2021 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD engine overheat

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
Vehicle Care 311
.Protects against rust and corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Caution
Do not use anything other than a mix of
DEX-COOL coolant that meets GM
Standard GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause damage
to the engine cooling system and the
vehicle, which would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by putting
it in the trash, or by pouring it on the
ground, or into sewers, streams, or bodies of
water. Have the coolant changed by an
authorized service center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used coolant
disposal. This will help protect the
environment and your health.
Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is in the engine
compartment on the driver side of the
vehicle. See Engine Compartment Overview
0 304. The vehicle must be on a level surface when
checking the coolant level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the
coolant surge tank. If the coolant inside the
coolant surge tank is boiling, wait until it
cools down. The coolant level should be at
or above the indicated mark. If it is not,
there may be a leak in the cooling system.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is
not at or above the indicated mark, see the
following sections on how to add coolant to
the coolant surge tank following.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see
“Cooling System”
in the Duramax diesel
supplement for the proper coolant fill
procedure.
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine parts can
burn you. Coolant contains ethylene
glycol and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough.
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain water or
the wrong mixture, the engine could get
too hot but there would not be an
overheat warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be burned.

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
312 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system are under pressure.
Turning the pressure cap, even a little,
can cause them to come out at high
speed and you could be burned. Never
turn the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and pressure cap
to cool.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific coolant fill
procedure could cause the engine to
overheat and could cause system
damage. If coolant is not visible in the
surge tank, contact your dealer.
If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add
coolant.
1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling system, including
the coolant surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about one full turn. If a
hiss is heard, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture to the full cold mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the engine and let it run until
the engine coolant temperature gauge
indicates approximately 90 °C (195 °F).
By this time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be lower. If the
level is lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge tank until
the level reaches the indicated mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly.
6. Verify coolant level after the engine is shut off and the coolant is cold.
If necessary, repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1–6.Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and
tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
If the vehicle has the Duramax diesel
engine, see the Duramax diesel supplement.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a leak
in the engine cooling system. This can
cause a loss of all coolant and can
damage the system and vehicle. Have
any leaks fixed right away.
The vehicle has several indicators to warn of
engine overheating.
There is a coolant temperature gauge in the
vehicle's instrument cluster. See Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge 0108.
In addition, there are ENGINE OVERHEATED
STOP ENGINE, ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE, and ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
messages in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
Vehicle Care 313
If the decision is made not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, get service help
right away. SeeRoadside Assistance Program
0 404.
If the decision is made to lift the hood,
make sure the vehicle is parked on a level
surface.
Check to see if the engine cooling fans are
running. If the engine is overheating, the
fans should be running. If they are not, do
not continue to run the engine and have the
vehicle serviced.
If the engine or transmission detects an
impending hot fluid condition, then the
transmission may force upshifts to limit
temperatures. Downshifts may also be
prevented in this instance. Normal operation
may continue unless the display indicates
there is a hot condition and engine should
be idled.If Steam is Coming from the Engine
Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system are under pressure.
Turning the pressure cap, even a little,
can cause them to come out at high
speed and you could be burned. Never
turn the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and pressure cap
to cool.
If No Steam is Coming from the Engine
Compartment
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE or
the ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message, along with a low coolant
condition, can indicate a serious problem.
If there is an engine overheat warning, but
no steam is seen or heard, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
.Stops after high-speed driving.
.Idles for long periods in traffic.
.Tows a trailer; see Trailer Towing0272.
If the ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE or
the ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message appears with no sign of steam, try
this for a minute or so: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest fan
speed. Open the windows as necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral) and
let the engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gauge is no
longer in the overheat zone or an overheat
warning no longer displays, the vehicle can
be driven. Continue to drive the vehicle
slowly for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in front.
If the warning does not come back on,
continue to drive normally and have the
cooling system checked for proper fill and
function.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and
park the vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam and the
vehicle is equipped with an engine driven
cooling fan, push down the accelerator until
the engine speed is about twice as fast as

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
314 Vehicle Care
normal idle speed for at least five minutes
while the vehicle is parked. If the warning is
still there, turn off the engine and get
everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the engine
for five minutes while parked. If the warning
is still displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
If an overheated engine condition exists and
the ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED message
displays, an overheat protection mode which
alternates firing groups of cylinders helps to
prevent engine damage. In this mode, a loss
in power and engine performance will be
noticed. This operating mode allows the
vehicle to be driven to a safe place in an
emergency. Driving extended distances and/
or towing a trailer in the overheat
protection mode should be avoided.
If the engine or transmission detects an
impending hot fluid condition, then the
transmission may force upshifts to limit
temperatures. Downshifts may also be
prevented in this instance. Normal operationmay continue unless the display indicates
there is a hot condition and engine should
be idled.
Caution
After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, the engine oil
will be severely degraded. Any repairs
performed before the engine is cool may
cause engine damage. Allow the engine
to cool before attempting any repair.
Repair the cause of coolant loss, change
the oil, and reset the oil life system. See
Engine Oil
0305.
Engine Fan
If the vehicle has the Duramax diesel
engine, see the Duramax diesel supplement.
The vehicle has a clutched engine cooling
fan. When the clutch is engaged, the fan
spins faster to provide more air to cool the
engine. In most everyday driving conditions,
the fan is spinning slower and the clutch is
not fully engaged. This improves fuel
economy and reduces fan noise. Under
heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing, and/or
high outside temperatures, the fan speed
increases as the clutch more fully engages, so an increase in fan noise may be heard.
This is normal and should not be mistaken
as the transmission slipping or making extra
shifts. It is merely the cooling system
functioning properly. The fan will slow down
when additional cooling is not required and
the clutch partially disengages.
This fan noise may be heard when starting
the engine. It will go away as the fan clutch
partially disengages.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering fluid reservoir is in the
engine compartment on the driver side of
the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment
Overview 0304 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

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
Index 423
Driver Mode Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
DrivingAssistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . 268
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Electrical SystemEngine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 329
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . 332, 334
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328 Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Check Light (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . 111
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . 116
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Overheated ProtectionOperating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411 Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Exterior Cargo Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . .142
F
Fan
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
FlexFuel E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Floor Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381
Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Four-Wheel Drive Transfer Case . . . . . . . . 236
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
Index 427
Off-Road (cont'd)Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Oil Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
OnStar Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . .413
OnStar Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .413
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412
OnStar Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .413
OnStar System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157, 168
Operating Mode Overheated Engine Protection . . . . . . . . . 314
Operation Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Outlets Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .314
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4P
Park
Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Parking
Brake and P (Park) MechanismCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Extended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Parking or Backing Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . .110
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . 204
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Personalization Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Phone Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . 180
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175, 176
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab . . . . . . . . 299
Port USB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Positioning Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 Power
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Power Assist Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Privacy Vehicle Data Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410
Problems with Route Guidance . . . . . . . . . . 169
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Proposition 65 Warning, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .301, 318, 367, Back Cover
Publication Ordering Information . . . . . . . . 408
R
Radio
HD Radio Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Radio Data System (RDS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Radio Frequency Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153