2017 GMC SIERRA 1500 overheating

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
Vehicle Care 339
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 340
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 341
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 351
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6 Speed Transmission) . . . . . 352
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8 Speed Transmission) . . . . . 354
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 355
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 360
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362 Power Steering Fluid (1500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Power Steering Fluid (2500/ 3500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Battery - North America . . . . . . 366
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 370
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 371
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 371
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 372
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 372
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373 LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Electrical System Overload . . . 376
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
(Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 385
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
Vehicle Care 357
Warning (Continued)
keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any engine
cooling fan.
6.0L V8 Engine
1. Coolant Surge Tank
2. Coolant Surge TankPressure Cap
3. Engine Belt-Driven Cooling Fan (Out of View)
{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.
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 0360.
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)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
360 Vehicle Care
4. With the coolant surge tankpressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until the
engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates approximately
90 °C (195 °F).
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level reaches the
FULL COLD mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly.
6. Verify coolant level after the engine is shut off and the
coolant is cold. If necessary,
repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1–6.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and
possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
If the vehicle has the Duramax
diesel engine, see the Duramax
diesel supplement.
Caution
Running the engine without
coolant may cause damage or a
fire. Vehicle damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There is a coolant temperature
gauge in the vehicle's instrument
cluster. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge 0127.
In addition, there are ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE,
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE, and ENGINE POWER IS
REDUCED messages in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
Engine Cooling System Messages
0 146 andEngine Power
Messages 0147. If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance
Program
0461.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
4.3L V6, 5.3L V8, and 6.2L
V8 Engines
Check to see if the engine cooling
fans are running. If the engine is
overheating, the fans should be
running. If they are not, do not
continue to run the engine and have
the vehicle serviced.
If Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it (Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
Vehicle Care 383
Number Usage20 –
22 HVAC/Auxiliary HVAC/Ignition
23 Instrument cluster/ Ignition sensing
diagnostic module/
Ignition
24 –
25 Data link connector/ Driver seat module
26 Passive entry/Passive start/HVAC
27 –
28 –
29 Park enable/ Electrically adjustable
pedals
30 SEO
31 Accessory/Run/Crank
32 Heated steering wheel
33 –
34 Instrument cluster
36 – Number Usage
37 –
38 4WD TREC
40 Left doors
41 Driver power seat
43 Left heated, cooled or ventilated seats (if
equipped)
44 Right heated, cooled or ventilated seats (if
equipped)
45 –
49 Retained accessory power
50 Run/CrankWheels and Tires
Tires
Every new GM vehicle has
high-quality tires made by a
leading tire manufacturer. See
the warranty manual for
information regarding the tire
warranty and where to get
service. For additional
information refer to the tire
manufacturer.
{Warning
.Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
.Overloading the tires can
cause overheating as a
result of too much
flexing. There could be a
blowout and a serious
crash. See Vehicle Load
Limits 0250.
(Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
392 Vehicle Care
Caution
Neither tire underinflation nor
overinflation is good.
Underinflated tires, or tires
that do not have enough air,
can result in:
.Tire overloading and
overheating which could
lead to a blowout.
.Premature or
irregular wear.
.Poor handling.
.Reduced fuel economy.
Overinflated tires, or tires that
have too much air, can
result in:
.Unusual wear.
.Poor handling.
.Rough ride.
.Needless damage from
road hazards. The Tire and Loading
Information label on the vehicle
indicates the original equipment
tires and the correct cold tire
inflation pressures. The
recommended pressure is the
minimum air pressure needed to
support the vehicle's maximum
load carrying capacity.
For additional information
regarding how much weight the
vehicle can carry, and an
example of the Tire and Loading
Information label, see
Vehicle
Load Limits 0250. How the
vehicle is loaded affects vehicle
handling and ride comfort. Never
load the vehicle with more
weight than it was designed to
carry.
When to Check
Check the tires once a month
or more. Do not forget the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one. See
Full-Size Spare Tire
0417 for
additional information.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type
gauge to check tire pressure.
Proper tire inflation cannot be
determined by looking at the tire.
Check the tire inflation pressure
when the tires are cold, meaning
the vehicle has not been driven
for at least three hours or no
more than 1.6 km (1 mi).
Remove the valve cap from the
tire valve stem. Press the tire
gauge firmly onto the valve to
get a pressure measurement.
If the cold tire inflation pressure
matches the recommended
pressure on the Tire and
Loading Information label, no
further adjustment is necessary.
If the inflation pressure is low,
add air until the recommended
pressure is reached. If the

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
484 Index
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 464
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 3
Data CollectionInfotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 470
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 470
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 469
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Diagnostics
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Door
Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 456
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 290
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 293 Driving (cont'd)
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 26
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 247
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 249
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379, 381
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376 Emergency
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 343
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Cooling System Messages . . . 146
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 456
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 126
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Overheated Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 267
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
Index 489
OutletsPower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . 362
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178, 179
P
Park Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Parking
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 371
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 266
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Parking or Backing
Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 291
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . 75
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . . 341
Personalization Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Phone
Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . 210, 212, 216, 220
Pickup Conversion to
Chassis Cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Port USB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193, 196
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 262
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Power Assist Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Pregnancy, Using Safety Belts . . . 64
Privacy Vehicle Data Recording . . . . . . . 469
Program
Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . 463
Proposition 65 Warning,
California . . . . . . . . . . . .340, 366, 418
R
Radio Frequency Statement . . . . 467
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
RadiosAM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . 184, 186
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368 Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 58
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . 291
Rear Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Recognition Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 447
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 423
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . 33