GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-15170041) - 2022 - CRC - 10/6/21
Driving and Operating 219
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an electronic
transmission. If the vehicle has an
uncharged battery or a battery with low
voltage, try charging or jump starting the
battery. SeeJump Starting - North America
0 332.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Ensure the engine is running.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Press or pull the desired shift switch on the center stack.
The P indicator will turn white and the gear
indicator will turn red when the vehicle is
no longer in P (Park).
If the vehicle cannot shift from P (Park), a
Driver Information Center (DIC) message will
be displayed. Check that the ignitionis on,
the engine is running, and the brake pedal
is applied when you are attempting to shift
out of P (Park). If all of these are met but
the vehicle will not shift out of P (Park), see
your dealer for service.
Parking over Things That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch hot
exhaust parts under the vehicle and
ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves,
dry grass, or other things that can burn.
Active Fuel Management
This vehicle's engine may be equipped with
Active Fuel Management, which allows the
engine to operate on either all of its
cylinders, or in reduced cylinder operation
mode, depending on the driving conditions.
When less power is required, such as
cruising at a constant vehicle speed, the
system will operate in reduced cylinder
operation mode, allowing the vehicle to
achieve better fuel economy. When greater
power demands are required, such as
accelerating from a stop, passing,
or merging onto a freeway, the system will
maintain full-cylinder operation.
If the vehicle has an Active Fuel
Management indicator, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) for more
information on using this display.
Extended Parking
It is best not to park with the vehicle
running. If the vehicle is left running, be
sure it will not move and there is adequate
ventilation.
See Shifting Into Park 0218 and
Engine Exhaust 0220.
If the vehicle is left parked and running with
the RKE transmitter outside the vehicle, it
will continue to run for up to half an hour.
If the vehicle is left parked and running with
the RKE transmitter inside the vehicle, it will
continue to run for up to an hour.
The vehicle could turn off sooner if it is
parked on a hill, due to lack of
available fuel.
The timer will reset if the vehicle is taken
out of P (Park) while it is running.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-15170041) - 2022 - CRC - 10/6/21
Vehicle Care 269
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 270
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 270
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 272
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 278
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . 278
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 293
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . 296
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 298
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 305
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 309
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . 310
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313 When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . 314
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . 316
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . 317
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 318
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . 321
Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 332
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Vehicle Care 273
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0278.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0275.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0275.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0280.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 286.
6. Battery - North America 0287.
7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0280.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North
America 0332.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0285.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0293.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America 0332.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-15170041) - 2022 - CRC - 10/6/21
Vehicle Care 275
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0278.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0275.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0275.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0280.
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0285.
6. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 286.
7. Battery - North America 0287.
8. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0280.
9. Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump
Starting - North America 0332.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0293.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America 0332.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. SeeEngine Oil Life System 0277.
.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 0272 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.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-15170041) - 2022 - CRC - 10/6/21
Vehicle Care 287
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid
from a clean, sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants0356.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake fluid
could result in damage to the brake
system. This could result in the loss of
braking leading to a possible injury.
Always use the proper GM approved
brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the vehicle's
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Immediately wash off any
painted surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove the cap
and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number on the
original battery label when a new battery is
needed. For replacement of the battery, see
your dealer. Stop/Start System
The vehicle has a Stop/Start system to shut
off the engine to help conserve fuel. See
Stop/Start System
0215.
It has an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) 12-volt
battery. Installation of a standard 12-volt
battery will result in reduced 12-volt
battery life.
When using a 12-volt battery charger on the
12-volt AGM battery, some chargers have an
AGM battery setting on the charger.
If available, use the AGM setting on the
charger, to limit charge voltage to 14.8 volts.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories can expose you to
chemicals including lead and lead
compounds, which are known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling. For more
information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
See the warning on the back cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. See Jump
Starting - North America 0332 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the black,
negative (−) cable from the battery to keep
the battery from running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the black,
negative (−) cable from the battery or use a
battery trickle charger.
All-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
Under normal driving conditions, transfer
case fluid does not require maintenance
unless there is a fluid leak or unusual noise.
If required, have the transfer case serviced
by your dealer.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-15170041) - 2022 - CRC - 10/6/21
332 Vehicle Care
4. Put back the spare tire and all tools asthey were stored in the rear storage
compartment.
5. Install the cargo management system and load floor.
The compact spare is for temporary use
only. Replace the compact spare tire with a
full-size tire as soon as you can.
Compact Spare Tire
{Warning
Driving with more than one compact
spare tire at a time could result in loss of
braking and handling. This could lead to a
crash and you or others could be injured.
Use only one compact spare tire at
a time.
If this vehicle has a compact spare tire, it
was fully inflated when new; however, it
can lose air over time. Check the inflation
pressure regularly. It should be 420 kPa
(60 psi).
Stop as soon as possible and check that the
spare tire is correctly inflated after being
installed on the vehicle. The compact spare
tire is designed for temporary use only. The vehicle will perform differently with the
spare tire installed and it is recommended
that the vehicle speed be limited to 80 km/h
(50 mph). To conserve the tread of the spare
tire, have the standard tire repaired or
replaced as soon as convenient and return
the spare tire to the storage area.
When using a compact spare tire, the AWD
(if equipped), ABS, and Traction Control
systems may engage until the spare tire is
recognized by the vehicle, especially on
slippery roads. Adjust driving to reduce
possible wheel slip.
Caution
When the compact spare is installed, do
not take the vehicle through an
automatic car wash with guide rails. The
compact spare can get caught on the rails
which can damage the tire, wheel, and
other parts of the vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on other
vehicles.
Do not mix the compact spare tire or wheel
with other wheels or tires. They will not fit.
Keep the spare tire and its wheel together.
Caution
Tire chains will not fit the compact spare.
Using them can damage the vehicle and
the chains. Do not use tire chains on the
compact spare.
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America
For more information about the vehicle
battery, see Battery - North America 0287.
If the battery has run down, try to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to
start your vehicle. Be sure to use the
following steps to do it safely.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories can expose you to
chemicals including lead and lead
compounds, which are known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling. For more
information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-15170041) - 2022 - CRC - 10/6/21
Vehicle Care 333
See the warning on the back cover.
{Warning
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
.They contain acid that can burn you.
.They contain gas that can explode or
ignite.
.They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly,
some or all of these things can hurt you.
Caution
Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to the vehicle that would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Trying
to start the vehicle by pushing or pulling
it will not work, and it could damage the
vehicle.
1. Discharged Battery Positive (+) Terminal
2. Discharged Battery Remote Negative (-) Terminal
3. Good Battery Negative (-) Terminal
4. Good Battery Positive (+) Terminal
The jump start positive (+) Terminal (1) and
the negative remote negative terminal (2)
for the discharged battery are on the driver
side of the vehicle.
The jump start positive (+) terminal (4) and
negative (-) terminal (3) are on the battery
of the vehicle providing the jump start.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative ground
system.
Caution
If the other vehicle does not have a
12-volt system with a negative ground,
both vehicles can be damaged. Only use
a vehicle that has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump starting.
2. Position the two vehicles so that they are not touching.
3. Set the parking brake and shift the vehicle into P (Park) with an automatic
transmission, or Neutral with a manual
transmission. See Shifting Into Park
0 218.
Caution
If any accessories are left on or plugged
in during the jump starting procedure,
they could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Whenever possible, turn off or
unplug all accessories on either vehicle
when jump starting.
4. Turn the ignition off. Turn off all lights and accessories in both vehicles, except
the hazard warning flashers if needed.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-15170041) - 2022 - CRC - 10/6/21
334 Vehicle Care
{Warning
An electric fan can start up even when
the engine is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
{Warning
Using a match near a battery can cause
battery gas to explode. People have been
hurt doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a flashlight if you need
more light.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn
you. Do not get it on you. If you
accidentally get it in your eyes or on
your skin, flush the place with water and
get medical help immediately.
{Warning
Fans or other moving engine parts can
injure you badly. Keep your hands away
from moving parts once the engine is
running.5. Connect one end of the red positive (+)
cable to the positive (+) terminal on the
discharged battery.
6. Connect the other end of the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the good battery.
7. Connect one end of the black negative (–) cable to the negative (–)
terminal of the good battery.
8. Connect the other end of the black negative (–) cable to the remote
negative (–) terminal on the driver side
shock tower for the discharged battery.
9. Start the engine in the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine at idle
speed for at least four minutes.
10. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If it will not start after a
few tries, it probably needs service.
Caution
If the jumper cables are connected or
removed in the wrong order, electrical
shorting may occur and damage the
vehicle. The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Always connect
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
and remove the jumper cables in the
correct order, making sure that the cables
do not touch each other or other metal.
Jumper Cable Removal
Reverse the sequence exactly when
removing the jumper cables.
After starting the disabled vehicle and
removing the jumper cables, allow it to idle
for several minutes.
Towing the Vehicle
Caution
Incorrectly transporting a disabled vehicle
may cause damage to the vehicle. Use
proper tire straps to secure the vehicle to
the flatbed tow truck. Do not strap or
hook to any frame, underbody,
or suspension component not specified
below. Do not move vehicles with drive
axle tires on the ground. Damage is not
covered by the vehicle warranty.