2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO overheating

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/21/15
Instruments and Controls 157
If this message continues to appear,
have the system repaired by your
dealer as soon as possible to avoid
damage to the engine.
ENGINE OVERHEATING IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature is too
hot. Stop and allow the vehicle to
idle until it cools down. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Gauge 0137.
When towing, use Tow/Haul mode
to prevent damage to the engine or
transmission. See Tow/Haul
Mode 0295.
ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE
This message displays and a chime
may sound if the engine cooling
system reaches unsafe
temperatures for operation. Stop
and turn off the vehicle as soon as it
is safe to do so to avoid severe
damage. This message clears when
the engine has cooled to a safe
operating temperature.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil, be
sure to reset the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message. See Engine
Oil Life System 0372 for
information on how to reset the
message. See Engine Oil0369 and
Maintenance Schedule 0462.
ENGINE OIL LOW ADD OIL
On some vehicles, this message
displays when the engine oil level
may be too low. Check the oil level
before filling to the recommended
level. If the oil is not low and this
message remains on, take the
vehicle to your dealer for service.
See Engine Oil 0369.
ENGINE OIL HOT IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine oil becomes hotter than the
normal operating temperature. Stop and allow the vehicle to idle until it
cools down. See
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge 0137.
OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP
ENGINE
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible
and do not operate it until the cause
of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check the oil as soon as
possible and have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. See Engine
Oil 0369.
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays and a chime
may sound when the cooling system
temperature gets too hot and the
engine further enters the engine
coolant protection mode. See
Engine Overheating 0382 for more
information.
This message also displays when
the vehicle's engine power is
reduced. Reduced engine power
can affect the vehicle's ability to

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/21/15
160 Instruments and Controls
TRACTION CONTROL ON
This message displays when the
traction control is active. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control0308.
STABILITRAK OFF
This message displays when the
StabiliTrak system has been turned
off. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin and realize the
full benefits of the stability
enhancement system, you should
normally leave StabiliTrak on. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0308.
STABILITRAK OFF may also
display when the stability control
has been automatically disabled.
The following conditions can cause
this message to appear:
. The system is overheating,
which could occur if StabiliTrak
activates continuously for an
extended period of time.
. The brake system warning light
is on. See Brake System
Warning Light 0144. .
The stability system takes longer
than usual to complete its
diagnostic checks due to driving
conditions.
. An engine or vehicle-related
problem has been detected and
the vehicle needs service. See
your dealer.
. The transfer case is in
Four-Wheel Drive Low.
The message turns off as soon as
the conditions that caused the
message to be displayed are no
longer present.
Airbag System Messages
SERVICE AIRBAG
This message displays if there is a
problem with the airbag system.
Take the vehicle to your dealer for
service.
Safety Belt Messages
SHIFTER LOCKED. BUCKLE
SEATBELT
This message displays if the vehicle
is equipped with the Safety Belt
Assurance System and the driver
and front outboard passenger,
if present, safety belts are not
buckled. The vehicle will not shift
out of P (Park). Buckle the safety
belt(s) to unlock the shift lever.
This system may not allow the
vehicle to shift out of P (Park) if an
object —such as a briefcase,
handbag, grocery bag, laptop,
or other electronic device —is on
the front outboard passenger seat.
If this happens, remove the object
from the seat or buckle the
safety belt.
If the driver or front outboard
passenger unbuckles their safety
belt while driving, the safety belt
reminder chime and light(s) will
come on. See Safety Belt
Reminders 0139.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/27/15
Driving and Operating 269
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires0407.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips 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.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/27/15
270 Driving and Operating
{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.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0308.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0305.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0487 or
Roadside Assistance Program
0 490. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/27/15
Driving and Operating 285
Engine Coolant Heater
The engine heater can provide
easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up in
cold weather conditions at or below
−18 °C (0 °F). Vehicles with an
engine heater should be plugged in
at least four hours before starting.
An internal thermostat in the
plug-end of the cord may exist,
which will prevent engine coolant
heater operation at temperatures
above−18 °C (0 °F).
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The cord is
secured to the driver side
fender with a clip, next to the
engine compartment fuse
block. Carefully remove the
wire tie that bundles the
electrical plug. Do not cut the
electrical cord. Check the heater cord for
damage. If it is damaged, do
not use it. See your dealer for
a replacement. Inspect the
cord for damage yearly.
3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord
or an extension cord can damage
the cord and may result in
overheating and fire.
. Plug the cord into a
three-prong electrical utility
receptacle that is protected
by a ground fault detection
function. An ungrounded
outlet could cause an
electric shock.
. Use a weatherproof,
heavy-duty, 15 amp-rated
extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the
recommended extension
cord in good operating
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
condition, or using a
damaged heater or
extension cord, could make
it overheat and cause a fire,
property damage, electric
shock, and injury.
. Do not operate the vehicle
with the heater cord
permanently attached to the
vehicle. Possible heater
cord and thermostat
damage could occur.
. While in use, do not let the
heater cord touch vehicle
parts or sharp edges. Never
close the hood on the
heater cord.
. Before starting the vehicle,
unplug the cord, reattach
the cover to the plug, and
securely fasten the cord.
Keep the cord away from
any moving parts.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/27/15
Driving and Operating 329
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy
braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so it is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
The Tow/Haul Mode may be used if
the transmission shifts too often.
See
Tow/Haul Mode 0295.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few
minutes before turning the engine
off. If the overheat warning comes
on, see Engine Overheating 0382.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/21/15
360 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 361
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 362
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 372
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6 Speed Transmission) . . . . . 373
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8 Speed Transmission) . . . . . 376
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 376
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 377
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 382 Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Power Steering Fluid (1500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Power Steering Fluid (2500/ 3500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Battery - North America . . . . . . 388
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 392
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 393
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 394
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 394
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 395
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 395 Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
Taillamps (Chassis Cab Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 399
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399
Electrical System Overload . . . 399
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159338) - 2016 - crc - 10/21/15
Vehicle Care 379
Warning (Continued)
keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any engine
cooling fan.
6.0L V8 Engine
1. Coolant Surge Tank
2. Coolant Surge TankPressure Cap
3. Engine Belt-Driven Cooling Fan (Out of View)
{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. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), whichever
occurs first.
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 0382.
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
(Continued)