
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
234 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 235
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 236
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 243
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 245
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 246
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Battery - North America . . . . . . 255
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 258
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 259
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 260
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 260
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 265
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 265
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 275
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
Vehicle Care 239
1. Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0247.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0246.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0241.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 247.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0241.
6. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0266.
7. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0254 or
Hydraulic Clutch 0245 (If
Equipped).
8. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 253.
9. Battery - North America 0255.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Vehicle Care 241
1. Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0247.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0246.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0241.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 247.
5. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0241.
6. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0266.
7. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0254.
8. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 253.
9. Battery - North America 0255.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
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 0243.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
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
0238 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

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
Vehicle Care 247
4. Lift the filter cover housingaway from the engine air
cleaner/filter housing.
5. Pull out the filter.
6. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter.
7. Reverse Steps 2–5 to reinstall the filter cover housing.
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Screws
2. Electrical Connector
3. Air Duct Clamp
To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter: 1. Remove the screws (1) on top
of the engine air cleaner/filter
housing.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector (2).
3. Disconnect the outlet duct by loosening the air duct
clamp (3).
4. Lift the filter cover housing away from the engine air
cleaner/filter housing.
5. Pull out the filter.
6. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter.
7. Reverse Steps 2–5 to reinstall the filter cover housing.
{Warning
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. Use caution
when working on the engine. Do
not start the engine or drive the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
vehicle with the air cleaner/filter
off, as flames may be present if
the engine backfires.
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which could damage it. Always
have the air cleaner/filter in place
when driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the
engine to maintain the correct
working temperature.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
248 Vehicle Care
2.5L L4 Gas Engine Shown, 2.8LL4 Diesel Engine Similar
1. Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap
2. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap
2. Engine 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 mixture.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0335 andMaintenance
Schedule 0325.
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 0251.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
Vehicle Care 249
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. .
Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard
GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause
damage to the engine cooling
system and the vehicle, which
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, or by pouring
it on the ground, or into sewers,
streams or, bodies of water. Have
the coolant changed by an
authorized service center, familiar
with legal requirements regarding
used coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down.
If coolant is visible but the coolant
level is not at or above the mark
pointed to, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL coolant.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
250 Vehicle Care
Be sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done.
If no coolant is visible in the coolant
surge tank, add coolant as follows:
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine
parts can burn you. Coolant
contains ethylene glycol and it will
burn if the engine parts are hot
enough.
{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.
{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.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific
coolant fill procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and could
cause system damage. If coolant
is not visible in the surge tank,
contact your dealer.
The coolant surge tank pressure
cap can be removed when the
cooling system, including the surge
tank pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no longer hot.
1. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise. If a hiss is
heard, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still
some pressure left.
2. Keep turning the cap and remove it.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
Vehicle Care 251
3. Fill the coolant surge tank withthe proper mixture to the mark
pointed to on the front of the
coolant surge tank.
4. With the coolant surge tank cap off, start the engine and let
it run until the upper radiator
hose starts getting hot. Watch
out for the engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level reaches the
mark pointed to on the front of
the coolant surge tank.
5. Replace the cap tightly.
6. Verify coolant level after the engine 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
The vehicle has an engine coolant
temperature gauge on the
instrument cluster to warn of engine
overheating. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge 0116.
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. If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance Program
0
347.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, do not continue
to run the engine and 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, (Continued)