Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
152 Driving and Operating
Cold Weather Starting
If you plan ahead for cold weather,
starting and driving your vehicle
should be no problem. The following
tips will help ensure good starting in
cold weather.
Oil gets thicker as it gets colder,
which slows down the engine
cranking speed. The diesel engine
functions by the heat of
compression (and glow plugs when
cold), rather than through the use of
spark plugs as in 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 engine block heater
may be needed for starting. See
Engine Heater0154. 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 0206.
Stopping the Engine
When stopping the 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.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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Driving and Operating 153
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.
If the Vehicle Has Not Been Used
for a Long Period
If a diesel vehicle has been
standing for an extended period of
time, the turbocharger bearings
should be pre-lubricated prior to
starting. 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 five minutes. Check for
abnormal noises.
For instructions on warming up the
engine, refer to
“Starting the Engine”
previously in this section.
If one year has passed since the
diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in the
DEF tank was added, the DEF in
the tank should be replaced. Be
careful not to inhale the ammonia
odor when replacing the DEF. Also,
please contact your nearest dealer
about the replacement work.
Operating Temperature
Recommendations for Warming
Up the Engine
The engine is sufficiently warmed
up when the needle of the engine
coolant temperature gauge starts
to move.
Do not race the engine or quickly
accelerate before the engine has
sufficiently warmed up. Oil would
not have adequately reached and
lubricated components, and a
breakdown may result. The exhaust pipe becomes
extremely hot while the engine is
idling. Before warming up the
engine, make sure there is no
flammable material, such as grass,
waste paper, oil, or old tires near the
exhaust pipe.
Engine Warm-up System
During cold ambient conditions, the
automatic engine warm-up system
operates to reduce engine warm-up
time during idling.
Automatic Engine Warm-up :
When the engine is idling with the
engine coolant temperature below
62 °C (144 °F), the engine warm-up
system automatically closes the
exhaust brake and increases engine
idle speed so that the engine is
warmed more quickly. Warm-up is
cancelled when the accelerator
pedal is pressed, and resumed
when the pedal is released.
Warm-up is automatically cancelled
entirely after the engine coolant
temperature rises above 65 °C
(149 °F).
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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Driving and Operating 155
Engine Alarm and
Automatic Shutdown
If the system senses any of the
following conditions: high engine
temperature, low engine oil pressure
or low engine coolant, the
corresponding warning light and
engine alarm (shutdown) warning
light will come on. If the engine
alarm (shutdown) warning light
comes on, you will also hear a tone
alarm.
If your vehicle has the engine
shutdown feature, your engine will
shut down in 30 seconds.Pull safely off the road and shut off
the engine. Do not start it until the
cause of the problem is known, and
the problem is fixed. However, if the
engine shuts down when you are
still in traffic, you can restart the
engine and get another 30 seconds
of operation. Do this only if you
have to, since there is a problem
that can harm the engine if it is not
fixed. See
Engine Shutdown
Warning Light 080.
Idle Shutdown
Idle Stop is a dealer programmable
function which will automatically turn
off the engine, at idle, when specific
programmed conditions are met.
See your dealer for details. When
the Idle Stop light comes on, it alerts
you that programmed conditions
have been met and the engine is
about to shut down. This light stays
on after the engine has stopped.
This indicator light will come on
when the engine control switch is
turned to the ON position and then
should go out after approximately
3 seconds. If the idling stop function does not
initiate, a transmission related
problem may have occurred. Please
contact your dealer. (There is a
Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) that
inhibits the idling stop function when
the Service Transmission Warning
Light is not illuminated).
High Idle System
Use high idle mode to increase
engine idle speed to 1,200 r/min
when the vehicle is stationary.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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162 Driving and Operating
The selectable (switch) regeneration
required warning light (amber) will
turn on when regeneration cannot
be completed automatically. Perform
Running or Switch regeneration in
accordance with the proper
procedure. This is to restore DPF
function and is normal.
The exhaust pipe mixes air with the
exhaust gas to lower its temperature
before it leaves the exhaust pipe.
The frequency of regeneration
increases especially under the
following environments:
‐Midwinter.
‐ Continuous low-speed driving for
long hours (The frequency of
regeneration increases
particularly with special
equipment vehicles such as
sweeper vehicles which mainly
travel at low speed. The
frequency of regeneration is
higher as compared to delivery
vehicles which mainly travel at
standard high speed). Automatic regeneration is performed
under normal driving conditions
(DPF soot accumulation status level
5, and in rare cases, may be
performed at continuously
low-speeds for long hours, except
PM level 5); however, the
regeneration required warning light
(amber) may be displayed in the
DIC under the following driving
conditions:
‐
When only low-speed driving at/
under vehicle speed of 15 km/h
(9 MPH) is performed.
‐ When frequent engine start and
stop are performed.
‐ When the engine stops every
time before the engine is
warmed up.
‐ When continuous idling (over
1 hour) is frequently performed.
If the vehicle is stationary with the
engine idling during DPF
regeneration, the exhaust brake or
exhaust throttle operates. Operating
sounds will be heard when the exhaust brake or exhaust throttle is
activated or deactivated. The
sounds do not indicate a fault.
White smoke could be emitted
briefly from the exhaust pipe in the
following situations, but it is not
indicating a fault.
‐
Combustion of PM during DPF
regeneration.
‐ During DPF regeneration of a
new vehicle which has been
driven a certain distance. The
vehicle may not emit white
smoke during its initial operation
when new.
‐ Long continuous idling.
The exhaust brake may
automatically be activated in order
to prevent emission of white smoke
if the engine idles continuously over
an extended period of time.
White smoke may be produced
during switch regeneration; do not
perform switch regeneration in any
poorly ventilated indoor place.
White smoke may be produced
during DPF regeneration when a
new vehicle has been driven a
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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Driving and Operating 163
certain distance, but this is not a
malfunction. The vehicle may not
emit white smoke immediately after
purchase.
DPF PM Accumulation Level
This green display only indicates
DPF soot accumulation status. The
DIC can display the PM
accumulation level in green. The L
indicates Low accumulation of PM
and the H indicates High
accumulation of PM in the DPF.
As PM accumulation increases
inside the DPF, the DIC will display
additional bars increasing from L to
H to show the approximate level of
PM accumulation. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC) 082. DPF Regeneration Status
This amber display indicates the
DPF is regenerating. During DPF
regeneration, the DIC can display
the status of PM reduction in amber.
The highest accumulation level bar
will be flashing as indication of the
regeneration process.
As PM levels decrease in the DPF
during the regeneration process, the
DIC will decrease the number of
bars from H to L. See
Driver
Information Center (DIC) 082.
Automatic Regeneration of DPF
The DPF will regenerate itself as
part of normal operation.
The engine control module (ECM)
controls this function based on
several factors including hours of
operation and mileage. When
automatic regeneration starts, the
regeneration in progress indicator
light (amber) is displayed on
the DIC.
During regeneration the engine idle
speed will increase and the exhaust
brake may activate when the vehicle
is idling while stopped or parked.
Regeneration is normally completed
in about 20 minutes. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) 082.
{Warning
To prevent fire, ensure that there
is no combustible material near
the muffler, the DPF or the
exhaust pipe. Also, be careful not
to burn yourself on the hot
exhaust gas. You and others
could be seriously injured.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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Driving and Operating 173
Warning (Continued)
Do not add substances such as
gasoline or diesel fuel to the DEF
tank. You and others could be
seriously injured.
Caution
When opening the DEF tank cap,
be careful not to let dirt or other
foreign matter enter inside the
DEF tank. Intrusion of foreign
matter can cause a clogging of
the filter or affect the quality of
DEF, which may result in a SCR
system failure.
If DEF is spilled on the body or
frame, it may cause generation of
rust, so wipe it off and then rinse
it away with water.
When DEF dries it will leave a
crystalline residue, this condition is
normal. Wash with water or wipe
away the residue to prevent it from
entering the DEF tank. Adding DEF in Cold Weather
DEF freezes at low temperature but
the engine coolant circulates to
thaw the DEF tank and to prevent
DEF from freezing. Vehicle can be
driven normally when DEF is frozen.
If the refill diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)
warning light is on and the
remaining DEF in the DEF tank is
frozen, the warning lights, indicator
lights and restriction will not be
canceled until the DEF thaws even
if the DEF tank is refilled.
It is not recommended parking the
vehicle for long periods with the refill
diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) warning
light on in cold weather. The DEF
gauge will not register correctly
should the DEF freeze in this
condition causing the DEF low level
warning system not to reset when
DEF is added. Take the following
actions to avoid this condition in
cold weather:
1. Refill the DEF as soon as possible after parking the
vehicle. 2. Turn the engine control switch
to the ON position from the
LOCK position.
3. Wait for the warning buzzers and warning lights to turn off.
4. If the buzzer does not stop, return the engine control switch
back to the LOCK position and
add more DEF, and then start
over from step (2) above.
5. Turn the engine control switch to the LOCK position.
The DEF freezes at approximately
−11 °C (12 °F).
In cold weather, when the vehicle is
left without performing these actions
and the DEF tank freezes, the low
DEF level warnings and indicators
may not turn off when DEF is added
until after the tank defrosts.
Make sure to stop the engine before
adding the DEF. See Warning
Buzzers 091.
When DEF Freezes
Engine coolant circulates through
the DEF tank to thaw it when frozen
and prevent it from freezing while
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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178 Driving and Operating
DEF Tank Level is Low/Empty (cont'd)
StageStage 1 Stage 2Stage 3Stage 4
CAUTION
This message indicates incorrect DEF or an SCR system malfunction. Immediately contact
your dealer to have your vehicle serviced *2
Remarks:
*1 –See Diesel Exhaust
Fluid (DEF).
*2 –See Incorrect Diesel Exhaust
Fluid (DEF) /SCR System
Malfunction Warnings.
*3 –The warning buzzer continues
to sound every 5 minutes.
*4 –The warning buzzer continues
to sound every 5 minutes and when
driving 8 km (5 miles) or more, the
buzzer changes its sound to
continuous beeping.
DEF tank low stages are as follows: Stage 1 :
When the remaining level
of DEF becomes excessively low
the DEF gauge will change color
from green to amber. In addition,
warning and indicator lights will
come on as shown in the table and
engine power will be reduced so the
vehicle speed will not exceed
89 km/h (55 MPH).
Stage 2 : If driving is continued
without adding DEF (approximately
320 km (200 miles)) the DEF gauge,
warning and indicator lights will
begin blinking. Again, engine power
will be reduced so the vehicle speed
will not exceed 56 km/h (35 MPH). Stage 3 :
If driving is continued until
the DEF tank is empty, the DEF
gauge will change color from amber
to red and the warning and indicator
lights will begin to blink faster.
Engine power will still be reduced so
the vehicle speed will not exceed
56 km/h (35 MPH). The vehicle
speed will be limited to
8 km/h (5 MPH) either when the
vehicle is stopped after driving
further on (approximately
8 km (5 miles)) or when the engine
is restarted.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
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182 Driving and Operating
Stage 1 :When incorrect DEF or an
SCR system malfunction (Type A) is
detected, the warning and indicator
lights will come on as shown in the
table and engine power will be
reduced so the vehicle speed will
not exceed 89 km/h (55 MPH).
Stage 2 : If driving is continued for
another approximately
160 km (100 miles), the warning and
indicator lights will begin blinking.
Again, engine power will be reduced
so the vehicle speed will not exceed
56 km/h (35 MPH).
Stage 3 : If driving is continued for
approximately
105 more km (65 miles), the warning
and indicator lights will begin to
blink faster. Engine power will still
be reduced so the vehicle speed will
not exceed 56 km/h (35 MPH). The
vehicle speed will be limited to
8 km/h (5 MPH) either when the
vehicle is stopped after driving
further on (approximately
8 km (5 miles)) or when the engine
is restarted. Stage 4 :
DEF indicator light is
blinking quickly, the other warning
lights are on and the buzzer is
beeping continuously indicates the
vehicle speed is limited to 8 km/h (5
MPH). See Vehicle Messages 086,
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light) 074, Diesel Exhaust
Fluid (DEF) Warning Light 080, and
Reduced Engine Power Light 081.