2020 CHEVROLET LOW CAB FORWARD Owner's Manual

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
128 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 140
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 141
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 144
Emergencies (Troubleshooting) . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Emergencies (Disabled Vehicle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 156
Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Starting and Stopping theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Operating Temperature . . . . . . . 162
Winter Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Engine Alarm and Automatic
Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Idle Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
High Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Engine Checks Before Operating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Diesel Particulate Filter
Diesel Particulate Filter . . . . . . . 171
Diesel Exhaust Fluid
Diesel Exhaust Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 180
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 196
Selector Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Overdrive Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Exhaust Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Fuel
Fuel for Diesel Engines . . . . . . . 218
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Cold Weather Operation . . . . . . 221
Water in Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Running Out of Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 224
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Power Take-Off (PTO) . . . . . . . . 227

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
Driving and Operating 129
Driving Information
Driver Behavior
Napping in the Vehicle
{Warning
Before taking a nap in the vehicle,
be sure to shut off the engine and
place the ignition in the LOCK
position. Otherwise, any
unintended contact with the
accelerator pedal while you are
asleep could cause the vehicle to
move, resulting in an accident.. If you leave the engine
running and unintentionally
keep the accelerator pedal
pressed while asleep, the
engine and exhaust pipe
could become abnormally
hot, resulting in a fire.
. If you leave the engine
running while taking a nap
with the vehicle parked in a
place where exhaust gases
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
could get into the cab (for
example, a place that is
poorly ventilated), you could
suffer carbon monoxide
poisoning.
. You and others could be
seriously injured.
Do Not Spill Liquids on the
Instrument Panel
Caution
Do not spill liquids on the
instrumental panel. Doing so may
damage electrical components
inside the instrument panel.
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Economical Driving
How you drive, where you drive and
when you drive all affect fuel
economy. For diesel vehicles, driving too fast,
driving so slowly that the engine
knocks, driving with the exhaust
brake switched on all the time, and
frequently using the exhaust brake
to adjust your speed can lead to
poor fuel economy.
Drive at a constant speed as much
as possible. When accelerating,
increase your speed gently and
slowly, and up-shift early.
Maintain a constant cruising speed,
as traffic allows, and avoid sudden
stops.
Frequent short trips, excessive
idling and use of the air conditioner
in cool weather when "Vent" would
provide adequate comfort, can all
lead to decreased fuel economy.
Warming up the engine for longer
than necessary, driving with the
vehicle overloaded and revving the
engine are a waste of fuel.
Overcooling of the engine not only
accelerates wear of the vital engine
parts but also hurts fuel economy.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
130 Driving and Operating
The careful attention you give your
vehicle, as far as maintenance is
concerned, will also help fuel
economy.
Protection of Engine against
Overcooling
Overcooling of the engine not only
accelerates wear of the vital engine
parts but also hurts fuel economy.
Distracted Driving
Do Not Use a Mobile Phone
While Driving
{Warning
Drivers should never use mobile
telephones or car phones in any
mode other than Hands Free
while driving. Doing so is
dangerous. Using a mobile
telephone while driving could
result in a crash because you
would not be paying full attention
to your surroundings. If you are(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
driving and you wish to use a
mobile telephone, first stop the
vehicle in a safe place.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Control of a Vehicle
Warnings for Driving
{Warning
Concentrate on driving safely,
obeying all legally designated
speed limits, road signs and
traffic signals.
If you notice any abnormal noise,
abnormal smell or abnormal
vibration from any part of the
vehicle, immediately stop the
vehicle in a safe place and
perform checks.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
If a warning light comes on or a
buzzer sounds while you are
driving, immediately stop the
vehicle in a safe place and
perform checks.
Slow down sufficiently when
approaching a curve. Applying the
brakes or sharply turning the
steering wheel while turning the
curve could cause the cargo to
shift, the tires to slip and the
vehicle to tip onto its side.
Avoid scraping the tire sidewalls
against curbstones or driving over
dips and protrusions in the road
surface. You could damage the
tires, resulting in a blowout or
flat tire.
You and others could be seriously
injured.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
Driving and Operating 131
Pulling Away After Stopping
and Parking
Before pulling away, check that
there are no children or obstructions
around the vehicle and confirm that
it is safe to pull away.
If you cannot see the area behind
your vehicle well enough to confirm
it is safe to back up, get out of the
vehicle and check behind it.
Make it a habit to look around and
confirm that it is safe to pull away
after a temporary stop (at traffic
lights, for example).
If the Windshield Fogs Up
Use the heater to blow hot air on the
windshield or dehumidify the cabin
using the air conditioner and place
the outlet selector knob in the
5or
4position.
Place the air selector lever in the
outside air position.
Nighttime Visibility
If there is an old film on the
windshield, the lights of oncoming
traffic will be reflected in many directions, making it hard for you to
see ahead. Use glass cleaner to
clean the glass and the wiper
blades.
Worn wiper blades cannot wipe the
windshield clean and thus cannot
maintain visibility. When the wiper
blades become worn, replace them
with new ones.
Do Not Attach Accessories to
the Windshield or Windows
{Warning
Do not attach ornaments, films or
other accessories to the
windshield or windows. They
would impair visibility. Also, any
plastic suction cups used to
attach accessories could cause a
fire or a crash by acting as
lenses.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Never Stop the Engine While
Driving
{Warning
Do not move the engine control
switch away from the "ON"
position while the vehicle is being
driven.
If the engine stops while the
vehicle is moving, the brake
booster does not work, and the
brakes would not work properly.
The engine could also be
damaged.
Stopping the engine while driving
would be extremely dangerous
because the power steering
would stop working, making the
steering wheel extremely hard
to turn.
Stopping the engine while driving
would be extremely dangerous
because the warning lights,
(Continued)

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
132 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
indicator lights and other
electrical circuitry would
completely stop working.
Placing the engine control switch
in the "LOCK" position while
driving would be extremely
dangerous because the key could
come out, causing the steering
wheel to lock so that you could
not turn it.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Avoid Unnecessary Idling of
the Engine
If the engine idles too long, the
engine coolant temperature will fall
below the operating range. Low
engine operating temperature
causes several conditions that are
harmful to engine operation and life.
Incomplete combustion of fuel in an
engine that is not fully warmed-up
causes crankcase dilution and
forms lacquer and gummy depositson valves, pistons, and rings. It also
causes rapid accumulation of
sludge within the engine.
Driving at Night
Nighttime driving is more dangerous
than daytime driving because the
field of view is narrower. Keep your
speed down, and maintain an ample
headway distance.
Metallic Plinking Sound from
the Muffler
Immediately after stopping the
engine, you may hear a metallic
plinking sound from the muffler. This
sound occurs as the muffler cools
down and contracts. It does not
indicate an abnormality or
breakdown.
When the Silencer and
Exhaust Pipe are Hot
{Warning
When the engine is running and
immediately after vehicle
operation, the DPF, silencer, and
exhaust pipe are extremely hot.
Be careful not to inadvertently
touch them when working near
them (for example, tilting the cab
or operating an attachment). You
and others could be seriously
injured.
Recommendations for Driving
in Hot Regions
The engine is more likely to
overheat in an environment where
the ambient temperature is high. To
prevent the engine from
overheating, pay attention to the
following points:
.
If the engine does not contain
the appropriate concentration of
engine coolant, overheating is
likely to occur.

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
Driving and Operating 133
Refer toEngine Coolant 0243.
. Do not put well water, river water
or other hard water in the engine
cooling system. It would hasten
the formation of rust and scale.
. If foreign matter (insects, mud,
etc.) gets stuck in the radiator's
air passages, the cooling
system's performance will
deteriorate. Check the air
passages for clogging, and
remove any foreign matter using
water under low pressure.
Refer to Exterior Care 0307.
When Turning, the Rear
Wheels will Follow Tighter
Curves than the Front Wheels
Use the mirrors to confirm safety.
Sidewinds
If the vehicle catches a sidewind
and drifts sideways, firmly grip the
steering wheel, decelerate to a
speed that allows you to stay
completely in control, and make a directional correction. The vehicle
may catch strong sidewinds in the
following situations:
.
Emerging from a tunnel
. Driving over a bridge
. Driving on an embankment
. Driving through a cutting
. Being overtaken by a large truck
or bus
. Overtaking a large truck or bus
Flat Tire
If a blowout or flat tire occurs while
you are driving, calmly grip the
steering wheel and gradually apply
the brakes to decelerate. (Hard
braking would be dangerous
because it could cause the steering
wheel to be pulled to one side.)
Stop the vehicle in a safe place, and
change the tire.
Hard Bump Under Vehicle
If the underside of the vehicle
receives a hard bump, stop in a safe
place where the vehicle will not
obstruct traffic and check for brake fluid leakage, fuel leakage and
component damage. If any part of
the vehicle is damaged or broken,
promptly have the vehicle inspected
and repaired.
Highways
.
Speeds on highways are higher
than those on regular roads, so
there is more danger. Also, a
breakdown on a highway
represents a hazard to other
vehicles and can cause a crash.
Concentrate on safe driving.
Remember to perform daily
pre-operation inspections and
use highway driving techniques.
When performing daily
pre-operation inspections,
perform the checks shown in the
table on the left with particularly
great care.
Refer to Owner Checks and
Services 0330.
. When merging with traffic on a
highway, use the turn signal
lights to indicate your intentions
ahead of time. Speed up
sufficiently when you are in the

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
134 Driving and Operating
acceleration lane. Pay attention
to vehicles behind you and to
conditions in the lane you are
joining. Merge in such a way that
you do not obstruct vehicles in
the lane.
. Your sense of how fast you are
traveling becomes distorted on
long highway drives. Constantly
keep an eye on the
speedometer, and maintain a
suitable headway distance.
. During high-speed driving, even
a little turn of the steering wheel
causes a big movement of the
vehicle. Turn the steering wheel
slowly.
. Excessive use of the brake
pedal is extremely dangerous
because it rapidly wears the
brake linings and causes brake
fade. Make effective use of the
engine brake and the exhaust
brake when you want to
decelerate.
. When you want to turn off a
highway, use the turn signal
lights to indicate your intentions ahead of time. Paying attention
to vehicles behind you, turn off
the highway smoothly so as not
to obstruct other vehicles.
Brake Fade : Frequent use of the
brakes can cause the brakes to
overheat so that the frictional force
of the brake linings decreases and
the brakes become less effective
than normal. This phenomenon is
called brake fade.
Braking
Brake Operation
The brakes give strong braking
force with only light pressure on the
pedal. Do not press the brake pedal
hard except in the event of an
emergency.
Actual stopping distances vary
greatly. Your ability to stop safely
will be greatly affected by the
surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of
the road, whether it is wet, dry or
icy; tire tread; the condition of the
brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
the weight of the load; and the amount of brake force applied.
Please allow for realistic stopping
distances to avoid unnecessary
heavy braking. That means better
braking, longer brake life and safer
driving.
Stopping DistanceThe stopping distance of a vehicle
involves reaction time and braking
distance. Deciding to push the
brake pedal is reaction time.
Applying the brake pedal until the
vehicle comes to a complete stop is
braking distance. Average reaction
time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average.
It might be less with one driver and
as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical
condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. Braking
distance will vary based reaction

Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 5.2L Diesel Engine 4500 HD/XD/5500 HD/XD
Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-13337621) - 2020 - crc - 12/5/18
Driving and Operating 135
time, the amount of force applied to
the brake pedal and the speed of
the vehicle.
When driving, bear the stopping
distance in mind. Maintain a speed
and headway distance that allow
you to stop safely even if a hazard
occurs.
Overriding Accelerator with
Brakes
In the unlikely event the accelerator
pedal becomes stuck, apply the
brakes firmly and steadily to reduce
engine power and bring your vehicle
to a safe stop. Turn the engine off,
move the selector lever to the“P”
(Park) position, and apply the
parking brake. In a safe location,
inspect the accelerator pedal for any
interference and remove the item
causing the interference, if any is
found. If none is found and the
condition persists, have your vehicle
towed to the nearest authorized
dealer.
Braking Techniques
For the most effective braking and
for maximum life from brake system
components, follow these
suggestions when possible:
. Apply the brakes gradually as
road and load conditions permit.
Reduce pedal pressure as
speed drops so that a very light
pressure is used at the end of
the stop.
. Do not pump the brake pedal as
this will only deplete the vacuum
reserve or the hydraulic brake
booster (HBB) accumulator
reserve.
. To get maximum braking while
maintaining vehicle control, use
a "squeeze" braking technique.
Do this by pushing on the brake
pedal with steadily increasing
pressure. If possible, steer
around obstacles when there is
not enough room to stop. Brake System Warning LightCaution
If brake low vacuum warning light
(4500HD, 4500XD models), brake
booster warning light (5500HD,
5500XD models), or brake system
warning light comes on during
operation, have brake system
checked immediately.
Refer to Warning Lights, Gauges,
and Indicators 056.
When the Brakes Do Not Work
{Warning
It is very dangerous to suddenly
pull the parking brake lever all the
way while moving at high speed.
Reduce speed first by shifting
down and then gradually pull the
parking brake lever.
You and others could be seriously
injured.