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GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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344 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Checks Doing Your Own
Service Work
{ WarningIt can be dangerous to work on
your vehicle if you do not have
the proper knowledge, service
manual, tools, or parts. Always
follow owner ’ s manual procedures
and consult the service manual
for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much more
about how to service the vehicle
than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, see Service
Publications Ordering Information
0 474 .
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 0 90 . Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records 0 459 .
CautionEven small amounts of
contamination can cause damage
to vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood To open the hood:
1. Pull the handle with this symbol
on it. It is inside the vehicle
under the steering wheel. 2. Go to the front of the vehicle to
find the secondary hood
release. The handle is under
the front edge of the hood near
the center. Push the handle to
the right and at the same time
raise the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
the filler caps are on properly. Then
bring the hood from full open to
within 15 cm (6 in) from the closed
position, pause, and push the front
center of the hood with a swift, firm
motion to fully close the hood.
Page 346 of 505
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349177) - 2018 - CRC - 10/17/17
Vehicle Care 345
Engine Compartment Overview
4.3L V6 Engine
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GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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346 Vehicle Care 1. Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting - North America
0 426 .
2. Battery - North America 0 369 .
3. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0 359 .
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0 358 .
5. Automatic Transmission
Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“ How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid ” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission) 0 354
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8-Speed Transmission)
0 357 . 6. Remote Negative ( – ) Location.
See Jump Starting - North
America 0 426 .
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of
View). See Cooling System
0 359 .
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When
to Add Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 350 .
9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“ Checking Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 350 . 10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brake Fluid 0 368 .
11. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “ Adding Washer
Fluid ” under Washer Fluid
0 366 .
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0 381 .
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GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Vehicle Care 347
5.3L V8 Engine Shown, 6.2L V8 Engine Similar
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GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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348 Vehicle Care 1. Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting - North America
0 426 .
2. Battery - North America 0 369 .
3. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0 359 .
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0 358 .
5. Automatic Transmission
Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“ How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid ” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission) 0 354
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8-Speed Transmission)
0 357 . 6. Remote Negative ( – ) Location
(Out of View). See Jump
Starting - North America 0 426 .
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of
View). See Cooling System
0 359 .
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When
to Add Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 350 .
9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“ Checking Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 350 . 10. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “ Adding Washer
Fluid ” under Washer Fluid
0 366 .
11. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brake Fluid 0 368 .
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0 381 .
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Vehicle Care 349
6.0L V8 Engine
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GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349177) - 2018 - CRC - 10/17/17
350 Vehicle Care 1. Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting - North America
0 426 .
2. Battery - North America 0 369 .
3. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0 359 .
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0 358 .
5. Automatic Transmission
Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“ How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid ” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission) 0 354
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8-Speed Transmission)
0 357 .
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“ Checking Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 350 .
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When
to Add Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 350 .
8. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of
View). See Cooling System
0 359 . 9. Remote Negative ( – ) Location.
See Jump Starting - North
America 0 426 .
10. Power Steering Fluid
Reservoir. See Power Steering
Fluid (1500 Series) 0 365 or
Power Steering Fluid (2500/
3500 Series) 0 365 .
11. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “ Adding Washer
Fluid ” under Washer Fluid
0 366 .
12. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brake Fluid 0 368 .
13. Auxiliary Battery (If Equipped).
See Battery - North America
0 369 .
14. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0 381 .
If the vehicle has a diesel engine
and/or an Allison Transmission, see
the Duramax diesel supplement.
For an eAssist vehicle, see the
Silverado/Sierra supplement. Engine Oil For diesel engine vehicles, see
“ Engine Oil ” in the Duramax diesel
supplement.
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“ Selecting the Right Engine Oil ”
in this section.
.
Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “ Checking
Engine Oil ” and “ When to Add
Engine Oil ” in this section.
.
Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0 353 .
.
Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “ What to Do with
Used Oil ” in this section.
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Vehicle Care 351Checking Engine Oil Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially
prior to a long trip. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 345 for the location.
{ WarningThe engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the
oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
.
To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground.
Check the engine oil level after
the engine has been off for at
least two hours. Checking the
engine oil level on steep grades
or too soon after engine shutoff
can result in incorrect readings.
Accuracy improves when checking a cold engine prior to
starting. Remove the dipstick
and check the level.
.
If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is
warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out
the dipstick, wipe it with a clean
paper towel or cloth, then push it
back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and
check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
V6 Engine V8 Engines
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick and
the engine has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then recheck
the level. See “ Selecting the Right
Engine Oil ” later in this section for
an explanation of what kind of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications 0 461 .
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
(Continued)