Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13882570) - 2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
150 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 155
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 156
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 158
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 162
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 167 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 171
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 177
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 182 Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 184
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 192
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 192
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 211
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13882570) - 2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
Driving and Operating 153
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic. If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering
system, do not drive over curbs,
parking barriers, or similar objects
at speeds greater than 3 km/h
(1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane
dividers and speed bumps.
Damage caused by misuse of the
vehicle is not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Hydraulic Power Steering
Your vehicle has hydraulic power
steering. It may require
maintenance. See
Power Steering
Fluid 0237.
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or
because of a system malfunction,
the vehicle can be steered but may
require increased effort. See your
dealer if there is a problem.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13882570) - 2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
154 Driving and Operating
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
for more than 15 seconds,
damage may occur to the power
steering system and there may be
loss of power steering assist.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking. .
Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips: 1. Ease off the accelerator and
then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13882570) - 2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
Driving and Operating 163
Ignition Positions
0. Stopping the Engine/LOCK/OFF
1. ACC/ACCESSORY
2. ON/RUN
3. START
The ignition switch has four
positions.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be in ON/RUN and the brake
pedal must be applied.0 (Stopping the Engine/LOCK/
OFF) :
This position turns off the
vehicle. It also locks the ignition, the
transmission, and the steering
column, if equipped with a locking
steering column.
To turn off the vehicle:
1. Make sure that the vehicle is stopped.
2. Shift to P (Park).
3. Continue to hold the brake pedal, then set the parking
brake. See Parking Brake
0 177. 4. Push the key all the way in
toward the steering column (1),
then turn the key to
LOCK/OFF (2).
5. Remove the key.
6. Release the brake pedal.
See your dealer if the key can be
removed in any other position.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
will remain active. See Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) 0167.
A warning chime will sound when
the driver door is opened and the
key is in the ignition.
If equipped with a locking steering
column, the steering can bind with
the front wheels turned off center,
which may prevent key rotation out
of LOCK/OFF. If this happens, move
the steering wheel from right to left
while turning the key to ACC/
ACCESSORY. If this does not work,
then the vehicle needs service.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13882570) - 2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
164 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, turn off the vehicle
only in an emergency.
In an emergency, if the vehicle
cannot be pulled over and must be
turned off while driving: 1. Push the key all the way in toward the steering column,
then turn the key to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
2. Brake using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
3. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. Continue
braking and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
4. Come to a complete stop. 5. Shift to P (Park).
6. Continue to hold the brake
pedal, then set the parking
brake. See Parking Brake
0 177.
7. Push the key all the way in toward the steering column,
then turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF.
8. Remove the key.
9. Release the brake pedal.
Caution
Use the correct key, make sure it
is all the way in —or pushed all
the way in toward the steering
column when turning off the
vehicle —and turn it only with
your hand.
1 (ACC/ACCESSORY) : This
position allows features such as the
infotainment system to operate
while the vehicle is off. It also
unlocks the steering column,
if equipped with a locking steering
column. Use this position if the vehicle must be pushed or towed.
See
Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0167.
From ON/RUN, push the key all the
way in toward the steering column,
then turn the key to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
If the key is left in ACC/
ACCESSORY with the engine off,
the battery could drain and the
vehicle may not start.
A warning chime will sound when
the driver door is opened and the
key is in the ignition.
2 (ON/RUN) : This position can be
used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument cluster warning and
indicator lights. This position can
also be used for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required
for emission inspection purposes.
The switch stays in this position
when the engine is running. The
transmission is also unlocked in this
position.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13882570) - 2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
Driving and Operating 165
If the key is left in ON/RUN with the
engine off, the battery could drain
and the vehicle may not start.
3 (START) :This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
returns to ON/RUN for driving.
Starting the Engine
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
To place the transmission in the
proper gear:
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeAdd-On Electrical Equipment
0 213.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
while starting the vehicle, damage
may occur to the hydraulic power
steering system and there may be
loss of power steering assist. Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When
the engine starts, let go of the
key. The idle speed will go
down as your engine gets
warm. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow the
oil to warm up and lubricate all
moving parts.
When the low fuel warning light
is on and the FUEL LEVEL
LOW message is displayed in
the Driver Information Center
(DIC), the Computer-Controlled
Cranking System is disabled to
prevent possible vehicle
component damage. When this
happens, hold the ignition
switch in the START position to
continue engine cranking.
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13882570) - 2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
214 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 215
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 216
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 224
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 225
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 228
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 229
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 235
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . 237
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237 Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Battery - North America . . . . . . 240
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 241
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 242
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 243
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 244
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 244
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . 245
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 245
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) . . . . . . . . . 247
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 247
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 248 Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 249
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . 253
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 257
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Dual Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 275
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13882570) - 2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
220 Vehicle Care
1.Battery - North America 0240.
2. Radiator Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0230.
3. Coolant Recovery Tank. See Cooling System 0230.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 230.
5. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0229.
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0222.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0222.
8. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering
Fluid 0237.
9. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0249.
10. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 239. 11. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 237.