Page 61 of 374

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
60 Instruments and Controls
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
With the engine control switch in the
ON position, this gauge indicates
the temperature of the engine
coolant.“C”means cold while “H”
means hot. During operation, the
needle should stay in the safety
zone. See Engine Overheating
0 249.
{Warning
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge shows an overheat
condition or you have any other
reason to suspect the engine may
be overheating, continued
operation of the engine, even for
a short time, may result in a fire
and the risk of personal injury and
severe vehicle damage. Take
immediate action as outlined in
Engine Overheating. See Engine
Overheating 0249.
Caution
If the needle goes up above the
upper limit and enters the H zone,
the engine is likely to overheat.
Immediately pull safely off the
road out of the way of traffic and
take the necessary actions to
deal with engine overheating.
If the needle nears the H zone but
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
does not cross into it, this is not a
problem, but check the engine
coolant level in the reservoir. Add
engine coolant as necessary.
See “Engine Overheat Warning
Light” under Driver Information
Center (DIC) 070 and
Engine Coolant 0243.
Diesel Exhaust Fluid
(DEF) Gauge
The DEF gauge is part of the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
070.
Seat Belt Reminders
Seat Belt Warning Light
There is a driver seat belt reminder
light on the instrument cluster.
Page 167 of 374

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
166 Driving and Operating
The cruise set indicator light will
stop flashing and the engine speed
will return to normal.
Engine Checks Before
Operating
Checks Before Operating
Allow the engine to warm up before
placing the engine under heavy load
driving. While the engine is warming
up under light load, the following
checks should be made:1. Observe the red engine oil pressure warning light. The
light should go out when the
engine is running. If it stays on,
shut the engine off and find the
cause.
2. Look at the engine coolant temperature gauge. If the
gauge reaches the H (HOT)
area, stop the engine and find
the cause of the overheating.
3. Check that the battery warning light has gone out. The light
should go off and stay off at
normal idle speeds. If the light does not go out or comes on
during normal operation, have
the charging system checked.
4. Check that the brake low vacuum warning light is out
and that the vacuum buzzer is
not sounding. It is normal for
the warning buzzer to sound
for a few seconds after the
engine starts. If the light and
buzzer remain on, do not drive
the vehicle until the cause has
been found and corrected.
5. Look at the brake system warning light. It should be out
when the parking brake is
released and the engine is
running. If it stays on, it could
mean that the brake fluid level
is low. Check the brake fluid
reservoir. This condition must
be corrected before moving the
vehicle.
{Warning
To reduce the chance of personal
injury and/or vehicle damage due
to engine overheating, never
leave the engine idling without an
alert driver present. If the engine
should overheat, as indicated by
the engine coolant temperature
gauge, immediate action is
required to correct the condition.
Continued operation of the
engine, even for a short time, may
result in a fire.
Do not engage the exhaust brake
while the engine is idling as this
may cause engine overheating.
You and others could be seriously
injured.
Avoid Unnecessary Idling of the
Diesel Engine
If the diesel engine idles too long,
the engine coolant temperature will
fall below the operating range. Low
Page 225 of 374

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
224 Driving and Operating
Running Out of Fuel
When the Fuel Tank is Empty
When the fuel tank is empty, air will
enter the fuel system, so refueling
alone will not be enough to restart
the engine. Use the following
methods to bleed the fuel system.
Bleeding the Fuel System
Steps for Refueling1. Follow the directions in "Parking Brake Lever" under
Parking Brake 0211. 2. Select the correct fuel (See
"Diesel Fuel Requirement and
Fuel System"). Follow any
posted safety rules. Stand to
the side, never above or
opposite the filler opening.
3. Check that the fuel cap is tight, and see to it that engine oil,
engine coolant in the reservoir,
and washer fluid, etc. are at
proper levels. Then do the
Driver Daily Checklist.
See Owner Checks and Services
0 330.
Driving your vehicle until the fuel
tank is empty may activate the
check engine malfunction indicator
light. You do not need to have your
vehicle checked. After refueling,
perform the following:
. Bleed the fuel system.
. Start, turn off and restart the
engine three or four times.
. The check engine malfunction
indicator light will be cancelled. Before Starting the Engine
1. The priming pump (1) is
located on the outboard side of
the left frame rail, in front of the
batteries. Place a container
beneath the air bleed plug (2)
to receive fuel, and then fully
loosen the plug.
2. Attach a clear hose onto the air bleed plug, direct the clear
hose into a catch pan.
3. Pump the priming pump (1) up/ down for 65 times to get most
of the air bubbles out. Note fuel
was drawn into the filter bowl at
around 40 - 50 times.