Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
Driving and Operating 123
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.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
124 Driving and Operating
Never Stop the Engine While
Driving
{Warning
Do not move the engine control
switch away from the "ON"
position while the vehicle is being
driven.
If the engine stops while the
vehicle is moving, the brake
booster does not work, and the
brakes would not work properly.
The engine could also be
damaged.
Stopping the engine while driving
would be extremely dangerous
because the power steering
would stop working, making the
steering wheel extremely hard
to turn.
Stopping the engine while driving
would be extremely dangerous
because the warning lights,(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
indicator lights and other
electrical circuitry would
completely stop working.
Placing the engine control switch
in the "LOCK" position while
driving would be extremely
dangerous because the key could
come out, causing the steering
wheel to lock so that you could
not turn it.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Avoid Unnecessary Idling of
the Engine
If the engine idles too long, the
engine coolant temperature will fall
below the operating range. Low
engine operating temperature
causes several conditions that are
harmful to engine operation and life.
Incomplete combustion of fuel in an
engine that is not fully warmed-up
causes crankcase dilution and
forms lacquer and gummy deposits on valves, pistons, and rings. It also
causes rapid accumulation of
sludge within the engine.
Driving at Night
Nighttime driving is more dangerous
than daytime driving because the
field of view is narrower. Keep your
speed down, and maintain an ample
headway distance.
Metallic Plinking Sound from
the Muffler
Immediately after stopping the
engine, you may hear a metallic
plinking sound from the muffler. This
sound occurs as the muffler cools
down and contracts. It does not
indicate an abnormality or
breakdown.
When the Silencer and
Exhaust Pipe are Hot
{Warning
When the engine is running and
immediately after vehicle
operation, the DPF, silencer, and
(Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
Driving and Operating 125
Warning (Continued)
exhaust pipe are extremely hot.
Be careful not to inadvertently
touch them when working near
them (for example, tilting the cab
or operating an attachment). You
and others could be seriously
injured.
Recommendations for Driving
in Hot Regions
The engine is more likely to
overheat in an environment where
the ambient temperature is high. To
prevent the engine from
overheating, pay attention to the
following points:
.If the engine does not contain
the appropriate concentration of
engine coolant, overheating is
likely to occur.
Refer to Engine Coolant 0231.
. Do not put well water, river water
or other hard water in the engine
cooling system. It would hasten
the formation of rust and scale. .
If foreign matter (insects, mud,
etc.) gets stuck in the radiator's
air passages, the cooling
system's performance will
deteriorate. Check the air
passages for clogging, and
remove any foreign matter using
water under low pressure.
Refer to Exterior Care 0293.
When Turning, the Rear
Wheels will Follow Tighter
Curves than the Front Wheels
Use the mirrors to confirm safety.
Sidewinds
If the vehicle catches a sidewind
and drifts sideways, firmly grip the
steering wheel, decelerate to a
speed that allows you to stay
completely in control, and make a
directional correction. The vehicle
may catch strong sidewinds in the
following situations:
.
Emerging from a tunnel
. Driving over a bridge
. Driving on an embankment
. Driving through a cutting .
Being overtaken by a large truck
or bus
. Overtaking a large truck or bus
Flat Tire
If a blowout or flat tire occurs while
you are driving, calmly grip the
steering wheel and gradually apply
the brakes to decelerate. (Hard
braking would be dangerous
because it could cause the steering
wheel to be pulled to one side.)
Stop the vehicle in a safe place, and
change the tire.
Hard Bump Under Vehicle
If the underside of the vehicle
receives a hard bump, stop in a safe
place where the vehicle will not
obstruct traffic and check for brake
fluid leakage, fuel leakage and
component damage. If any part of
the vehicle is damaged or broken,
promptly have the vehicle inspected
and repaired.
Highways
.Speeds on highways are higher
than those on regular roads, so
there is more danger. Also, a
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
Driving and Operating 127
Stopping Distance
The stopping distance of a vehicle
involves reaction time and braking
distance. Deciding to push the
brake pedal is reaction time.
Applying the brake pedal until the
vehicle comes to a complete stop is
braking distance. Average reaction
time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average.
It might be less with one driver and
as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical
condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. Braking
distance will vary based reaction
time, the amount of force applied to
the brake pedal and the speed of
the vehicle.When driving, bear the stopping
distance in mind. Maintain a speed
and headway distance that allow
you to stop safely even if a hazard
occurs.
Braking Techniques
For the most effective braking and
for maximum life from brake system
components, follow these
suggestions when possible:
.
Apply the brakes gradually as
road and load conditions permit.
Reduce pedal pressure as
speed drops so that a very light
pressure is used at the end of
the stop.
. Do not pump the brake pedal as
this will only deplete the vacuum
reserve or the hydraulic brake
booster (HBB) accumulator
reserve.
. To get maximum braking while
maintaining vehicle control, use
a "squeeze" braking technique.
Do this by pushing on the brake
pedal with steadily increasing pressure. If possible, steer
around obstacles when there is
not enough room to stop.
Brake System Warning Light
Caution
If brake low vacuum warning light
(4500HD, 4500XD models), brake
booster warning light (5500HD,
5500XD models), or brake system
warning light comes on during
operation, have brake system
checked immediately.
Refer to Warning Lights, Gauges,
and Indicators 069.
When the Brakes Do Not Work
{Warning
It is very dangerous to suddenly
pull the parking brake lever all the
way while moving at high speed.
Reduce speed first by shifting
down and then gradually pull the
parking brake lever. (Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
128 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
You and others could be seriously
injured.
The exhaust brake should be turned
on as soon as service brake
malfunction is detected. This will
slow the engine speed. With the
engine speed under control and
providing the grade conditions
permit, the transmission can be
progressively downshifted using the
exhaust brake in each gear.
Eventually the exhaust brake should
slow the vehicle to a controllable
“crawl.” Gradually pull the parking
brake lever while firmly holding on
to the steering wheel. Stop the
vehicle on the side of the road. The
vehicle should not be driven further
until corrective measures are taken.
See Exhaust Brake 0201 and
Parking Brake 0200. Riding the Brake{Warning
"Riding the brake" by resting your
foot on the pedal, when you do
not intend to brake, can overheat
the brakes and wear out the
brake linings faster. This may also
damage the brakes and will waste
fuel. It can also result in reduced
braking performance.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Applying the Parking Brake
Except in an emergency, do not
apply the parking brake until the
vehicle has come to a complete
stop. Applying the parking brake
before the vehicle has stopped can
cause a breakdown.
Refer to
Parking Brake 0200.
Parking Safely on a Slope
Avoid parking your vehicle on a
slope as much as possible and
choose a level and flat place. If you must park your vehicle on a slope,
be sure to set the parking brake
fully. Make sure that the vehicle
does not move, and block the
wheels with chocks for added
safety. Also, leave the vehicle in
gear to further ensure that it will not
move. Leave the steering wheel
turned such that the vehicle will be
stopped by an obstruction (for
example, the curb) in the unlikely
event that it moves.
Stopping and Parking with the
Engine Running
{Warning
When parking with the engine
running, first come to a complete
stop, then firmly apply the parking
brake, then move the selector
lever to the "P" (Park) position.
Unless you take these steps, any
unintended pressure on the
accelerator pedal could cause an
accident.
(Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
Driving and Operating 129
Warning (Continued)
To reduce the chance of personal
injury and/or vehicle damage due
to engine overheating, never
leave the engine idling without an
alert driver present. If the engine
should overheat, as indicated by
the engine coolant temperature
gauge, immediate action is
required to correct the condition.
Continued operation of the
engine, even for a short time, may
result in a fire. Do not engage the
exhaust brake while the engine is
idling as this may cause engine
overheating.
The diesel particulate filter (DPF)
may automatically start
regeneration when the vehicle is
stopped and parked with the
engine running. To prevent a fire,
make sure there is no flammable
material near the muffler, DPF,
and exhaust pipe. Be careful not
to get burned by hot exhaust
gases.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Do Not Forget to Release the
Parking Brake
Pulling away with the parking brake
still applied can damage the brake
system.
Before pulling away, make sure the
parking brake is not set by checking
that the parking brake indicator light
is not on.
Be Sure to Have the Engine
Running When the Vehicle is
Moving
{Warning
When the engine is not running,
the power steering system does
not work so the steering wheel is
hard to turn. Also, the brake
booster does not work so there is
little braking ability. If you coast (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
down a slope without the engine
running, you would not be able to
properly control the vehicle and
could have an accident.
Parking, or Leaving
Driver’s Seat
{Danger
It can be dangerous to get out of
your vehicle if the selector lever is
not fully in "P" (Park) or the
parking brake is not applied all
the way. Your vehicle can roll or
move suddenly.
To be sure your vehicle will not
move, even when you are parking
on level ground, follow the steps
below. (If you have to park on a
hill, also turn your front wheels so
the vehicle will roll away from
traffic.)
You and others could be seriously
injured or killed.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
130 Driving and Operating
1. Hold the regular brake pedaldown with your right foot and
apply the parking brake all the
way before shifting the
transmission. Follow the
Parking Brake instructions in
this manual for your vehicle.
2. To move the selector lever to "P" (Park), hold in the button
on the lever and push the lever
all the way toward the front of
your vehicle.
3. Turn the key to "LOCK".
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
5. Before you leave the driver's seat, be sure the vehicle is not
moving, or check that your
vehicle is in Park by trying to
pull the selector lever out of "P"
(Park) by pulling the selector
lever toward you without
pushing the button. If you can
do this, it means that the
selector lever was not fully
locked into "P" (Park).Driving Down a Long Slope
When driving down a long slope,
use the exhaust brake together with
the foot brakes. Using the exhaust
brake and low-gears reduces the
work load on the foot brakes and
yields greater braking force. Even
so, use the foot brakes
appropriately to prevent the engine
over-revving.
Frequent use of the foot brakes can
cause vapor lock and brake fade,
resulting in reduced brake
effectiveness.
Brake Fade : Frequent use of the
brakes can cause the brakes to
overheat so that the frictional force
of the brake linings decreases and
the brakes become less effective
than normal. This phenomenon is
called brake fade.
Vapor Lock : If the brakes overheat
due to frequent use, the heat can
cause the brake fluid to boil so that
air bubbles are created in the brake
fluid. Pressing the brake pedal
simply compresses the air bubbles;
pressure is not transmitted to the
wheel cylinders, so the brakes' effectiveness sharply deteriorates.
This phenomenon is called
vapor lock.
Even so, you should be very careful
when using engine braking in a low
gear because the engine is likely to
over-rev.
See
Exhaust Brake 0201 and
Selector Lever 0194.
Do not adjust the exhaust brake
valve.
The engine should never be allowed
to exceed the governed speed.
Supplement the exhaust brake with
vehicle service brakes intermittently
and/or shift to higher transmission
gear to prevent engine overspeed.
A rule of thumb for gear selection is
that the vehicle should be driven
down a grade in the same gear that
would be used to climb that grade.
{Warning
To reduce the risk of personal
injury, before going down a steep
or long grade, reduce speed, turn (Continued)
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-
11254764) - 2018 - crc - 12/5/16
Driving and Operating 131
Warning (Continued)
on the exhaust brake and shift the
transmission to the next lower
gear. This will help control your
speed. Do not hold the brake
pedal down too long or too often
while going down a steep or long
grade. This could cause the
brakes to get hot and not to work
as well. As a result, the truck will
not slow down at the usual rate.
Failure to take these steps could
result in loss of vehicle control.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Brake Effectiveness When the
Vehicle Has Been Driven on a
Flooded Road or Washed
{Warning
When the vehicle is driven on a
flooded road, parked on a flooded
road or washed, water can get(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
into the brakes and reduce their
effectiveness. If the brakes do not
work well afterward, drive slowly
and gently press the brake pedal
several times until the brakes dry
out and start working normally.
Always do this after driving
through water or washing the
vehicle to help reduce the risk of
personal injury. Before parking
the vehicle in winter, press the
brake pedal several times in the
same way to get rid of moisture in
the brakes. Otherwise, the
moisture in the brakes may freeze
and make the vehicle immovable.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
If the vehicle must be driven on a
flooded road or is parked in an area
that becomes flooded, promptly
perform a check for the following
points:
. Effectiveness of the brakes .
Water-ingress or damage to
drum brakes, disc brakes
. Engine damage due to
water-ingress
. Shorting of electrical
components
. Oil level and degradation
(cloudiness) of the engine,
transmission, differential
. Greasing of each components
(lubrication)
Steering
Do Not Leave the Steering
Wheel Fully Turned for a
Long Time
{Warning
If you leave the steering wheel
fully turned for a long time, the oil
in the power steering oil pump will
become extremely hot. This
would cause poor lubrication, oil
tank damage and seal
deterioration, leading to power
(Continued)