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DRIVING AND OPERATING 303
necessary to go much farther beyond
the passed vehicle before returning to
the lane. Pass on level roadways.
Avoid passing on hills if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. To move the trailer to
the left, move that hand to the left. To
move the trailer to the right, move
that hand to the right. Always back up
slowly and, if possible, have someone
guide you.
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.
Vehicles 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 0326.
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.
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304 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.Shift into a gear.
.Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more often
when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0383. 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
0 326.
Trailer Towing (LSY 2.0L
L4 and LGY 3.0L
V6 Engines Only)
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.
Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, dimensions of
the front of the trailer, and how
frequently the vehicle is used to tow a
trailer.
Before towing a trailer, always
separately weigh:
.the total weight on the vehicle's
tires.
.the trailer.
.the trailer tongue.
{Warning
You and others could be seriously
injured or killed if the trailer is too
heavy or the trailer brakes are
inadequate for the load. The vehicle
may be damaged, and the repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Only tow a trailer if all the steps in
this section have been followed. Ask
your dealer for advice and
information about towing a trailer.
Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR)
For information about the vehicle's
maximum load capacity, see Vehicle
Load Limits 0219. When calculating
the GVWR with a trailer attached, the
trailer tongue weight must be
included as part of the weight the
vehicle is carrying.
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308 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 319
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 320
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Brake Pad Life System (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 330
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 331
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 332
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . 333
Bulb Replacement
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 334
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 334
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 337
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Self-Sealing Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 345 Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 351
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 359
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
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314 VEHICLE CARE
1. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir.See Washer Fluid 0327.
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 322.
3. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0320.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0322.
5. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 316.
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil
0 316.
7. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0368.
8. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0329.
9. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0368.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0335.
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VEHICLE CARE 315
3.0L V6 Engine
1. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0327.
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 322. 3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
Engine Oil
0 316.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0320.
5. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0322. 6. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See
Engine Oil
0 316.
7. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0368.
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316 VEHICLE CARE
8. Brake Fluid Reservoir. SeeBrake
Fluid 0329.
9. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0368.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0335.
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 0318.
.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 0313 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 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
2.0L L4 Turbo (LSY) Engine
3.0L V6 Twin Turbo (LGY) Engine
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VEHICLE CARE 317
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 0397.
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
0 313 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 0392.
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.
Caution
Failure to use the recommended
engine oil or equivalent can result
in engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Viscosity Grade
For the 2.0L L4 Turbo (LSY) engine,
use SAE 0W-20 viscosity grade
engine oil.
For the 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo (LGY)
engine, use SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade
engine oil. Cold Temperature
Operation: In an area of extreme cold,
where the temperature falls below
−29 °C (−20 °F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may
be used. An oil of this viscosity grade
will provide easier cold starting for the
engine at extremely low temperatures.
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.
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318 VEHICLE CARE
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 trashor 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, it
indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message comes on. Change the
oil as soon as possible within the next
1 000 km (600 mi). It is possible that,
if driving under the best conditions,
the oil life system might 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.
To reset the system:
1. Using the DIC buttons, display REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0113 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0116.