Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
324 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 325
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 326
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 334
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 336
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 338
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 339
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 344
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346 Power Steering Fluid (1500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Power Steering Fluid (2500/ 3500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Battery - North America . . . . . . 350
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 353
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 355
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 355
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 356
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 357
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358 High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Taillamps (Chassis Cab Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 362
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 363
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
Vehicle Care 325
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 373
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 394
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 408Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 413
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
326 Vehicle Care
California Proposition
65 Warning
{Warning
Most motor vehicles, including
this one, as well as many of its
service parts and fluids, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and
systems, many fluids, and some
component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these
chemicals. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See Battery - North America 0350
and Jump Starting - North America
0 409 and the back cover.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. Damage to suspension components
caused by modifying vehicle height
outside of factory settings will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM
certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is
not covered under the terms of the
vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 089.
Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
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Vehicle Care 327
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It 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
Publication Ordering Information
0 459.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 088. If equipped with remote vehicle
start, open the hood before
performing any service work to
prevent remote starting the vehicle
accidentally. See
Remote Vehicle
Start 038.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records 0445.
Caution
Even 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.
Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
Vehicle Care 333
Checking 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
0329 for the location.
{Warning
The 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
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 0447.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If the oil level is
above the operating range (i.e.,
the engine has so much oil that
the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows
the proper operating range), the
engine could be damaged. Drain
the excess oil or limit driving of
the vehicle, and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 329 for the location of the engine
oil fill cap.
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Vehicle Care 335
include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
On some vehicles, when the system
has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, a CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on to
indicate that an oil change is
necessary. Change the oil as soon
as possible within the next 1 000 km
(600 mi). It is possible that, if driving
under the best conditions, the oil life
system might indicate that an oil
change is not necessary for up to a
year. The engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a year
and, at this time, the system must
be reset. For vehicles without the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message, an oil change is needed
when the OIL LIFE REMAINING
percentage is near 0%. Your dealer
has trained service people who will
perform this work and reset the
system. It is also important to checkthe oil regularly over the course of
an oil drain interval and keep it at
the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. Always reset the
engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the engine oil life system:
1. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. If the
vehicle does not have DIC
buttons, the vehicle must be in
P (Park) to access this display.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level) 0154 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0156. 2. Press and hold
V, or the trip
odometer reset stem if the
vehicle does not have DIC
buttons, for several seconds.
The oil life will change
to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows: 1. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level) 0154 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0156.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within
five seconds.
3. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. If the
display shows 100%, the
system is reset.
If the vehicle has a CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message and it
comes back on when the vehicle is
started and/or the OIL LIFE
REMAINING is near 0%, the engine
oil life system has not been reset.
Repeat the procedure.
Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
336 Vehicle Care
Automatic Transmission
Fluid (6-Speed
Transmission)
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level. The only
reason for fluid loss is a
transmission leak or overheated
transmission. If a small leak is
suspected, then use the following
checking procedures to check the
fluid level. However, if there is a
large leak, then it may be necessary
to have the vehicle towed to a
dealer service department and have
it repaired before driving the vehicle
further.
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(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
automatic transmission fluid listed
inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0441.
Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule
0 431. Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0441.
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Caution
Too much or too little fluid can
damage the transmission. Too
much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on
hot engine parts or exhaust
system parts, starting a fire. Too
little fluid could cause the (Continued)
Caution (Continued)
transmission to overheat. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if
checking the transmission fluid.
Before checking the fluid level,
prepare the vehicle: 1. Start the engine and park the vehicle on a level surface.
Keep the engine running.
2. Apply the parking brake and place the shift lever in P (Park).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever
through each gear range,
pausing for about
three seconds in each range.
Then, move the shift lever back
to P (Park).
4. Allow the engine to idle (500– 800 rpm) for at least
one minute. Slowly release the
brake pedal.
5. Keep the engine running and check the transmission fluid
temperature on the Driver
Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
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Vehicle Care 339
transmission leak or overheated
transmission. This vehicle is not
equipped with a transmission fluid
level dipstick. There is a special
procedure for checking and
changing the transmission fluid in
these vehicles. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at the dealer. Contact the
dealer for additional information or
the procedure can be found in the
service manual. SeePublication
Ordering Information 0459.
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 0441.
Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule
0 431. Be sure to use the transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
0441.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see “8-Cylinder Pickup Models”
under “Engine Air Cleaner/Filter” in
the Duramax diesel supplement for
the correct inspection and
replacement procedures.
The engine air cleaner/filter is on
the passenger side of the engine
compartment. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0329.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air filter, see
Maintenance Schedule 0431.
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
replace if damaged. Do not clean
the engine air cleaner/filter or
components with water or
compressed air.
To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter:
1. Screws
2. Electrical Connectors