
GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
Vehicle Care 263
operated safely until a hot check
procedure can be made. The hot
check procedure is the most
accurate method to check the fluid
level. Perform the hot check
procedure at the first opportunity.
Use this cold check procedure to
check fluid level when the
transmission temperature is
between 27 °C and 32 °C (80 °F and
90 °F).
1. Locate the transmissiondipstick at the rear of the
engine compartment, on the
passenger side of the vehicle.
See Engine Compartment
Overview 0255.
2. Flip the handle up, then pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a
clean rag or paper towel. 3. Install the dipstick by pushing it
back in all the way; wait
three seconds, and then pull it
back out again.
4. Check both sides of the dipstick and read the lower
level. Repeat the check
procedure to verify the reading.
5. If the fluid level is below the
COLD check band, add only
enough fluid as necessary to
bring the level into the COLD
band. It does not take much
fluid, generally less than 0.5 L
(1 pt). Do not overfill.
6. Perform a hot check at the first opportunity after the
transmission reaches a normal
operating temperature between
71 °C to 93 °C (160 °F to
200 °F). 7. If the fluid level is in the
acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way,
then flip the handle down to
lock the dipstick in place.
Hot Check Procedure
Use this procedure to check the
transmission fluid level when the
transmission fluid temperature is
between 71 °C and 93 °C (160 °F
and 200 °F).
The hot check is the most accurate
method to check the fluid level. The
hot check should be performed at
the first opportunity in order to verify
the cold check. The fluid level rises
as fluid temperature increases, so it
is important to ensure the
transmission temperature is within
range.
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GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
264 Vehicle Care
1. Locate the transmissiondipstick at the rear of the
engine compartment, on the
passenger side of the vehicle.
See Engine Compartment
Overview 0255.
2. Flip the handle up, then pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a
clean rag or paper towel.
3. Install the dipstick by pushing it back in all the way; wait
three seconds, and then pull it
back out again.
4. Check both sides of the dipstick and read the lower
level. Repeat the check
procedure to verify the reading.
5. Safe operating level is withinthe HOT cross hatch band on
the dipstick. If the fluid level is
not within the HOT band, and the transmission temperature is
between 71 °C and 93 °C
(160 °F and 200 °F), add or
drain fluid as necessary to
bring the level into the HOT
band. If the fluid level is low,
add only enough fluid to bring
the level into the HOT band.
It does not take much fluid,
generally less than 0.5 L (1 pt).
Do not overfill.
6. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way,
then flip the handle down to
lock the dipstick in place.
Consistency of Readings
Always check the fluid level at least
twice using the procedure described
previously. Consistency (repeatable
readings) is important to maintaining
proper fluid level. If readings are still
inconsistent, contact the dealer.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8 Speed
Transmission)
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level. The only
reason for fluid loss is a
transmission leak or overheated
transmission. This vehicle is not
equipped with a transmission fluid
level dipstick. There is a special
procedure for checking and
changing the transmission fluid in
these vehicles. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at the dealer. Contact the
dealer for additional information or
the procedure can be found in the
service manual. See Service
Publications Ordering Information
0 372.
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GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
Service and Maintenance 351
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required
Services - Severe12 000 km/7,500 mi
24 000 km/15,000 mi
36 000 km/22,500 mi
48 000 km/30,000 mi
60 000 km/37,500 mi
72 000 km/45,000 mi
84 000 km/52,500 mi
96 000 km/60,000 mi
108 000 km/67,500 mi
120 000 km/75,000 mi
132 000 km/82,500 mi
144 000 km/90,000 mi
156 000 km/97,500 mi
168 000 km/105,000 mi 180 000 km/112,500 mi
192 000 km/120,000 mi
204 000 km/127,500 mi
216 000 km/135,000 mi
228 000 km/142,500 mi
240 000 km/150,000 mi
Rotate tires and perform Required Services.
Check engine oil level and oil life percentage.
Change engine oil and filter, if needed.@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Replace passenger compartment air filter. (1)@ @@@@@
Inspect evaporative control system. (2)@ @@
Replace engine air cleaner filter. (3)@@@
Replace spark plugs. Inspect spark plug wires.@
Change automatic transmission fluid and filter.@@@
For GVW under 8600 lbs, change transfer case
fluid, if equipped with 4WD. (4)@@@
For GVW over 8600 lbs, change transfer case
fluid, if equipped with 4WD. (4)@@@@@@
Drain and fill engine cooling system. (5)@
Visually inspect accessory drive belts. (6)@
Replace brake fluid. (7)
Footnotes—Maintenance
Schedule Additional Required
Services —Severe
(1) Or every two years, whichever
comes first. More frequent
replacement may be needed if the vehicle is driven in areas with heavy
traffic, poor air quality, areas with
high dust levels or are sensitive to
environmental allergens. Filter
replacement may also be needed if
you notice reduced airflow, windows
fogging up, or odors. Your local GMService location can help you
determine when it is the right time to
replace your filter.
(2)
Check all fuel and vapor lines
and hoses for proper hook-up,
routing, and condition.
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GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
388 Index
Assistance Systems forParking and Backing . . . . . . . . . . 215
Automatic Dimming Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . 261, 264
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Shift Lock Control FunctionCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 151
Axle, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Axle, Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
B
Battery Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Voltage and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Battery - North America . . . . 277, 326
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . 282
Blind Spot Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Brake Pedal and AdjustableThrottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Brake (cont'd)
System Warning Light . . . . . . . . .116
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 184
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Center High-MountedStoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 224 California (cont'd)
Perchlorate Materials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
California
Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .252, 277, 326
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Cargo
Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . 3
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . . 95
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Charging Wireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 114
Check Ignition Transmission Lock . . . 282
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GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
390 Index
Driving (cont'd)For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 24
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 173
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 175
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Electrical System Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288, 290
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Emergency OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 Engine (cont'd)
Check and Service Engine
Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 255
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Cooling System Messages . . . 128
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 109
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Overheated Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 193
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 375 Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 146
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 148
F
Fan
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 150
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
FlexFuel E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Floor Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Fluid AutomaticTransmission . . . . . . . . . . . 261, 264
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Four-Wheel Drive Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
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GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
396 Index
SecurityLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 253
Engine Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 358
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Parts Identification Label . . . . . 359
Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 369
Services Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Shift Lock Control Function
Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Shifting
Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Signals, Turn and
Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Snow Plow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Special Application Services . . . . 352
Specifications and Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
StabiliTrak
OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Start Assist, Hills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Fluid, Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Steering System Messages . . . . . 132
Steps Power Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Storage Areas Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Floor Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Sunglasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . . 94 Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Sunglass Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System
Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156, 376
Noise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Systems
Driver Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . 365
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . 37Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Throttle, Adjustable . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 All-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
All-Terrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .311
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