
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 253
Caution
Use of fuel that does not comply
with the required technical
standards can lead to engine
power loss, increased wear,
or engine damage and may void
your 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.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Aftermarket diesel fuel
additives, which contain
alcohols, organo-metallic
additives, or water
emulsifiers.
Caution
If the vehicle is accidentally
refueled with gasoline, do not
continue driving the vehicle.
Driving the vehicle will damage
the fuel system. Have the vehicle
towed to a qualified technician to
have the gasoline removed from
the tank and fuel system. Refuel
with Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel.
It is also recommended to have
the fuel system flushed with Ultra
Low Sulfur Diesel, to ensure all
gasoline is removed. 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).
Climate Grade Diesel Fuels
At temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F),
avoid using biodiesel blends above
5% by volume. Using such a fuel
may cause fuel filter plugging,
system gelling, and freezing, which
may adversely impact vehicle
starting.
Severe winter grade diesel fuel,
such as 1-D diesel fuel or Arctic
grade diesel fuel, can be used in
extreme cold temperatures (below
−18 °C or 0 °F); however, doing so
will reduce power and fuel economy.
Avoid using severe winter grade fuel
in warm or hot climates. It can result
in stalling, poor starting, and
damage to the fuel injection system.
Fuels improperly blended for cold
temperature operation may result in
restricted fuel filters. The vehicle is
equipped with a fuel heating system
to prevent gelling or waxing of

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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268 Driving and Operating
3. Drive slowly until the trailer isclear 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 0370. 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
0 296.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To tow a trailer
correctly, follow the directions in
this section and see your dealer
for important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity
for your vehicle.
Safe trailering requires monitoring
the weight, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature,
dimensions of the front of the trailer,
and how frequently the vehicle is
used to tow a trailer.
Trailer Weight Ratings
When towing a trailer, the combined
weight of the vehicle, vehicle
contents, trailer, and trailer contents
must be below all of the maximum
weight ratings for the vehicle,
including:
. GCWR: Gross Combined Weight
Rating
. GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating
. Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
. Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight
Rating
See “Trailer Brakes” underTowing
Equipment 0271 to determine if
brakes are required based on your
trailer's weight.
The only way to be sure the weight
is not exceeding any of these
ratings is to weigh the tow vehicle
and trailer combination, fully loaded
for the trip, getting individual
weights for each of these items.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 275
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 276
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 277
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 289
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 290
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 296
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Battery - North America . . . . . . 300
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 301
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 301
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 302
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 303
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Front Turn Signal and Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 308
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 308
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 309
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309 Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 336

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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290 Vehicle Care
2. Display REMAINING OIL LIFEon the DIC menu. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level and Midlevel) 0141 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0146.
3. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
4. If the display changes to 100%, the system is reset.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible. Change the fluid at the intervals
listed in
Maintenance Schedule
0 370, and be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0379.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage
the vehicle, and the damage may
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use the correct
automatic transmission fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0379.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done by your dealer.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is in the
engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 280.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air cleaner/
filter, see Maintenance Schedule
0 370.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start the engine or have the
engine running with the engine air
cleaner/filter housing open. Before
removing the engine air cleaner/
filter, make sure that the engine air
cleaner/filter housing and nearby
components are free of dirt and
debris. Remove the engine air
cleaner/filter. Lightly tap and shake
the engine air cleaner/filter (away
from the vehicle), to release loose
dust and dirt. Inspect the engine air
cleaner/filter for damage, and

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 301
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
All-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
Under normal driving conditions,
transfer case fluid does not require
maintenance unless there is a fluid
leak or unusual noise. If required,
have the transfer case serviced by
your dealer.
Starter Switch Check
{Warning
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. 2. Apply both the parking brake
and the regular brake.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it
starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle should start
only in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your dealer for
service.
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
{Warning
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured. 1. Before starting this check, be
sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
2. Apply the parking brake. Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition on, but do not start the
engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
(Continued)

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 353
Caution
If the other vehicle does not have
a 12-volt system with a negative
ground, both vehicles can be
damaged. Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump starting.
2. Position the two vehicles so that they are not touching.
3. Set the parking brake firmly and put the shift lever in
P (Park) with an automatic
transmission, or N (Neutral)
with a manual transmission.
Caution
If any accessories are left on or
plugged in during the jump
starting procedure, they could be
damaged. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Whenever possible, turn
off or unplug all accessories on
either vehicle when jump starting. 4. Turn the ignition off. Turn off all
lights and accessories in both
vehicles, except the hazard
warning flashers if needed.
{Warning
An electric fan can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
{Warning
Using a match near a battery can
cause battery gas to explode.
People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded.
Use a flashlight if you need more
light.
Battery fluid contains acid that
can burn you. Do not get it on
you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush
the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
{Warning
Fans or other moving engine
parts can injure you badly. Keep
your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
5. Connect one end of the red positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal on the
discharged battery.
6. Connect the other end of the red positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal of the good
battery.
7. Connect one end of the black negative (–) cable to the
negative (–) terminal of the
good battery.
8. Connect the other end of the black negative (–) cable to the
negative (–) grounding stud for
the discharged battery.
9. Start the engine in the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine at idle speed for at
least four minutes.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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374 Service and Maintenance
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required
Services - Severe12 000 km/7,500 mi
24 000 km/15,000 mi
36 000 km/22,500 mi
48 000 km/30,000 mi
60 000 km/37,500 mi
72 000 km/45,000 mi
84 000 km/52,500 mi
96 000 km/60,000 mi
108 000 km/67,500 mi
120 000 km/75,000 mi
132 000 km/82,500 mi
144 000 km/90,000 mi
156 000 km/97,500 mi
168 000 km/105,000 mi 180 000 km/112,500 mi
192 000 km/120,000 mi
204 000 km/127,500 mi
216 000 km/135,000 mi
228 000 km/142,500 mi
240 000 km/150,000 mi
Rotate tires and perform Required Services.
Check engine oil level and oil life percentage.
Change engine oil and filter, if needed.
Drain the diesel fuel filter of water. (Diesel Only)@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Replace passenger compartment air filter. (1)@ @@@@@
Inspect evaporative control system. (2)@ @@
Diesel Engine Only: Replace fuel filter. (3)@@@@@
Replace engine air cleaner filter. (4)@ @@
Change automatic transmission fluid.@@@
Replace spark plugs. Inspect spark plug wires.@ @
Drain and fill engine cooling system. (5)@
Visually inspect accessory drive belts. (6)@
Diesel Engine Only: Replace timing belt, idler
pulley, and tensioner.@
Replace brake fluid. (7)
Replace windshield wiper blades. (8)
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Replace hood and/or body lift support gas struts.@ @

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Service and Maintenance 379
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
UsageFluid/Lubricant
Automatic Transmission DEXRON-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Diesel Exhaust Aftertreatment System Diesel Exhaust Fluid (GM Part No. 19286291, in Canada 88865751) or diesel exhaust fluid that meets ISO 22241-1 or displays the API Diesel
Exhaust Fluid Certification Mark.
Engine Coolant 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL Coolant.
See Cooling System 0292.
Engine Oil (Diesel) Engine oil meeting the dexos2 specification of the proper SAE viscosity
grade. ACDelco dexos2 is recommended. See Engine Oil0285.
Engine Oil (Gasoline) Engine oil meeting the dexos1 specification of the proper SAE viscosity grade. ACDelco dexos1 full synthetic is recommended. See Engine Oil
0 285.
Hood and Door Hinges Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in Canada 10953474).
Hood Latch Assembly, Secondary Latch, Pivots, Spring Anchor, and
Release Pawl Lubriplate Lubricant Aerosol (GM Part No. 89021668, in
Canada 89021674) or lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Hydraulic Brake System DOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid (GM Part No. 19353126, in Canada 19353127).
Transfer Case (All-Wheel Drive) Transfer Case Fluid (GM Part No. 88900401, in Canada 89021678).