GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Driving and Operating 319
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance might
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle may not pass a smog-check
test. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0141.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized dealer for diagnosis. If it
is determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If planning to drive in countries
outside the U.S. or Canada, the
proper fuel might be hard to find.
Check regional auto club or fuel
retail brand websites for availability
in the country where driving. Never
use leaded gasoline, fuel containing
methanol, manganese, or any other fuel not recommended. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper
fuel would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline is
recommended. See
Fuel0317.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is
not available, one bottle of Fuel
System Treatment PLUS added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change can help. Fuel System
Treatment PLUS is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.
Do not use additives with E85 or
FlexFuel.
E85 or FlexFuel
Vehicles with a yellow fuel cap can
use either unleaded gasoline or fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
All other vehicles should use only
the unleaded gasoline as described
in Fuel 0317. The use of E85 or FlexFuel is
encouraged when the vehicle is
designed to use it. E85 or FlexFuel
is made from renewable sources.
To help locate fuel stations that
carry E85 or FlexFuel, the U.S.
Department of Energy has an
alternative fuels website. See
www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/
stations.
E85 or FlexFuel should meet ASTM
Specification D 5798 or CAN/
CGSB–3.512 in Canada. Do not use
the fuel if the ethanol content is
greater than 85%. Fuel mixtures that
do not meet ASTM or CGSB
specifications can affect driveability
and could cause the malfunction
indicator lamp to come on.
For the 6.0L V8 engine, after
refueling, the vehicle calculates the
composition of the fuel. It is not
recommended to repeatedly switch
between fuels. If fuels are switched
frequently, add as much fuel as
possible and do not add less than
11 L (3 gal) when refueling. Drive at
least 11 km (7 mi) immediately after
GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Vehicle Care 365
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0463.
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
4.3L V6, and 6.0L V8 engines.
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 4.3L or 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
GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Vehicle Care 373
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 0375.
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)
Warning (Continued)
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.
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
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 0463.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, or by 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.
GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
500 Index
F
FanEngine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 178
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
FlexFuel
E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Floor Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . 119
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452
Fluid Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . 367, 370
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Four-Wheel Drive Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . 293, 382
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . . . 143
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Front Fog Lamp
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 61
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 146
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . 285
Requirements, California . . . . . 318
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 433
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392 Fuses (cont'd)
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395, 397
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 170Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Gauges Engine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 134
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 453
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476