2012 GMC SIERRA 1500 washer fluid

Black plate (26,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
10-26 Vehicle Care
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to
use, seeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12. Always
use the proper fluid.
Notice: Use of the incorrect fluid
may damage the vehicle and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty. Always
use the correct fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid needs
to be added, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. Use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing in an
area where the temperature may fall
below freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The vehicle has a low washer fluid
message on the DIC that comes
on when the washer fluid is low.
The message is displayed for
15 seconds at the start of each
ignition cycle. When the WASHER
FLUID LOW ADD FLUID message
displays, washer fluid will need to
be added to the windshield washer
fluid reservoir.
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for reservoir location. Notice
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer's instructions
for adding water.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for
fluid expansion if freezing
occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is
completely full.
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system
and paint.

Black plate (99,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
Vehicle Care 10-99
cleaners that are marked safe for
painted surfaces to remove foreign
matter.
Occasional hand waxing or mild
polishing should be done to remove
residue from the paint finish. See
your dealer for approved cleaning
products.
Notice:Machine compounding
or aggressive polishing on a
basecoat/clearcoat paint finish
may damage it. Use only
non-abrasive waxes and polishes
that are made for a basecoat/
clearcoat paint finish on the
vehicle.
To keep the paint finish looking
new, keep the vehicle garaged or
covered whenever possible.
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal
Parts
Regularly clean bright metal parts
with water or chrome polish on
chrome or stainless steel trim,
if necessary. For aluminum, never use auto or
chrome polish, steam, or caustic
soap to clean. A coating of
wax, rubbed to high polish, is
recommended for all bright metal
parts.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/
Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a
soft cloth, and a car washing soap
to clean exterior lamps and lenses.
Follow instructions under "Washing
the Vehicle" later in this section.
Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield
with glass cleaner.
Clean rubber blades using lint-free
cloth or paper towel soaked with
windshield washer fluid or a mild
detergent. Wash the windshield
thoroughly when cleaning the
blades. Bugs, road grime, sap, and
a buildup of vehicle wash/wax
treatments may cause wiper
streaking.Replace the wiper blades if they
are worn or damaged. Damage
can be caused by extreme dusty
conditions, sand, salt, heat, sun,
snow and ice.
Weatherstrips
Apply silicone grease on
weatherstrips to make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or
squeak. See
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Tires
Use a stiff brush with tire cleaner to
clean the tires.
Notice: Using petroleum-based
tire dressing products on the
vehicle may damage the paint
finish and/or tires. When applying
a tire dressing, always wipe off
any overspray from all painted
surfaces on the vehicle.

Black plate (3,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
Service and Maintenance 11-3
Maintenance
Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.Check the engine oil level. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑7.
Once a Month
.Check the tire inflation
pressures. See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑58.
.Inspect the tires for wear. See
Tire Inspection on page 10‑65.
.Check the windshield washer
fluid level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑26.
Engine Oil Change
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message displays, have the
engine oil and filter changed within
the next 1 000 km/600 mi. If driven
under the best conditions, the
engine oil life system might not
indicate the need for vehicle service for more than a year. The engine oil
and filter must be changed at least
once a year and the oil life system
must be reset. Your trained dealer
technician can perform this work.
If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 mi since
the last service. Reset the oil life
system when the oil is changed.
See
Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑10.
Tire Rotation and Required
Services Every 12 000 km/
7,500 mi
Rotate the tires, if recommended
for the vehicle, and perform the
following services. See Tire
Rotation on page 10‑65.
.Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed,
change engine oil and filter, and
reset oil life system. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑7 andEngine Oil
Life System on page 10‑10.
.Check engine coolant level. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑19.
.Check windshield washer fluid
level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑26.
.Visually inspect windshield
wiper blades for wear, cracking,
or contamination. See Exterior
Care on page 10‑98. Replace
worn or damaged wiper blades.
See Wiper Blade Replacement
on page 10‑36.
.Check tire inflation pressures.
See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑58.
.Inspect tire wear. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑65.
.Visually check for fluid leaks.
.Inspect engine air cleaner filter.
See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑17.
.Inspect brake system.

Black plate (9,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
Service and Maintenance 11-9
Additional
Maintenance and Care
Your vehicle is an important
investment and caring for it
properly may help to avoid
future costly repairs. To maintain
vehicle performance, additional
maintenance services may be
required. It is recommended
that your dealer perform these
services—their trained dealer
technicians know your vehicle
best. Your dealer can also
perform a thorough assessment
with a multi‐point inspection to
recommend when your vehicle may
need attention. The following list is
intended to explain the services
and conditions to look for that may
indicate services are required. Battery
The battery supplies power to
start the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.To avoid break‐down or failure
to start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
.Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion‐free.
Belts
.Belts may need replacing if
they squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
.Trained dealer technicians
can inspect the belts and
recommend replacement when
necessary. Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
.Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s
systems and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12 for GM
approved fluids.
.Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
.Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled.

Black plate (12,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
11-12 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 supplement.
Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part number, or specification can be obtained from your dealer.Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine Oil Use only engine oil licensed to the dexos1 specfication, or equivalent, of
the proper SAE viscosity grade. ACDelco dexos1 Synthetic Blend is
recommended. 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 10‑19.
Hydraulic Brake System DOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid (GM Part No. 12377967, in
Canada 89021320).
Windshield Washer Automotive windshield washer fluid that meets regional freeze protection
requirements.
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 (5,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
INDEX i-5
Engine (cont'd)Cooling System Messages . . . 5-41
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-6
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 9-34
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-94
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . 13-19
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 6-2F
Fan Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 6-5
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-75 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-104
Fluid AutomaticTransmission . . . . . . . 10-11, 10-14
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Four-Wheel Drive Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26 Fog Lamps
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . 9-40, 10-30
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . . 5-26
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-68 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-70
E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . . . . . . . 9-71
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-36
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-73
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-72
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-69
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . 9-69
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 5-28

Black plate (8,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
i-8 INDEX
LightsAirbag On-Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 5-25
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Four-Wheel-Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-3
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . 5-17
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
StabiliTrak
®OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®. . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-58 Locks
Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . 5-28
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-16
Maintenance Schedule Recommended Fluidsand Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-12
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . 5-22
Manual Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14 Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Manual Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Messages
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Anti-theft Alarm System . . . . . . . 5-45
Battery Voltage andCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . . 5-41
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Key and Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Object Detection System . . . . . 5-43
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . . 5-44
Starting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Vehicle Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48

Black plate (14,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
i-14 INDEX
Vehicle CareTire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
W
Warning Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv Cautions and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . .iv
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26 Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Wheels Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-70
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . 3-45 Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Winter
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 10-36