
Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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162 Driving and Operating
The trailer structure, the tires, and the
brakes must be all be rated to carry the
intended cargo. Inadequate trailer
equipment can cause the combination to
operate in an unexpected or unsafe manner.
Before driving, inspect all trailer hitch parts
and attachments, safety chains, electrical
connectors, lamps, tires, and mirrors. See
Towing Equipment0172. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the combination
moving and then manually apply the trailer
brake controller to check the trailer brakes
work. During the trip, occasionally check
that the cargo and trailer are secure and
that the lamps and any trailer brakes are
working.
Towing with a Stability Control System
When towing, the stability control system
might be heard. The system reacts to
vehicle movement caused by the trailer,
which mainly occurs during cornering. This is
normal when towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle
ahead as you would when driving without a
trailer. This can help to avoid heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed when
towing a trailer. The combination of the
vehicle and trailer will not accelerate as
quickly and is much longer than the vehicle
alone. It is 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 Turns
Caution
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 0194.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 177
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . 178
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 178
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . 179
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 181
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8-Speed Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . 201
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 206
Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 215
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 218
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . 218
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 223
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . 225
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . 225
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 226
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 237
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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182 Vehicle Care
1.Battery - North America 0199.
2. Radiator Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0191.
3. Coolant Recovery Tank. See Cooling
System 0191.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil 0184.
5. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0191.
6. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0189.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0184.
8. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid 0196.
9. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0206.
10. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0197.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” underWasher
Fluid 0196.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 183
6.6L V8 Engine
1. Battery - North America 0199.
2. Radiator Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0191.
3. Coolant Recovery Tank. See Cooling
System 0191. 4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil 0184.
5. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0191.
6. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0189. 7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See
“When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0184.
8. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid 0196.
9. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0206.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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196 Vehicle Care
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering fluid reservoir is in the
engine compartment on the driver side of
the vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview 0181 for reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power
steering fluid unless there is a leak
suspected in the system or an unusual noise
is heard. A fluid loss in this system could
indicate a problem. Have the system
inspected and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering Fluid
To check the power steering fluid:
1. Turn the key off and let the engine compartment cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. 4. Replace the cap and completely
tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at the COLD FILL mark.
If necessary, add only enough fluid to bring
the level up to the mark.
To prevent contamination of brake fluid,
never check or fill the power steering
reservoir with the brake master cylinder
cover off.
What to Use
Caution
Use of the incorrect fluid may damage
the vehicle and the damages may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always
use the correct fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
0257.
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants 0257.
Always use the proper fluid. Failure to use
the proper fluid can cause leaks and damage
hoses and seals.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When the vehicle needs windshield washer
fluid, be sure to read the manufacturer's
instructions before use. If operating the
vehicle in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment Overview 0181 for
reservoir location.
Caution
.Do not use washer fluid that contains
any type of water repellent coating.
This can cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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208 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
18 A/C
19 Engine control module battery
20 Left stop/turn cutaway lamp
21 Left stop/turn trailer lamp
22 Right stop/turn cutaway lamp
23 NOX Sensor (Diesel only)
24 Fuel pump 25 Auxiliary power outlet
26 Body control module 3 27 Special equipment option
28 Airbag
29 Steering wheel sensor
30 Engine control module ignition
31 Transmission control module Ignition Fuses
Usage
32 Transmission control module 1 battery
33 Rear parking aid module
34 NOX Sensor (Diesel only)
35 Fuel heater control module (Diesel only)
36 Fuel system control module battery
41 Transmission control module 2, battery
signal
42 Trailer wiring
43 Electro viscous fan clutch (Diesel only)
44 Starter solenoid 45 Engine control module, powertrain signal 2
46 DC-AC inverter 47 –
51 Left high-beam headlamp Fuses
Usage
52 Right high-beam headlamp
53 Left low-beam headlamp
54 Right low-beam headlamp
55 Wipers
56 Canister vent solenoid
58 Body control module 2
59 Body control module 1 61 Engine oil solenoid/ Crankcase vent heater
(Diesel only)
62 O2 sensor 2
63 –
64 Mass airflow/ Canister vent
65 Ignition coils/injectors - odd
66 Daytime running lamps 2
67 Daytime running lamps 1

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 211
The vehicle may not be equipped with all of
the fuses, relays, and features shown.Mini-Fuses Usage
F1 –
F2 Steering wheel sensor
F3 Auxiliary parking lamps
F4 Front parking lamps F5 Trailer parking lamps
F6 Upfitter/Parking lamps F7 Right rear parking lamp
F8 Left rear parking lamp
F9 Exterior rear mirror switch/ Door
lock-unlock control
upfitter/Front camera
module
F10 Airbag/Automatic occupant sensing
F11 –/OnStar
F12 –
F13 HVAC 2
F14 HVAC 1 F15 Reflected LED display Mini-Fuses Usage
F16 Upfitter aux 1/Gas ambulance
F17 Heated outside mirrors
F18 Rear window defogger
F19 Compass
F20 Radio/Chime/SiriusXM satellite radio
F21 Remote function actuator/Tire pressure
monitor
F22 Ignition switch/Discrete logic ignition sensor
F23 Instrument cluster
F24 –
F25 HVAC control
F26 Auxiliary/Trailer reverse lamps
F27 Reverse tail lamps
F28 Upfitter 2/Reading lamps/Ambulance
F29 Rear blower
F30 Upfitter/Courtesy lamps Mini-Fuses Usage
F31 Front door lock
F32 Rear door lock
F33 Cargo door unlock
F34 Front passenger door unlock
F35 Rear passenger door unlock
F36 Driver door unlock F37 –
F38 –
Relays Usage K1 Run
K2 –
K3 Parking lamps
K4 Upfitter 2 K5 Rear window defogger
K6 Retained accessory power

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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228 Vehicle Care
slowly. But if there is ever a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect and
what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates a
drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and
grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then gently
brake to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts
much like a skid and may require the same
correction as used in a skid. Stop pressing
the accelerator pedal and steer to straighten
the vehicle. It may be very bumpy and
noisy. Gently brake to a stop, well off the
road, if possible.
{Warning
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been driven
on while severely underinflated or flat
may cause a blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire that has
been driven on while severely(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
underinflated or flat. Have your dealer or
an authorized tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as possible.
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to
do maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips
off the jack. If a jack is provided with the
vehicle, only use it for changing a
flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and
wheel damage by driving slowly to a level
place, well off the road, if possible. Turn on
the hazard warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers 092.
{Warning
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The
vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over
or fall causing injury or death. Find a
level place to change the tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission in P (Park) or a manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks, if equipped, on both sides of the tire at the opposite
corner of the tire being changed.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (2), use the
following example as a guide to assist in the
placement of the wheel blocks (1),
if equipped.