GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-12460267) - 2019 - crc - 9/11/18
276 Driving and Operating
Making TurnsCaution
Turn more slowly and make wider
arcs when towing a trailer to
prevent damage to your vehicle.
Making very sharp turns could
cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when
towing, so trailer will not go over soft
shoulders, over curbs, or strike road
signs, trees, or other objects.
Always signal turns well in advance.
Do not steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downhill grade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes may overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency. The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes,
engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at lower altitudes.
If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle could show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run, preferably on
level ground, with the transmission
in P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating
0313.Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and
trailer on a level surface when
possible. When parking your vehicle and your
trailer on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the
brake pedal to allow the chocks
to absorb the load of the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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278 Driving and Operating
Pulling the Trailer from the Water1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine and shift into a gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the
sloped part of the boat ramp,
the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into
the drive mode that is
appropriate for the road
conditions.Caution
If the vehicle tires begin to spin
and the vehicle begins to slide
toward the water, remove your
foot from the accelerator pedal
and apply the brake pedal. Seek
help to have the vehicle towed up
the ramp.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0395. 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
0 313.
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.
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Vehicle Care 295
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 296
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 297
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 304
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 305
Automatic Transmission Fluid (10 Speed Transmission) . . . 308
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 309
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 313
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Battery - North America . . . . . . 318
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 320
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 321
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 322
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 323
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 324
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 324
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 328
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 329
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 329
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
(Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 343
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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300 Vehicle Care
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0374.
2. Battery - North America 0318.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0310.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0309.
5. Automatic Transmission Dipstick. See “How to Check
Automatic Transmission Fluid”
under Automatic Transmission
Fluid (6-Speed Transmission)
0 305 orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (10 Speed
Transmission) 0308.
6. Remote Negative (–) Location (Out of View). See Jump
Starting - North America 0374.
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 310.
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0302. 9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0302.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 315.
11. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0317.
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0330.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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302 Vehicle Care
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0374.
2. Battery - North America 0318.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0310.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0309.
5. Remote Negative (–) Location (Out of View). See Jump
Starting - North America 0374.
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 310.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0302.
8. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0302.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 315.
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0317. 11.
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0330.
Engine Oil
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 0304.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
If equipped, the ENGINE OIL LOW
ADD OIL message displays when
the engine oil level may be too low.
Check the oil level before filling to
the recommended level. If the oil is
not low and this message remains
on, see your dealer.
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
0299 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.
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
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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Vehicle Care 303
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 0409.
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
0 299 for the location of the engine
oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0404.
Specification
Use full synthetic engine oils that
meet the dexos1 specification.
Engine oils that have been
approved by GM as meeting the
dexos1 specification are marked
with the dexos1 approved logo. See
www.gmdexos.com.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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304 Vehicle Care
Caution
Failure to use the recommended
engine oil or equivalent can result
in engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Viscosity Grade
Use SAE 0W-20 viscosity grade
engine oil.
When selecting an oil of the
appropriate viscosity grade, it is
recommended to select an oil of the
correct specification. See
“Specification” earlier in this section.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils meeting the
dexos1 specification are all that is
needed for good performance and
engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or
properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer's warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your
own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the filter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash or pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or
bodies of water. Recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on a combination of factors which
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.
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
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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Vehicle Care 305
best conditions, the oil life system
may 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. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is also
important to check the 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 theengine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the engine oil life system:
1. Display the REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) 0161.
2. Press and hold
V. The oil life
will change to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows: 1. Display the REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) 0161.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within
five seconds.
3. Display the REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. If the display
shows 100%, the system is
reset.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started and/or the
REMAINING OIL LIFE is near 0%,
the engine oil life system has not
been reset. Repeat the procedure.
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 correct (Continued)