Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
132 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 143
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 144
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 148
Emergencies(Troubleshooting) . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Emergencies (Disabled Vehicle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 162
Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Starting and Stopping theVehicle (Gasoline Only) . . . . . 165
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle (Diesel Only) . . . . . . . . 168
Operating Temperature . . . . . . . 172
Winter Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Engine Alarm and Automatic
Shutdown (Diesel Only) . . . . . 174
Idle Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
High Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Engine Checks Before Operating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Diesel Particulate Filter
Diesel Particulate Filter . . . . . . . 180
Diesel Exhaust Fluid
Diesel Exhaust Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 189
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 204
Selector Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Overdrive Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Exhaust Brake (Diesel Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Cruise Control
Cruise Control (Diesel) . . . . . . . 224
Cruise Control (Gas) . . . . . . . . . 227
Driver Assistance Systems
Speed Limiter (GasolineVehicle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Fuel
Fuel (Gasoline) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 232
Fuel for Diesel Engines . . . . . . . 232
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Cold Weather Operation(Diesel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Water in Fuel (Diesel) . . . . . . . . 236
Running Out of Fuel (Diesel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Power Take-Off (PTO) . . . . . . . . 242
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
134 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
If a warning light comes on or a
buzzer sounds while you are
driving, immediately stop the
vehicle in a safe place and
perform checks.
Slow down sufficiently when
approaching a curve. Applying the
brakes or sharply turning the
steering wheel while turning the
curve could cause the cargo to
shift, the tires to slip and the
vehicle to tip onto its side.
Avoid scraping the tire sidewalls
against curbstones or driving over
dips and protrusions in the road
surface. You could damage the
tires, resulting in a blowout or
flat tire.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Pulling Away After Stopping
and Parking
Before pulling away, check that
there are no children or obstructions
around the vehicle and confirm that
it is safe to pull away.
If you cannot see the area behind
your vehicle well enough to confirm
it is safe to back up, get out of the
vehicle and check behind it.
Make it a habit to look around and
confirm that it is safe to pull away
after a temporary stop (at traffic
lights, for example).
If the Windshield Fogs Up
Use the heater to blow hot air on the
windshield or dehumidify the cabin
using the air conditioner and place
the outlet selector knob in the
5or
4position.
Place the air selector lever in the
outside air position.
Nighttime Visibility
If there is an old film on the
windshield, the lights of oncoming
traffic will be reflected in many directions, making it hard for you to
see ahead. Use glass cleaner to
clean the glass and the wiper
blades.
Worn wiper blades cannot wipe the
windshield clean and thus cannot
maintain visibility. When the wiper
blades become worn, replace them
with new ones.
Do Not Attach Accessories to
the Windshield or Windows
{Warning
Do not attach ornaments, films or
other accessories to the
windshield or windows. They
would impair visibility. Also, any
plastic suction cups used to
attach accessories could cause a
fire or other accident by acting as
lenses.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
164 Driving and Operating
Caution
After starting the engine, do not
turn the engine control switch to
the START position. Otherwise,
the starter motor may be
damaged.
Using electrical devices such as
the audio system for an extended
time period with the engine
stopped can completely discharge
the battery.
The starting circuit, engine alarm
circuits and accessory circuits are
all controlled by the engine control
switch.
1 LOCK : Lock is in the position
fully counterclockwise. In this
position, the key can be inserted or
removed. To place the engine control switch in the LOCK position,
press and hold the key in the ACC
position and then turn it to the
LOCK position. If you will leave the
vehicle, remove the key and turn the
steering wheel until it locks. The
steering wheel will be locked to help
prevent theft.
2 ACC :
Accessory is in the first
position clockwise. In this position,
the audio and other accessories can
be used with the engine stopped.
3 ON : This ON position is in the
second position clockwise. The key
stays in this position while the
engine is running. Engine control,
warning circuits, gauge circuits, and
accessory circuits are energized.
For diesel engines only, the engine
cylinder heaters or glow plugs are
also turned on when the switch is in
the ON position. The wait-to-start
light will come on and stay on until
the glow plugs are heated enough.
When this light goes off, turn the
switch to the START position.
4 START : On all engines, start is in
the position furthest clockwise. The
engine is started in this position.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
168 Driving and Operating
flammable material, such as
grass, waste paper, oil, or old
tires near the exhaust pipe.
Cold Weather Starting
If you plan ahead for cold weather,
starting and driving your vehicle
should be no problem.
Oil gets thicker as it gets colder,
which slows down the engine
cranking speed.
To be sure the engine can turn fast
enough to start, use SAE 0W-30
viscosity engine oil when prevailing
temperatures drop below 0 °C (32 °
F). See the oil quality and oil
viscosity recommendations. Using
the proper viscosity oil will make
starting easier down to -23 °C (-10 °
F). When prevailing temperatures
drop below -23 °C (-10 °F), the
optional engine block heater may be
needed for starting.
Stopping the Engine
When stopping the gasoline engine,
take the following steps: 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. 2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
3. Move the selector lever to the
P position and make sure that
the shift indicator shows P.
4. Allow the engine to idle for approximately 3 minutes.
5. Turn the engine control switch to the ACC or LOCK position.
To prevent the battery from going
dead, turn the engine control switch
to the ACC or LOCK position after
stopping the engine. If you leave the
vehicle for an extended period of
time, place the engine control switch
in the LOCK position.
If the Vehicle Has Not Been Used
for a Long Period
If the vehicle is to be placed in
storage for a prolonged period of
time, certain precautions must be
taken to prevent deterioration. See
your authorized dealer for more
detailed information.
. Before using a vehicle that has
not been driven for a long
period, check the engine and
transmission for oil leakage, and make sure the oil is at the
required levels. If there is
insufficient oil, it will not
adequately reach and lubricate
components, and a breakdown
will result.
. Start the engine and allow it to
idle for at least 5 minutes. Check
for abnormal noises.
. For instructions on warming up
the engine, refer to “Starting the
Engine” previously in this
section.
Starting and Stopping the
Vehicle (Diesel Only)
Check around the Vehicle before
Starting the Engine
Proper care and operation will not
only extend the service life of your
vehicle but also improve fuel
economy.
Before pulling away, perform a
thorough safety check, making sure
there are no children or obstructions
around the vehicle. Take off the
chocks after confirming that the
parking brake is securely applied.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 171
a gasoline engine. So, your engine
must crank faster than a gasoline
engine before it will start.
To be sure the engine can turn fast
enough to start, use SAE 10W-40
viscosity engine oil when prevailing
temperatures drop below 0 °C (32 °
F). See the oil quality and oil
viscosity recommendations. Using
the proper viscosity oil will make
starting easier down to -23 °C (-10 °
F). When prevailing temperatures
drop below -23 °C (-10 °F), the
optional engine block heater may be
needed for starting.
Maintenance Items to Aid Cold
Weather Starting
Since the basic principle of diesel
engine ignition is based on
compression, the diesel engine is
somewhat harder to start than a
gasoline engine when the
temperature is below freezing.
To help prevent hard starting
problems, special attention should
be given to following normal
maintenance items:1. Neglecting to have the fuel
filter and water separator
serviced can be one of the
major contributors to hard
starting. If water is permitted to
accumulate in the primary filter,
it will freeze and make starting
the engine impossible.
2. Make sure the fuel tank vent is open.
3. Always refuel at the end of a day's operation. Moisture will
condense in an empty tank;
therefore, the tank should be
filled before leaving the vehicle
standing for an extended
period.
Do not use starting aids in the air
intake system. Such aids can cause
immediate engine damage. See
Fuel for Diesel Engines 0232.
Stopping the Engine
When stopping the diesel engine,
take the following steps: 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. 3. Move the selector lever to the
P position and make sure that
the shift indicator shows P.
4. Allow the engine to idle for approximately 3 minutes.
5. Turn the engine control switch to the ACC or LOCK position.
Do not shut down the engine
immediately after driving the vehicle.
Otherwise, a seizure or other
failures may result.
To prevent the battery from going
dead, turn the engine control switch
to the ACC or LOCK position after
stopping the engine. If you leave the
vehicle for an extended period of
time, place the engine control switch
in the LOCK position.
Let the engine idle for 3 minutes
before shutting off the engine. This
allows the turbocharger to slow
down while keeping the bearings
lubricated.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 173
.If you allow the engine to warm
up but the engine coolant
temperature does not rise, have
the nearest dealer inspect the
thermostat.
Radiator Grille Covers
{Warning
Radiator shutters, winter fronts,
or grille covers are not to be used
and may cause the engine's
radiator cooling fan to fatigue
from the alternate unloading and
loading of the blades as they
pass by the masked area
followed by the unmasked area.
After the fan has been fatigued, it
may suddenly break apart while
rotating, possibly causing
personal injury to anyone
standing nearby, and equipment
damage. You and others could be
seriously injured.
Engine Heater
Engine Block and Oil Pan Heater
If the vehicle is parked in a garage,
the block and pan heaters should
not be needed until the garage
temperature drops below −23°C
(−10°F) regardless of outside
temperature.
The engine block and oil pan
heaters are designed to warm the
block and oil pan areas that will let
the engine run faster. To use the
heaters:
1. On single cab vehicles, tilt the cab.
2. Unwrap the electrical cord and remove the protective cap.
3. Plug the cord into any three-prong 110 volt outlet
(normal household current).
It may require several hours to
sufficiently heat the engine.
Outside temperature, oil
viscosity, etc., will affect how
long the block and oil pan
heater should remain plugged
in. Contact your dealer for the
conditions in your area. 4. After using the heater(s), be
sure to restore the cord
properly, to help keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If the cord is too short, use a heavy
duty, three-prong extension cord. Do
not use an extension cord such as
you would use for a lamp, because
the cord may overheat.
The engine should go through a
warm-up period to warm up the
engine oil before placing engine
under load. This will ensure proper
lubrication of the engine. See Cab
Tilting 0247.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
Driving and Operating 193
the engine is running. The vehicle
can be driven normally when DEF is
frozen in the DEF tank.
If the Refill DEF warning light is on
and the remaining DEF in the DEF
tank is frozen, the vehicle low level
warning system cannot be reset by
adding DEF. The DEF gauge will not
register correctly should the
remaining DEF freeze at this level.
Move the vehicle to a location to
allow the DEF to thaw. Once the
DEF is thawed the DEF gauge
should read correctly allowing the
low level warning system to reset.
To avoid this condition follow the
instructions for Adding DEF in Cold
Weather.
{Warning
Do not warm up the DEF tank
using a burner, heater, etc. You
and others could be seriously
injured.DEF Storage
Seal the container and store it in an
indoor place with good ventilation
avoiding direct sunlight.
When storing DEF, the shelf life
varies depending on the room
temperature of the storage place.
For details, please contact the
distributor of the DEF.
For storage of DEF, seal the
container to prevent the moisture
from evaporating.
Even when DEF has been frozen,
its quality is maintained when it is
thawed. It can be used as it is.
To store or carry DEF, use the
original container in which the DEF
was kept at the time of purchase.
Also, if other containers are used,
prepare a clean container for
exclusive use, which can be a
polyethylene resin tank (PE) or
stainless steel container, and do not
introduce foreign matter such as
water or contamination. DEF Disposal
Do not dispose of DEF and the
empty container into lakes, marine
areas, rivers, etc. DEF must be
disposed of in a method conforming
to the regulatory requirements in
your state.
Selective Catalytic Reduction
(SCR) System
The Selective Catalytic Reduction
(SCR) system reduces nitrogen
oxide (NOx) emissions emitted from
a diesel engine. The SCR system
reduces NOx by adding (injecting)
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) into the
exhaust system and inducing a
reaction converting NOx into water
vapor and nitrogen.
The SCR system consists of the
DEF tank, DEF Control Unit, DEF
Supply Pump and Injector, and the
SCR Catalyst. It is important to keep
a good supply of DEF in the DEF
tank at all times. Monitor the DEF
gauge to be sure the DEF tank level
does not become too low.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
10716700) - 2017 - crc - 12/6/16
266 Vehicle Care
{Warning
For storage, close the cap of
coolant container securely and
keep it in a place inaccessible to
children.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Using any coolant other than that
recommended by your dealer could
cause damage to the engine,
radiator or heater core. In particular,
use of coolants containing borate
salts or silicates may result in
engine or radiator corrosion,
causing engine coolant leaks and
other problems.
To dilute the coolant, use distilled
water or deionized water.
Do not use the coolant at any
coolant concentration other than
that specified. If the coolant
concentration is 60% or higher,
overheating is likely to occur, while
if it is 30% or lower, anti-corrosion
function is not provided sufficiently. Using coolant at any coolant
concentration other than that
specified may reduce anti-freezing
performance, and engine coolant
may freeze.
If the engine coolant decreases
rapidly, go immediately to the
nearest dealer for a check and
repair.
Checking the Engine Coolant
Level
For the single cab model, the
engine coolant reserve tank is
located behind the front-right wheel.
See
Cab Tilting 0247.
For the 3.0L diesel and the 6.0L
crew cab models, the engine
coolant reserve tank is under the
access panel beneath the left rear
seat. See Engine Cover 0250.