2014 GMC ACADIA cooling

Black plate (7,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-6014315) - 2014 - crc - 8/15/13
Driving and Operating 9-7
Other driving tips include:
.Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
.Keep the interior
temperature cool.
.Keep your eyes moving—scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
.Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
.Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane.
.Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(stalled car, accident).
.Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C
(32°F) when freezing rain begins to
fall, resulting in even less traction.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in
freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.

Black plate (49,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-6014315) - 2014 - crc - 8/15/13
Driving and Operating 9-49
3. Drive slowly until the trailer isclear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See the
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-2. Things that are
especially important in trailer
operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system and
brake system. Inspect these before
and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
on page 10-16.
Trailer Towing
Three important considerations
have to do with weight:
.The weight of the trailer.
.The weight of the trailer tongue.
.The total weight on the vehicle's
tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
Speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, special
equipment, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry
must be considered. See “Weight of
the Trailer Tongue” later in this
section for more information. Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in the
tow vehicle and it has all the
required trailering equipment. The
weight of additional optional
equipment, passengers and cargo in
the tow vehicle must be subtracted
from the maximum trailer weight.
Use the following chart to determine
how much the vehicle can weigh,
based upon the vehicle model and
options.

Black plate (1,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-6014315) - 2014 - crc - 8/15/13
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-2
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 10-9
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-10
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-16 Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-18
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-23
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-24
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Windshield Replacement . . . 10-25
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-26
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-39
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50

Black plate (6,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-6014315) - 2014 - crc - 8/15/13
10-6 Vehicle Care
1. Remote Negative (−) Terminal.See Jump Starting on
page 10-68.
2. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10-28.
3. Radiator Pressure Cap (Out of View). See Cooling System on
page 10-11.
4. Engine Coolant Recovery Cap. See Cooling System on
page 10-11.
5. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting on
page 10-68.
6. Power Steering Reservoir and Cap (Under Engine Cover). See
Power Steering Fluid on
page 10-18.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” underEngine
Oil on page 10-7.
8. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil on
page 10-7. 9. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of
View). See Cooling System on
page 10-11.
10. Engine Cover on page 10-6.
11. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” underBrakes on
page 10-20.
12. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid on
page 10-19.
13. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10-10.Engine Cover
1. Oil Fill Cap
2. Engine Cover
To remove:
1. Remove the oil fill cap (1).
2. Raise the engine cover (2) to
release it from the retainers.
3. Lift and remove the engine cover.
4. Reverse Steps 1–3 to reinstall engine cover.

Black plate (11,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-6014315) - 2014 - crc - 8/15/13
Vehicle Care 10-11
from vehicle) to release loose dust
and dirt. If the filter remains covered
with dirt, a new filter is required.
To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter:
1. Air Duct Clamp
2. Electrical Connector
3. Screws
1. Loosen the air duct clamp (1).
2. Disconnect the electricalconnector (2).
3. Remove the screws (3) and lift the cover assembly. 4. Inspect or replace the air
cleaner/filter.
5. Reverse Steps 1–4 to reinstall the housing cover and reconnect
the electrical connector to the
sensor.
{Warning
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air; it
helps to stop flames if the engine
backfires. Use caution when
working on the engine and do not
drive with the air cleaner/filter off.
{Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which could damage it. Always
have the air cleaner/filter in place
when you are driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the
engine to maintain the correct
working temperature.
1. Radiator Pressure Cap (UnderSight Shield)
2. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
3. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View)

Black plate (12,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-6014315) - 2014 - crc - 8/15/13
10-12 Vehicle Care
{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
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.
{Caution
Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL®can cause
premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition,
the engine coolant could require
changing sooner. 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. See Maintenance Schedule
on page 11-2 andRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on
page 11-12.
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 10-16.
What to Use
{Warning
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The 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.

Black plate (13,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-6014315) - 2014 - crc - 8/15/13
Vehicle Care 10-13
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−37°C (−34°F), outside
temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to
129°C (265°F), engine
temperature.
.Protects against rust and
corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
{Caution
If improper coolant mixture,
inhibitors, or additives are used in
the vehicle cooling system, the
engine could overheat and be
damaged. Too much water in the
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
mixture can freeze and crack
engine cooling parts. The repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Use only the
proper mixture of engine coolant
for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-12.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level. Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant recovery tank. If the
coolant inside the coolant recovery
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 or
the FULL COLD ISO symbol mark,
add a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant at the coolant recovery tank,
but be sure the cooling system is
cool before this is done. See
Engine
Overheating on page 10-16.
The coolant recovery tank cap has
this symbol on it.
When the engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at or above the
FULL COLD mark or the FULL
COLD ISO symbol mark on the
recovery tank.

Black plate (14,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-6014315) - 2014 - crc - 8/15/13
10-14 Vehicle Care
When the engine is hot, the level
could be higher than the FULL
COLD mark or the FULL COLD ISO
symbol mark. If the coolant is below
the FULL COLD mark or the FULL
COLD ISO symbol mark when the
engine is hot, there could be a leak
in the cooling system.
If the coolant is low, add the coolant
or take the vehicle to a dealer for
service.
How to Add Coolant to the
Recovery Tank
{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.
{Caution
This vehicle has a specific
coolant fill procedure. Failure to
follow this procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and be
severely damaged.
If recovery tank is empty, check the
coolant level in the radiator before
adding coolant to the recovery tank
or take the vehicle to the dealer for
service. See “How to Add Coolant to
the Radiator” later in this section.
If coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL coolant mixture at the
coolant recovery tank.
How to Add Coolant to the
Radiator
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the surge tank pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling
system and surge tank pressure
cap to cool.
If coolant is needed, add the proper
mixture directly to the radiator, but
be sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done. Then check the
recovery tank and add coolant if
needed.