
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
15275607) - 2022 - CRC - 11/2/21
168 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . 169
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . . 183
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 187
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . 189
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 190
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 199
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . 210
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . 211
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 215
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . 230

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
15275607) - 2022 - CRC - 11/2/21
Driving and Operating 213
driveability. If heavy knocking is heard when
using gasoline rated at 87 or greater, the
engine needs service.
Do not use any fuel labeled E85 or FlexFuel.
Do not use gasoline with ethanol levels
greater than 15% by volume.
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 Fuels0213.
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.
Filling the Tank
An arrow on the fuel gauge indicates which
side of the vehicle the fuel door is on. See
Fuel Gauge
084.
{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.
.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.
(Continued)

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
15275607) - 2022 - CRC - 11/2/21
Index 351
E
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Electrical SystemEngine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 259
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Check Light (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . 87
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338 Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Exterior Cargo Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . 108
F
Fan
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . 208
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Drive Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Drive System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Frequency Statement
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Economy, Driving for Better . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 215
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Top Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 259
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 264