GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Driving and Operating 199
It is normal to hear the DEF system
purge fluid back into the tank after
the vehicle is shut off.
Locating Diesel Exhaust Fluid
DEF can be purchased at a GMC
dealer. It can also be purchased at
authorized vehicle dealerships.
Additionally, some diesel fueling
stations or retailers may have DEF
for purchase. For vehicles with an
active OnStar service plan, OnStar
can help locate a DEF retailer. See
Customer Assistance Offices0371
for phone numbers to assist in
contacting a GM dealer. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0361. Filling the DEF Tank
Caution
Use only DEF that is GM
approved, or fluid containing the
API certified or ISO 22241 label.
The use of other fluids could
damage the system, requiring
costly repairs that will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
When adding DEF to an empty or
very low tank, always add at least
7.6 L (2 gal) of fluid to release the
vehicle from speed limitation. To prevent damage to the system,
do not overfill the DEF tank. When
fluid reaches the top of the fill pipe,
stop filling. Do not top off the
DEF tank.
If you spill DEF during filling, wipe
any affected surface with a damp
cloth.
For information on how to fill the
DEF tank, see
Filling the Tank
(Gasoline) 0247 orFilling the Tank
(Diesel) 0248.
Exhaust Fluid Low
A full DEF tank will last for several
thousand kilometers (miles),
depending on vehicle usage. As the
exhaust fluid level drops, warnings
will automatically be displayed in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
Exhaust fluid level status is
available on the DIC under the
Vehicle Information menu. See
“Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)” in
Driver Information Center (DIC)
0 136.
To avoid vehicle speed limitations,
the DEF tank should be refilled at
the first opportunity after a low
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Driving and Operating 217
Driver Mode Control Knobfor AWD
q(Vehicles without AWD) or5(AWD equipped vehicles) Tour
Mode :Use Tour Mode during
normal driving conditions. Tour
Mode either puts the vehicle in
Front-Wheel Drive (AWD vehicles)
or is the normal drive mode (FWD
vehicles). Tour Mode is the most
fuel efficient drive mode. See
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
0 26. When selecting Tour Mode,
the AWD light will flash briefly while
the system disables, and then
stays off.
4AWD Mode : In AWD Mode, the
AWD system delivers power to all
four wheels and the system adjusts
as needed to improve traction.
Selecting AWD Mode will activate
the system. The AWD light will flash
briefly while the system is engaging
and stay on to indicate AWD is
active. AWD Mode will stay selected
until the mode is changed. AWD is
active in Tow/Haul and Off-Road
Modes. AWD Mode is only available
on vehicles equipped with All-Wheel
Drive.
Tow/Haul and Off-Road Modes are
canceled with each ignition cycle
and will return to the Tour Mode.
When using a compact spare tire on
an AWD vehicle, the system
automatically detects the compact
spare and reduces AWD
performance to protect the system.
To restore full AWD operation and
prevent excessive wear on the
system, replace the compact spare
tire with a full-size tire as soon as
possible. See Compact Spare Tire
0 334.6Snow Mode : Snow Mode
improves vehicle acceleration on
snow and ice-covered roads. Snow
Mode is not available on vehicles
equipped with all wheel drive.
7Off-Road Mode : Use Off-Road
Mode for public off-road recreational
driving. See Off-Road Driving 0174.
Off-Road Mode is only available on
vehicles equipped with All-Wheel
Drive.
_Tow/Haul Mode : Tow/Haul
Mode can assist when towing or
hauling a heavy load. It changes
transmission shift patterns, turns on
AWD, if equipped, and increases
trailer sway control assistance.
When Tow/Haul is activated, the
Tow/Haul symbol will come on in the
instrument cluster. See Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 251. Tow/Haul Mode is only
available on vehicles with the towing
package.
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236 Driving and Operating
three times, on the right or left,
depending on the lane departure
direction.
Take Steering
The LKA system does not
continuously steer the vehicle.
If LKA does not detect active driver
steering, then an alert, chime,
or Driver Information Center (DIC)
message may be provided. Steer
the vehicle to dismiss.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
The system performance may be
affected by:
.Close vehicles ahead.
. Sudden lighting changes, such
as when driving through tunnels.
. Banked roads.
. Roads with poor lane markings,
such as two-lane roads.
If the LKA system is not functioning
properly when lane markings are
clearly visible, cleaning the
windshield may help. A system unavailable message may
display if the camera is blocked.
The LKA system does not need
service.
LKA assistance and/or LDW alerts
may occur due to tar marks,
shadows, cracks in the road,
temporary or construction lane
markings, or other road
imperfections. This is normal system
operation; the vehicle does not need
service. Turn LKA off if these
conditions continue.
Fuel
Fuel (Gasoline)
GM recommends the use of TOP
TIER detergent gasoline to keep the
engine cleaner and reduce engine
deposits. See www.toptiergas.com
for a list of TOP TIER detergent
gasoline marketers and applicable
countries.
Do not use any fuel labeled E85 or
FlexFuel. Do not use gasoline with
ethanol levels greater than 15% by
volume.
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Driving and Operating 237
For the LYX 1.5L L4 turbo engine,
use regular unleaded gasoline
meeting ASTM specification D4814
with a posted octane rating of 87 or
higher. Do not use gasoline with a
posted octane rating of less than 87,
as this may cause engine knock and
will lower fuel economy.
For the LTG 2.0L L4 turbo engine,
premium unleaded gasoline meeting
ASTM specification D4814 with a
posted octane rating of 93 is highly
recommended for best performance
and fuel economy. Unleaded
gasoline with an octane rated as low
as 87 can be used. Using unleaded
gasoline rated below 93 octane,
however, will lead to reduced
acceleration and fuel economy.
If knocking occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 93 octane as soon as
possible, otherwise, the engine
could be damaged. If heavy
knocking is heard when using
gasoline with a 93 octane rating, the
engine needs service.Prohibited Fuels
Caution
Do not use fuels with any of the
following conditions; doing so
may damage the vehicle and void
its warranty:
. For vehicles which are not
FlexFuel, fuel labeled
greater than 15% ethanol by
volume, such as mid-level
ethanol blends (16 –50%
ethanol), E85, or FlexFuel.
. Fuel with any amount of
methanol, methylal, and
aniline. These fuels can
corrode metal fuel system
parts or damage plastic and
rubber parts.
. Fuel containing metals such
as methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT), which can damage
the emissions control
system and spark plugs.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Fuel with a posted octane
rating of less than the
recommended fuel. Using
this fuel will lower fuel
economy and performance,
and may decrease the life of
the emissions catalyst.
California Fuel
Requirements (Gasoline)
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance may be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehicle
may not pass a smog-check test.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0127. If this
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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238 Driving and Operating
occurs, return to your authorized
dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries (Gasoline)
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico post
fuel octane ratings in anti-knock
index (AKI). For fuel not to use in a
foreign country, see“Prohibited
Fuels” inFuel (Gasoline) 0236.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER detergent gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel (Gasoline)
0 236.
If TOP TIER detergent gasoline is
not available, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment Cleaner added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. GM Fuel System
Treatment Cleaner is the only gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.
Fuel for Diesel Engines
The selection of a high quality fuel
is important for maintaining optimum
performance. Do not use diesel fuel
with more than 15 ppm sulfur
content. Do not use a diesel blend
containing more than 20% biodiesel
by volume. Both diesel and
biodiesel blends must meet all the
requirements as defined in the most
current versions of the local fuel
standards. See the recommended
fuels under
What Fuel to Use in the
U.S. (Diesel) 0239 andWhat Fuel
to Use in Canada and Mexico
(Diesel) 0240.
Caution
Engine damage may occur if
recommended fuels are not used,
which may void the vehicle
warranty. Some improper
fuels are:
. Diesel fuel with the addition
of gasoline.
. Diesel fuel mixed with
engine oil or automatic
transmission fluid.
. Triglyceride fuels, such as
raw vegetable oil or animal
fat, in any form, including
with blends of diesel or
biodiesel.
. Marine diesel fuel and
fuel oils.
. Diesel-water emulsions,
such as Aquazole.
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Driving and Operating 239
Caution (Continued)
.Aftermarket diesel fuel
additives, which contain
alcohols, organo-metallic
additives, or water
emulsifiers.
. Diesel fuel with sulfur
greater than 15 ppm.
. Diesel-biodiesel blends not
within the required
specification.
Some conditions, such as dirty fuel,
may decrease fuel filter life and a
CHANGE FUEL FILTER message
may come on in the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
What Fuel to Use in the
U.S. (Diesel)
Use of diesel fuel with ultra low
sulfur content (15 ppm, maximum) is
required. Look for service station
fuel dispensers with this label in
green:
The diesel fuel must meet ASTM
International specification D 975,
Grades No. 2-D or No. 1-D S15,
also known as Ultra Low Sulfur
Diesel. Contact a fuel supplier or
fueling station with any questions. Diesel Fuel Grades
For best results use No. 2-D diesel
fuel year-round because it is
blended for seasonal temperature
differences, both above and below
freezing conditions. No. 1-D diesel
also meeting ASTM International
D975 fuel can be used in very cold
temperatures (below
−18 °C or
0 °F); however, it will reduce power
and fuel economy. Avoid using No.
1-D diesel fuel in warm or hot
climates. It can result in stalling,
poor starting when the engine is hot,
and damage to the fuel injection
system.
Premium Diesel Fuel
Premium Diesel Fuel (FQP-1A)
corresponds to the Engine
Manufacturers Association (EMA)
Recommended Guideline. It may
provide less noise, better starting,
and better vehicle performance, but
is not required.
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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240 Driving and Operating
Biodiesel Blends
Retail pumps dispensing blends
containing up to 5% biodiesel (B5)
are not required to be labeled with
the concentration of biodiesel.
Blends up to B5 must meet ASTM
D975 (Grades No. 2-D or No. 1-D
S15 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel). When
refueling with a biodiesel blend
above B5, one of the following
labels should appear on the
dispenser:
Blends containing more than 5%
and up to 20% biodiesel must meet
ASTM specification D7467
(Biodiesel blend, B6 - B20) and are
labeled with an orange or bluepump label. To reduce the risk of
poor quality fuel, purchase biodiesel
blends from a fuel supplier or fueling
station that sells BQ-9000 certified
biodiesel. See www.bq-9000.org for
a list of certified marketers. See
Biodiesel
0241.
What Fuel to Use in
Canada and Mexico
(Diesel)
What Fuel to Use in Canada
Use of diesel fuel with ultra low
sulfur content (15 ppm, maximum) is
required. Use diesel fuel that meets
the CAN/CGSB-3.517 specification
in Canada. Contact a fuel supplier
with questions about fuel.
Caution
Use of diesel fuel other than Ultra
Low Sulfur Diesel (15 ppm sulfur
maximum) will cause damage to
the exhaust after-treatment
system. This damage would not
(Continued)
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Driving and Operating 241
Caution (Continued)
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not use marine,
locomotive, or boiler distillate fuel
since it may contain higher sulfur
levels.
Diesel Fuel Types
For best results use Ultra Low
Sulfur Type B Diesel. This fuel is
blended for seasonal changes. In
extreme cold temperatures (below
−18 °C or 0 °F) Ultra Low Sulfur
Type A Diesel fuel can be used, but
it may cause power and fuel
economy losses. Avoid using Type
A Diesel fuel in warm or hot
climates. Doing so can result in
stalling, poor starting when the
engine is hot, and damage to the
fuel injection system.
Premium Diesel Fuel
If available, premium diesel fuel
(FQP-1A) corresponding to the
Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) Recommended Guideline
could provide better starting and
vehicle performance with less noise.
Biodiesel Blends in Canada
Biodiesel blends that meet the CAN/
CGSB-3.522 specifications up to
20% (B20) can be used. Avoid the
use of biodiesel blends above 20%,
as they may damage the engine
and fuel system. For detailed
information on the use of biodiesel,
see
Biodiesel 0241.
What Fuel to Use in Mexico
Use diesel fuel specification
NOM-086 Pemex UBA, which meets
the Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel
requirement of 15 ppm sulfur
maximum. This fuel is not available
in all regions of Mexico.
Caution
Use of diesel fuel other than Ultra
Low Sulfur Diesel (15 ppm sulfur
maximum) will cause damage to
the exhaust after-treatment
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
system. This damage would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not use marine,
locomotive, or boiler distillate fuel
since it may contain higher sulfur
levels.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel 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(Continued)