
GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
In Brief 23
appropriate DIC message
displays. SeeRide Control
System Messages 0130.
. Press and release
gagain to
turn on both systems.
StabiliTrak will automatically turn on
if the vehicle exceeds 56 km/h
(35 mph). Traction control will
remain off.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0208.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The low tire pressure warning light
alerts to a significant loss in
pressure of one of the vehicle's
tires. If the warning light comes on,
stop as soon as possible and inflate
the tires to the recommended pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits
0176. The
warning light will remain on until the
tire pressure is corrected.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven. This
may be an early indicator that the
tire pressures are getting low and
the tires need to be inflated to the
proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. Maintain
the correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 302.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays a DIC message when
it is necessary to change the engine
oil and filter. The oil life system
should be reset to 100% only
following an oil change. Resetting the Oil Life System
To reset the engine oil life system:
1. Display REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) 0123.
2. Press and hold the
Vbutton on
the DIC. The oil life will change
to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows: 1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within
five seconds.
3. Display REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. If the display
shows 100%, the system is
reset.
See Engine Oil Life System 0261.
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \

GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
Vehicle Care 251
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 252
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 252
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 261
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6 Speed Transmission) . . . . . 261
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8 Speed Transmission) . . . . . 264
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 265
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 270
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 Power Steering Fluid (1500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Power Steering Fluid (2500/ 3500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Battery - North America . . . . . . 277
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 280
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 281
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 282
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 282
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 283
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 284
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 294
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \

GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
256 Vehicle Care
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0326.
2. Battery - North America 0277.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0266.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0265.
5. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“How to Check the Automatic
Transmission Fluid” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6 Speed Transmission) 0261
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8 Speed Transmission)
0 264.
6. Remote Negative (-) Location. See Jump Starting - North
America 0326.
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 266.
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0258. 9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0258.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 274.
11. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0275.
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0285.
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \

GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
258 Vehicle Care
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0326.
2. Battery - North America 0277.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0266.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0265.
5. Automatic Transmission Dipstick. See “How to Check
the Automatic Transmission
Fluid” under Automatic
Transmission Fluid (6 Speed
Transmission) 0261 or
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(8 Speed Transmission) 0264.
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0258.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0258.
8. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 266. 9. Remote Negative (–) Location.
See Jump Starting - North
America 0326.
10. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering
Fluid (1500 Series) 0273 or
Power Steering Fluid (2500/
3500 Series) 0273.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 274.
12. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0275.
13. Auxiliary Battery (If Equipped). SeeBattery - North America
0 277.
14. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0285.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine
and/or an Allison Transmission, see
the Duramax diesel supplement.
Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see
“Engine Oil” in the Duramax diesel
supplement. To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0261.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground. The
engine oil dipstick handle is a loop.
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \

GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
260 Vehicle Care
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0355.
Specification
Ask for and use engine oils that
meet the dexos1™ specification.
Engine oils that have been
approved by GM as meeting the
dexos1 specification are marked
with the dexos1 approved logo. See
www.gmdexos.com.
Caution
Failure to use the recommended
engine oil or equivalent can result
in engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty. Viscosity Grade
Use SAE 0W-20 viscosity grade for
the 5.3L and 6.2L V8 engines. Use
SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade for the
6.0L V8 engine.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an
area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below
−29 °C
(−20 °F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be
used in the 6.0L engine. An oil of
this viscosity grade will provide
easier cold starting for the engine at
extremely low temperatures.
When selecting an oil of the
appropriate viscosity grade, it is
recommended to select an oil of the
correct specification. See
“Specification” earlier in this section.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils meeting the
dexos1 specification are all that is
needed for good performance and
engine protection. Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or
properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer's warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your
own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the filter before disposal. Never
dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash or pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or
bodies of water. Recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil.
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \

GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
Vehicle Care 261
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on a combination of factors which
include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished, a
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes on to indicate that
an oil change is necessary. See
Engine Oil Messages0128.
Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 1 000 km (600 mi).
It is possible that, if driving under
the best conditions, the oil life
system may indicate that an oil
change is not necessary for up to a
year. The engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a year
and, at this time, the system must be reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the proper
level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. Always reset the
engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the engine oil life system:
1. Display the REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) 0123.
2. Press and hold
V. The oil life
will change to 100%. The oil life system can also be reset
as follows:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within
five seconds.
3. Display the REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. If the display
shows 100%, the system is
reset.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started and/or the
REMAINING OIL LIFE is near 0%,
the engine oil life system has not
been reset. Repeat the procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid (6 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
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \

GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
346 Service and Maintenance
keep the vehicle in good working
condition, improves fuel economy,
and reduces vehicle emissions.
Because of the way people use
vehicles, maintenance needs vary.
There may need to be more
frequent checks and services.
Normal Service
All maintenance services, including
those listed under Additional
Required Services, are for
vehicles that:
.Carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. See Vehicle Load Limits
0 176.
. Are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits.
. Use the recommended fuel. See
Fuel 0223. Severe Service
In addition to the normal service
schedule, some vehicles require
service more often. Severe service
is for vehicles that are:
.
Mainly driven in heavy city traffic
in hot weather.
. Mainly driven in hilly or
mountainous terrain.
. Frequently towing a trailer.
. Used for high-speed or
competitive driving.
. Used for taxi, police, or delivery
service.
{Warning
Performing maintenance work can
be dangerous and can cause
serious injury. Perform
maintenance work only if the
required information, proper tools,
and equipment are available.
If they are not, see your dealer to
have a trained technician do the
work. See Doing Your Own
Service Work 0253.
Maintenance
Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.
Check the engine oil level. See
Engine Oil 0258.
Once a Month
. Check the tire inflation
pressures. See Tire Pressure
0 300.
. Inspect the tires for wear. See
Tire Inspection 0306.
. Check the windshield washer
fluid level. See Washer Fluid
0 274.
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 may not
indicate the need for vehicle service
for up to a year. The engine oil and
filter must be changed at least once
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \

GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234761) - 2016 - crc - 7/24/15
Service and Maintenance 347
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.
SeeEngine Oil Life System 0261.
Passenger Compartment Air
Filter
The passenger compartment air
filter removes dust, pollen, and
other airborne irritants from outside
air that is pulled into the vehicle.
The filter should be replaced as part
of routine scheduled maintenance.
Inspect the passenger compartment
air filter every 36 000 km/
22,500 miles or two years,
whichever comes first. Replace if
necessary. More frequent
replacement may be needed if the
vehicle is driven in areas with heavy
traffic, areas with poor air quality,
or areas with high dust levels.
Replacement may also be needed if
there is a reduction in air flow,
excessive window fogging, or odors.
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 0306.
. Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed,
change engine oil and filter, and
reset oil life system. See Engine
Oil 0258 andEngine Oil Life
System 0261.
. Check engine coolant level. See
Engine Coolant 0267.
. Check windshield washer fluid
level. See Washer Fluid 0274.
. Visually inspect windshield wiper
blades for wear, cracking,
or contamination. See Exterior
Care 0335. Replace worn or
damaged wiper blades. See
Wiper Blade Replacement
0 282.
. Check tire inflation pressures.
See Tire Pressure 0300. .
Inspect tire wear. See Tire
Inspection 0306.
. Visually check for fluid leaks.
. Inspect engine air cleaner filter.
See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
0 265.
. Inspect brake system. See
Exterior Care 0335.
. Visually inspect steering,
suspension, and chassis
components for damaged, loose,
or missing parts or signs of wear
at least once a year. See
Exterior Care 0335. Lubricate
the suspension and steering
components at least every other
oil change. (If equipped with
grease fittings)
. Check restraint system
components. See Safety System
Check 060.
. Visually inspect fuel system for
damage or leaks.
. Visually inspect exhaust system
and nearby heat shields for
loose or damaged parts.
, Q I R U P D W L R Q 3 U R Y L G H G E \