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158 Driving and Operating
example, grass, waste paper, oil or
old tires). Take particular care when
parking in a garage.
Use caution concerning exhaust
gases while the engine is idling. Be
particularly careful when the power
take-off (PTO) is operating (if your
vehicle is equipped with a PTO) or
the DPF is regenerating while the
engine is idling. SeeDiesel
Particulate Filter 0161.
{Warning
It is not recommended that this
vehicle be parked, idled or
operated over combustible
materials such as grass or
leaves. They could touch the hot
exhaust system and start a fire.
This is particularly important if the
exhaust system has not been
properly maintained. Combustible
materials could catch fire from hot
exhaust gases, soot, or sparks
that could escape through
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
corrosion holes or cracks. You
and others could be seriously
injured.
If operating, parking or idling your
vehicle off-road is unavoidable,
such as in farming, lumbering,
commercial or recreational use:
‐ The driver should be aware
that combustible materials
could catch fire from the
vehicle's hot exhaust
system.
‐ Carry a fire extinguisher
with the vehicle at these
times.
‐ Avoid driving your vehicle
through or over combustible
materials such as leaves,
grass vegetation or stubble
high enough to touch, catch
or collect on its hot exhaust
system.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
‐Parking or idling should be
done only in an area where
there are no combustible
materials under the vehicle.
Failure to follow these
instructions could damage
your vehicle or nearby
property.
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Driving and Operating 159
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust Emissions
Caution (Carbon Monoxide)
{Warning
Do not breathe exhaust gas
because it contains carbon
monoxide, which by itself has no
color or odor. Carbon monoxide is
a dangerous gas. It can cause
unconsciousness and can be
lethal.
Do not keep the engine running
for any length of time in a place
that is poorly ventilated. It is
particularly dangerous to run the
engine in a garage or other indoor
place that could easily fill with
exhaust gases because you could
suffer carbon monoxide
poisoning.
Inspect the exhaust pipe from
time to time. If you notice any
defect (for example, a damaged
joint, or a hole or crack caused by(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
corrosion), have checks and
maintenance performed by the
nearest dealer. Continuing to use
the vehicle without having the
defect repaired would be
dangerous because exhaust
gases could get into the cab and
cause carbon monoxide
poisoning.
If at any time you think exhaust
fumes are entering the cab, have
the cause determined and
corrected as soon as possible.
If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with all
windows fully open. Prevent
carbon monoxide from entering
the cab. The best way is to keep
the engine exhaust system, cab
and cab ventilation system
properly maintained.
We recommend that the exhaust
system and cab be inspected by
a competent technician:(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Each time the vehicle has
an oil change.
. Whenever a change is
noticed in the sound of the
exhaust system.
. Whenever the exhaust
system, underbody or cab is
damaged or becomes
corroded.
To allow proper operation of your
vehicle's ventilation system, keep
the air inlet grille clear of snow,
leaves or other obstructions at all
times. Do not park with the
engine running or idle this vehicle
for more than 10 minutes with the
ventilation system control switch
in the OFF position. Even with the
ventilation system on, running the
engine while parked or stopped
for longer periods of time is not
recommended. Entry of carbon
monoxide into the cab is possible
with a poorly repaired, damaged, (Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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Driving and Operating 161
Diesel Particulate
Filter
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
The DPF purifies diesel exhaust
gases of particulate matter (PM). PM
is filtered from the exhaust gas and
collected in the DPF. When PM is
collected to the predetermined level
by the engine control module, the
DPF automatically burns the PM in
a process called regeneration.
Regeneration may not be completed
under certain driving conditions.
If this occurs, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) will provide prompts to
properly complete DPF
regeneration.
The following sections will provide
details on DPF regeneration. Follow
the steps carefully to keep the DPF
in good working order. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC) 082,
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0326, and Engine Oil
0 223.
{Warning
Exhaust parts and gases become
very hot when the DPF is being
regenerated.
Parking over flammable items
could allow them to touch hot
exhaust parts under your vehicle
and cause them to ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, grass
or other things that can burn. You
and others could be seriously
injured.
This content is to restore the
function of the DPF and it is not a
malfunction. However, the check
engine malfunction indicator light
and reduced engine power indicator
light may come on and the power
output may be limited if driving or
power take-off (PTO) operation is
continued for a long time with the
regeneration required warning light
or selectable (switch) regeneration
required warning light (amber/
red) on. This is to prevent the DPF from
being damaged. When operating
PTO during parking, check to
ensure that the regeneration
required warning light or selectable
(switch) regeneration required
warning light (amber/red) on the DIC
is not on.
Engine oil that supports DPF (low
ash oil) is recommended. Use of low
ash oil extends the maintenance
interval of the DPF filter.
Do not modify the DPF or exhaust
pipe. Changing the alignment,
length or diameter of the exhaust
pipe would adversely affect the
exhaust system's exhaust emission
reduction function. If any
modification is necessary to install a
component to the rear of the
vehicle, consult your dealer.
Although the DPF filter automatically
undergoes regeneration (burning of
the accumulated PM) when a
certain amount of PM has
accumulated, driving conditions can
prevent completion of regeneration.
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206 Driving and Operating
Exhaust Brake Function
Diesel Vehicles Equipped with
Exhaust Brake-interlocked Cruise
Automatic activation of the exhaust
brake during cruise control driving
suppresses an increase in the
speed on a downhill slope,
decreasing the need for the driver to
apply the regular brake pedal. The
exhaust brake does not activate
when the exhaust brake switch is
turn off.
The maximum slope angle at which
the system can control the vehicle
speed increase is different
depending on the load the vehicle is
carrying.
Automatic Activation and
Automatic Release of Exhaust
Brake
The exhaust brake is engaged when
the vehicle speed exceeds the set
speed on a downhill slope.
The exhaust brake is disengaged
when the vehicle slows down close
to the set.
Fuel
Fuel for Diesel Engines
Diesel Fuel Requirement and
Fuel System
Fuel Requirements
Use of fuels other than ultra
low-sulfur fuel may not conform to
emission regulations.
The fuel supply pump, injector or
other parts of the fuel system and
engine can be damaged if you use
any fuel or fuel additive other than
those specifically recommended by
the dealer.
To help avoid fuel system or engine
damage, pay attention to the
following:
.Some service stations mix used
engine oil with diesel fuel. Some
manufacturers of large diesel
engines allow this; however, for
your diesel engine, do not use
diesel fuel which has been
contaminated with engine oil.
Besides causing engine
damage, such fuel can also affect emission control. Before
using any diesel fuel, check with
the service station operator to
see if the fuel has been mixed
with engine oil.
. Do not use any fuel additive
(other than as recommended
under "Biocides" in Water in
Fuel 0209). At the time this
manual was printed, no other
fuel additive was recommended.
(See your authorized dealer to
find out if this has changed.)
. Take care not to run out of diesel
fuel. If you do run out of fuel,
you may need to bleed air out of
the supply pump to re-start the
engine after fuel has been filled.
Your vehicle is designed to use
either Number 1-D or Number 2-D
diesel fuel. However, for better fuel
economy, use Number 2-D diesel
fuel whenever possible. At
temperatures below -7 °C (20 °F),
Number 2-D fuel may pose
operating problems (see "Cold
Weather Operation" which follows).
At colder temperatures, use Number
1-D fuel (if available) or use a
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Driving and Operating 207
"winterized" Number 2-D (a blend of
Number 1-D and Number 2-D). This
blended fuel is usually called
Number 2-D also, but can be used
in colder temperatures than Number
2-D fuel which has not been
"winterized". Check with the service
station operator to be sure you get
the properly blended fuel.
Do not use fuels other than those
recommended in this manual. Doing
so may adversely affect the engine.DIESEL FUEL/APPLICABLE
STANDARD (Sulfur content below 15ppm)
ASTM
(AMERICAN
SOCIETY FOR
TESTING and
MATERIALS) Based on D975
Number 1–D
S15 or Number
2-D S15 (below
15 ppm)
Biodiesel
Biodiesel, may also be referred to
as FAME blended (Fatty-acid methyl
ester) fuel is a renewable fuel
produced from vegetable oils or
animal fats that have been
chemically modified to make it
compatible with diesel fuel.
Caution
Do not use home-made biodiesel
or home test kits because the
quality cannot be verified by
approved scientific methods. Do
not use raw vegetable oil or other
unmodified bio-oils, fats,
or blends of vegetable oil with
diesel. They could damage the
fuel system and engine, and
damages would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Caution
Do not use blends containing
more than 20% biodiesel. Any
engine, fuel system, or exhaust
after-treatment system damage
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
As a renewable fuel, biodiesel
provides some environmental
benefits. However, biodiesel has
unique properties and needs to be handled differently than diesel fuel.
Its use presents additional risks and
may not be appropriate in all
situations. Certain vehicle operating
modes increase these risks and
should be avoided. Read further to
determine if your driving habits are
compatible with the use of biodiesel.
Biodiesel fuel quality degrades with
time and exposure to high
temperature quicker than Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel fuel. More frequent
refueling provides the best
opportunity to have a supply of fresh
fuel. Storage at hot ambient
temperatures will accelerate
biodiesel degradation.
Owners who use very little fuel,
or who have vehicles or fuel stored
for extended periods of time, should
avoid the use of biodiesel blended
fuels above 5% by volume. When
vehicles are stored for longer than
one month, they should be run out
of biodiesel to below one-quarter
tank, refueled with Ultra Low Sulfur
Diesel fuel, and driven several miles
before storage.
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Driving and Operating 209
To reduce the risk of poor quality
fuel, purchase biodiesel blends from
a fuel supplier or fueling station
which sells BQ-9000 certified
biodiesel. See www.bq-9000.org for
a list of certified marketers.
Biodiesel Blends in Canada
Biodiesel blends that meet the CAN/
CGSB-3.522 specifications up to
20% (B20) can be used. Do not use
biodiesel blends above 20%, as
they may damage the engine and
fuel system.
Cold Weather Operation
Diesel fuel is sensitive to
temperature. All diesel fuel has a
certain amount of paraffin
components, which are high in
energy value and help improve fuel
economy. But, when temperatures
are below -7 °C (20 °F), the paraffin
components begin turning into wax
flakes. If temperatures are low
enough, these flakes can obstruct
the fuel filters and stop fuel from
reaching the engine.At low temperatures, wax flakes are
more likely to form in Number 2-D
fuel than in Number 1-D (or
"winterized" Number 2-D) fuel. For
best operation at temperatures
below -7 °C (20 °F), use Number
1-D, or Number 2-D which has been
blended with Number 1-D for winter
use. When temperatures are
consistently below (or near) -18 °C
(0 °F), use Number 1-D if at all
possible. Bear in mind, however,
that even Number 1-D fuel will form
wax flakes when temperatures are
extremely low.
Do not use home heating oil or
gasoline in your diesel engine;
either may cause engine damage.
The addition of kerosene will not
unplug a filter plugged with wax.
Warming a "waxed" filter to a
temperature of 0 °C to 10 °C (32 °F
to 50 °F) will return the wax to
solution. Filter replacement is not
normally required.
Water in Fuel
During refueling, it is possible for
water (and other contaminants) to
be pumped into your fuel tank along
with the diesel fuel. This can occur if
a service station does not regularly
inspect and clean its fuel tanks, or if
a service station receives
contaminated fuel from its
supplier(s).
To protect your engine from
contaminated fuel, there is a water
separator system on the engine
which allows you to drain excess
water from the fuel.
{Warning
The drained water/diesel fuel
mixture is flammable, and could
be hot. To help avoid personal
injury or death and/or property
damage, do not touch the fuel
coming from the water separator
drain valve, and do not expose
the fuel to open flames or sparks.
(Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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212 Driving and Operating
Running Out of Fuel
When the Fuel Tank is Empty
When the fuel tank is empty, air will
enter the fuel system, so refueling
alone will not be enough to restart
the engine. Use the following
methods to bleed the fuel system.
Bleeding the Fuel System
Steps for Refueling1. Follow the directions in "Parking Brake Lever" under
Parking Brake 0200. 2. Select the correct fuel (See
"Diesel Fuel Requirement and
Fuel System"). Follow any
posted safety rules. Stand to
the side, never above or
opposite the filler opening.
3. Check that the fuel cap is tight, and see to it that engine oil,
engine coolant in the reservoir,
and washer fluid, etc. are at
proper levels. Then do the
Driver Daily Checklist.
See Owner Checks and Services
0 317.
Driving your vehicle until the fuel
tank is empty may activate the
check engine malfunction indicator
light. You do not need to have your
vehicle checked. After refueling,
perform the following:
. Bleed the fuel system.
. Start, turn off and restart the
engine three or four times.
. The check engine malfunction
indicator light will be cancelled. Before Starting the Engine
1. The priming pump (1) is
located on the outboard side of
the left frame rail, in front of the
batteries. Place a container
beneath the air bleed plug (2)
to receive fuel, and then fully
loosen the plug.
2. Attach a clear hose onto the air bleed plug, direct the clear
hose into a catch pan.
3. Pump the priming pump (1) up/ down for 65 times to get most
of the air bubbles out. Note fuel
was drawn into the filter bowl at
around 40 - 50 times.
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Vehicle Care 217
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 218
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 218
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Cab Tilting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 231
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 237
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . 240
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Fuel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Rear Axle (Gear Oil Viscosity
Chart) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Rear Axle (Oil Level Check) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 250
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 252
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Headlamps and Front Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Roofmarker Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Sidemarker Lamps (Including Turn Signal and Cornering
Lamps) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 263
Interior Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 264
Wheels and Tires
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North
America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299