Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
206 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . 207
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . . 222
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Ignition Positions (Key Access) . . . . . . . . 224
Ignition Positions (Keyless Access) . . . . . 226
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 229
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 231Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 232
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 240
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 257
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . 260
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . 262
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Filling the Tank (Pickup Model) . . . . . . . . 265
Filling the Tank (Chassis Cab and Box Delete Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 267
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . 268
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
264 Driving and Operating
Use regular unleaded gasoline meeting
ASTM specification D4814 with a posted
octane rating of 87—(R+M)/2 —or higher.
Do not use gasoline with a posted octane
rating of less than 87, as this may cause
engine knock and will lower fuel economy.
Prohibited Fuels
Caution
Do not use fuels with any of the
following conditions; doing so may
damage the vehicle and void its
warranty:
.For vehicles that are not FlexFuel, fuel
labeled greater than 15% ethanol by
volume, such as mid-level ethanol
blends (16–50% ethanol), E85,
or FlexFuel.
.Fuel with any amount of methanol,
methylal, ferrocene, and aniline. These
fuels can corrode metal fuel system
parts or damage plastic and rubber
parts.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Fuel containing metals such as
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT), which can damage
the emissions control system and
spark plugs.
.Fuel with a posted octane rating of
less than the recommended fuel. Using
this fuel will lower fuel economy and
performance, and may decrease the
life of the emissions catalyst.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico post fuel
octane ratings in anti-knock index (AKI). For
fuel not to use in a foreign country, see
Prohibited Fuels 0264.
Fuel Additives
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is highly
recommended for use with your vehicle.
If your country does not have TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline, add ACDelco Fuel
System Treatment Plus−Gasoline to the
vehicle’s gasoline fuel tank at every oil
change or 15 000 km (9,000 mi), whichever
occurs first. TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline and
ACDelco Fuel System Treatment Plus −Gasoline will help keep your vehicle’s
engine fuel deposit free and performing
optimally.
E85 or FlexFuel
Vehicles with a yellow fuel sticker on the
fuel door can use either unleaded gasoline
or fuel containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
All other vehicles should use only the
unleaded gasoline as described in
Recommended Fuel
0263.
The use of E85 or FlexFuel is encouraged
when the vehicle is designed to use it. E85
or FlexFuel is made from renewable sources.
To help locate fuel stations that carry E85 or
FlexFuel, the U.S. Department of Energy has
an alternative fuel website. See
www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/stations.
E85 or FlexFuel should meet ASTM
Specification D 5798 or CAN/CGSB–3.512 in
Canada. Do not use the fuel if the ethanol
content is greater than 85%. Fuel mixtures
that do not meet ASTM or CGSB
specifications can affect driveability and
could cause the malfunction indicator lamp
to come on.
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
Driving and Operating 265
The starting characteristics of E85 or FlexFuel
make it unsuitable for use when
temperatures fall below−18 °C (0 °F). Use
gasoline or add gasoline to the E85 or
FlexFuel.
Because E85 or FlexFuel has less energy per
liter (gallon) than gasoline, the vehicle will
need to be refilled more often. See Filling
the Tank (Pickup Model) 0265 or
Filling the Tank (Chassis Cab and Box Delete
Models) 0266.
The only GM approved aftermarket additive
is ACDelco Fuel System Treatment
Plus-FlexFuel. Follow the instructions on the
bottle for proper use. This product is
available at your GM dealer.
Caution
Some additives are not compatible with
E85 or FlexFuel and can harm the
vehicle's fuel system. Use only additives
approved by GM for E85 or FlexFuel
vehicles. Damage caused by unapproved
additives would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Caution
Do not use fuel containing methanol.
It can corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic and
rubber parts. That damage would not be
covered under the vehicle warranty.
To help keep the engine running efficiently,
fill the tank with gasoline, up to E15, after
filling the tank with E85 one or two times.
Filling the Tank (Pickup Model)
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement.
An arrow on the fuel gauge indicates which
side of the vehicle the fuel door is on. See
Fuel Gauge 0106.
{Warning
Fuel vapors and fuel fires burn violently
and can cause injury or death.
Follow these guidelines to help avoid
injuries to you and others:
.Read and follow all the instructions on
the fuel pump island.
.Turn off the engine when refueling.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Keep sparks, flames, and smoking
materials away from fuel.
.Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended.
.Avoid using electronic devices while
refueling.
.Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel.
.Keep children away from the fuel
pump and never let children
pump fuel.
.Before touching the fill nozzle, touch a
metallic object to discharge static
electricity from your body.
.Fuel can spray out if the fill nozzle is
inserted too quickly. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly full, and is
more likely in hot weather. Insert the
fill nozzle slowly and wait for any hiss
noise to stop before beginning to
flow fuel.
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.
S./Canada/Mexico-14632154) - 2021 - CRC - 11/20/20
424 Index
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . 257
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236, 320
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Frequency StatementRadio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Front Seats
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Economy, Driving for Better . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 267
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265, 266
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Top Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 329
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 Fuses (cont'd)
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . 332, 334
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Gauges Engine Coolant Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . 102
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Global Positioning System (GPS) . . . . . . . . . 168
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404
Guidance Problems with the Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
HD Radio Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Head-up Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
HeadlampsAiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . 136
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . 325
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Heated Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . . . 49
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199, 201
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244