cargo, or by
positioning cargo toward the rear.
This has the effect of reducing the
load on the front. However, the front
GAWR, rear GAWR, and the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) must
never be exceeded.
{WARNING
On some vehicles that have
certain front mounted equipment,
such as a snow plow, it may be
possible to load the front axle to
the front gross axle weight rating
(GAWR) but not have enough
weight on the rear axle to have
proper braking performance.
If the brakes cannot work
properly, you could have a crash.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
To help the brakes work properly
when a snow plow is installed,
always follow the snow plow
manufacturer or installer's
recommendation for rear ballast
to ensure a proper front and rear
weight distribution ratio, even
though the actual front weight
may be less than the front
GAWR, and the total vehicle
weight is less than the gross
vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
Maintaining a proper front and
rear weight distribution ratio is
necessary to provide proper
braking performance.
Total vehicle reserve capacity is the
difference between the GVWR and
the weight of the truck with full fuel
and passengers. It is the amount of
weight that can be added to the
vehicle before reaching the GVWR. Keep in mind that reserve capacity
numbers are intended as a guide
when selecting the amount of
equipment or cargo the truck can
carry. If unsure of the vehicle's front,
rear, or total weight, go to a weigh
station and weigh the vehicle.
Your dealer can also help with this.
The total vehicle reserve capacity
for the vehicle can be found in
the lower right corner of the
Certification/Tire label as shown
previously.
See your dealer for additional
advice and information about
using a snow plow on the vehicle.
Also, see
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑17.

Black plate (119,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-119
Emergency Roof Lamp
Provisions
Vehicles with the RPO VYU snow
plow prep package also have an
emergency roof lamp provision
package, RPO TRW. Wiring for the
emergency roof lamp is provided
above the overhead console.
SeeAuxiliary Roof-Mounted Lamp
on page 6‑7 for switch location.
Pickup Conversion to
Chassis Cab
We are aware that some vehicle
owners might consider having the
pickup box removed and a
commercial or recreational body
installed. Owners should be aware
that, as manufactured, there are
differences between a chassis cab
and a pickup with the box removed
which could affect vehicle safety.
The components necessary to adapt
a pickup to permit its safe use with
a specialized body should be
installed by the body builder.

Black plate (120,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
9-120 Driving and Operating
2NOTES

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-10
Automatic Transmission Fluid (4-Speed Transmission) . . . 10-11
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-17
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-23
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-27
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Noise Control System . . . . . . 10-36
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-36
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-38
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-39
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Pick-Up Box Identification and Fender Marker
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Taillamps (Chassis Cab Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-45
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-45

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2012
10-2 Vehicle Care
Electrical System
Electrical SystemOverload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-55
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-69
Dual Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . 10-71
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71 Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Different Size Tires and
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-77
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-79
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-91
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-92
Towing
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-97
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-97
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-102
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-105
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-108
General Information
For service and parts needs,
visit your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks: