
GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
222 Driving and Operating
{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 iswet 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 Tires0314.
. 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.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
(Continued)

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
Driving and Operating 245
Tow/Haul Mode
If equipped, Tow/Haul Mode adjusts
the transmission shift pattern to
reduce shift cycling. This provides
increased performance, vehicle
control, and transmission cooling
when driving down steep hills or
mountain grades, towing, or hauling
heavy loads.
Turn the Tow/Haul Mode on and off
by pressing the button on the center
stack. When the Tow/Haul Mode is
enabled, a light on the instrument
cluster will come on.
SeeTow/Haul Mode Light 0120 and
Hill and Mountain Roads 0222.
Also see “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing Equipment 0272. If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
the Tow/Haul button activates the
exhaust brake system
simultaneously. See
“Exhaust
Brake” in the Duramax diesel
supplement.
Manual Transmission
If equipped with a manual
transmission, this is the shift
pattern.
Caution
Do not rest your hand on the shift
lever while driving. The pressure
could cause premature wear in
the transmission. The repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
Driving and Operating 269
minutes before turning the engine
off. If the overheat warning comes
on, seeEngine Overheating 0294.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular
brakes until the chocks absorb
the load. 4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
7. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Maintenance Schedule 0364.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Towing
Do not tow a trailer during break-in.
See
New Vehicle Break-In 0231.
{Warning
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too heavy
or the trailer brakes are
inadequate for the load, the
vehicle may not stop as expected.
The driver and passengers could
be seriously injured. The vehicle
may also be damaged; the
resulting repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Pull a trailer only if all the steps in
this section have been followed.
(Continued)

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
Vehicle Care 277
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 278
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 278
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 286
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 288
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 289
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 294
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Battery - North America . . . . . . 298
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 301
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 302
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 303
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 307
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 316
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
282 Vehicle Care
1. Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant 0292.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0289.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0284.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 290.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0284.
6. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0308.
7. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0297 or
Hydraulic Clutch 0288 (If
Equipped).
8. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 296.
9. Battery - North America 0298.

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
284 Vehicle Care
1. Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant 0292.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0289.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0284.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 290.
5. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0284.
6. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0308.
7. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0297.
8. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 296.
9. Battery - North America 0298.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
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 0286.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially
prior to a long trip. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0281 for the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the
oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
. To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground.
Check the engine oil level after
the engine has been off for at
least two hours. Checking the
engine oil level on steep grades
or too soon after engine shutoff
can result in incorrect readings.
Accuracy improves when

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
290 Vehicle Care
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Screws
2. Electrical Connector
3. Air Duct Clamp
To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter:1. Remove the screws (1) on top of the engine air cleaner/filter
housing.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector (2).
3. Disconnect the outlet duct by loosening the air duct
clamp (3). 4. Lift the filter cover housing
away from the engine air
cleaner/filter housing.
5. Pull out the filter.
6. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter.
7. Reverse Steps 2–5 to reinstall the filter cover housing.
{Warning
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air; it
helps to stop flames if the engine
backfires. Use caution when
working on the engine and do not
drive with the air cleaner/filter off.
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which could damage it. Always
have the air cleaner/filter in place
when driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the
engine to maintain the correct
working temperature.

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
Vehicle Care 291
2.5L L4 Gas Engine Shown, 2.8LL4 Diesel Engine Similar
1. Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap
2. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap
2. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
{Warning
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{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.