2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 overheating

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Driving and Operating 235
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or flowing water.
{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 is
wet 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 Tires0370.
. 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.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
236 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering assist. Always
have the engine running and the
vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, crash).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0273.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0270. .
Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0453. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
252 Driving and Operating
wire tie that bundles the
electrical plug. Do not cut the
electrical cord.
Check the heater cord for
damage. If it is damaged, do
not use it. See your dealer for
a replacement. Inspect the
cord for damage yearly.
3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord
or an extension cord can damage
the cord and may result in
overheating and fire.
. Plug the cord into a
three-prong electrical utility
receptacle that is protected
by a ground fault detection
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
function. An ungrounded
outlet could cause an
electric shock.
. Use a weatherproof,
heavy-duty, 15 amp-rated
extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the
recommended extension
cord in good operating
condition, or using a
damaged heater or
extension cord, could make
it overheat and cause a fire,
property damage, electric
shock, and injury.
. Do not operate the vehicle
with the heater cord
permanently attached to the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
vehicle. Possible heater
cord and thermostat
damage could occur.
. While in use, do not let the
heater cord touch vehicle
parts or sharp edges. Never
close the hood on the
heater cord.
. Before starting the vehicle,
unplug the cord, reattach
the cover to the plug, and
securely fasten the cord.
Keep the cord away from
any moving parts.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine
parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer in the
area where you will be parking the
vehicle for the best advice on this.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Driving and Operating 275
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on
again, press and release
g. The
traction off light
iand the
StabiliTrak/ESC OFF light
gin the
instrument cluster turn off.
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically
turn on if the vehicle exceeds
56 km/h (35 mph). Traction control
will remain off.
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature and a Hill
Start Assist (HSA) feature.
See Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
0 315 orHill Start Assist (HSA)
0 272.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 325.
Hill Descent
Control (HDC)
If equipped, Hill Descent Control
(HDC) sets and maintains vehicle
speed while driving down steep grades in a forward or reverse gear.
The HDC switch is on the center
stack, below the climate controls.
Press
5to enable or disable HDC.
Vehicle speed must be below
50 km/h (31 mph).
When enabled, the HDC light
displays on the instrument cluster.
A blinking HDC light indicates the
system is actively applying the
brakes to maintain vehicle speed.
HDC can maintain vehicle speeds
between 1 and 30 km/h (1 and
19 mph) on grades greater than or
equal to 10%.
If HDC is to be used for more than
three minutes or on grades steeper
than 25%, the transfer case should
be put into Four-Wheel Drive Low
(4
n) to reduce the possibility of
brake overheating. Noise from the hydraulic brake
control module is normal when HDC
is active.
When HDC is activated, the initial
HDC speed is set to the current
driving speed. It can be increased or
decreased by pressing +RES or
SET- on the steering wheel, or by
applying the accelerator or brake
pedal. This adjusted speed
becomes the new set speed.
HDC will remain enabled between
30 and 60 km/h (19 and 37 mph);
however, vehicle speed cannot be
set or maintained in this range. HDC
will automatically disable if the
vehicle speed is above 80 km/h
(50 mph) or above 60 km/h
(37 mph) for at least 30 seconds.
5must be pressed again to
re-enable HDC. HDC may disable
after an extended period of use.
If this happens, HDC will require
time to cool down. The length of
time HDC remains active depends
on road conditions, grade, set
speed, vehicle loading, and outside
temperature.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Driving and Operating 297
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes,
engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at lower altitudes.
If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle could show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run, preferably on
level ground, with the transmission
in P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating0343.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and
trailer on a level surface when
possible. When parking your vehicle and your
trailer 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, gradually release the
brake pedal to allow the chocks
to absorb the load of the trailer.
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.
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal. 3. Drive slowly until the trailer is
clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0430. It is
especially important to check the
automatic transmission fluid, engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before
and during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 343.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Vehicle Care 323
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 324
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 325
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 333
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 335
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 337
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 338
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 343
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345 Power Steering Fluid (1500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Power Steering Fluid (2500/ 3500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Battery - North America . . . . . . 349
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 352
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 354
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 354
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 355
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 356
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357 High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Taillamps (Chassis Cab Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 361
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 362
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
340 Vehicle Care
6.0L V8 Engine
1. Coolant Surge Tank
2. Coolant Surge TankPressure Cap
3. Engine Belt-Driven Cooling Fan (Out of View)
{Warning
An underhood electric fan 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
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts.
They can be very hot and can
burn you. Do not run the engine if
there is a leak; all coolant could
leak out. That could cause an
engine fire and can burn you. Fix
any leak before driving 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 0343.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Vehicle Care 343
6. Verify coolant level after theengine 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 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
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak in the engine cooling system.
This can cause a loss of all
coolant and can damage the
system and vehicle. Have any
leaks fixed right away. 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 0141.
In addition, there are ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE,
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE, and ENGINE POWER IS
REDUCED messages in the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance Program
0 453.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
5.3L V8 Engine
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. Have the
vehicle serviced.
If Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
If No Steam is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message, along with a low coolant
condition, can indicate a serious
problem.