2022 GMC SIERRA engine overheat

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Driving and Operating 227
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
When the ignition is turned from on to off,
the following features (if equipped) will
continue to function for up to 10 minutes,
or until the driver door is opened. These
features will also work when the ignition is
in RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY:
.Infotainment System
.Power Windows (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when any door
is opened)
.Sunroof (during RAP this functionality will
be lost when any door is opened)
.Auxiliary Power Outlet
.Audio System
.OnStar System
Shifting Into Park (Mechanical
Shifter)
{Warning
It can be dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set.
The vehicle can roll. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure the vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. With
four-wheel drive, if the transfer case is in
N (Neutral), the vehicle will be free to
roll, even if the shift lever is in P (Park).
Be sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear. If towing a trailer, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips 0309.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake
0 245.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pulling the shift lever toward you and
moving it up as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case, if equipped, is in a drive gear, not in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the vehicle off.
5. Take the remote key with you.
Leaving the Vehicle with the Engine
Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle
with the engine running. The vehicle
could move suddenly if the shift lever is
not fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and the
transfer case is in N (Neutral), the vehicle
will be free to roll, even if the shift lever
is in P (Park). So be sure the transfer case
is in a drive gear –not in N (Neutral).
And, if you leave the vehicle with the
engine running, it could overheat and
even catch fire. You or others could be
injured. Do not leave the vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave the vehicle with the
engine running, be sure the vehicle is in
P (Park) and the parking brake is firmly set
before you leave it. After moving the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then, see if you can move the
shift lever away from P (Park) without first

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
228 Driving and Operating
pulling it toward you. If you can, it means
that the shift lever was not fully locked into
P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not
shift the transmission into P (Park) properly,
the weight of the vehicle may put too much
force on the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may find it difficult to pull
the shift lever out of P (Park). This is called
torque lock. To prevent torque lock, set the
parking brake and then shift into P (Park)
properly before you leave the driver seat.
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out of P (Park) before you release
the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to
have another vehicle push yours a little
uphill to take some of the pressure from the
parking pawl in the transmission. You will
then be able to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park).
Shifting Into Park (Electronic
Shifter)
{Warning
It can be dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set.
The vehicle can roll. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure the vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. With
four-wheel drive, if the transfer case is in
N (Neutral), the vehicle will be free to
roll, even if the shift lever is in P (Park).
Be sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear. If towing a trailer, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips 0309.
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake
0 245.
2. Press the P (Park) switch on the top of the shift lever. See Automatic
Transmission (Mechanical Shifter) 0231
or Automatic Transmission (Electronic
Shifter) 0233. 3. The P indicator on the shift lever will
turn red when the vehicle is in P (Park).
If the vehicle is shifted into P (Park) on a
hill, the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) may
apply automatically. The driver may not be
able to release the EPB using the EPB
switch. It should automatically release when
the vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the Engine
Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle
with the engine running. It could
overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle
if the vehicle is not in P (Park) with the
parking brake set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine
is running. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and shift to (Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Driving and Operating 311
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 TurnsCaution
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 the 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 0356.
Viewing Systems
If equipped, the viewing systems on the
vehicle can improve visibility while hitching,
backing, and driving with a trailer. See
Driver Assistance Systems 0282.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and trailer on a
level surface when possible.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Driving and Operating 313
Pulling the Trailer from the Water
To pull the trailer out of the water:1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine and shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the sloped part of the boat
ramp, the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into the drive
mode that is appropriate for the road
conditions.
Caution
If the vehicle tires begin to spin and the
vehicle begins to slide toward the water,
remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal and apply the brake pedal. Seek
help to have the vehicle towed up
the ramp.
Maintenance when Trailer Towing
The vehicle needs service more often when
used to tow trailers. See Maintenance
Schedule 0425. It is especially important to
check the engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system, and brake system before
and during each trip.
Check periodically to see that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating conditions.
See Engine Overheating 0356.
Trailer Towing
If equipped with a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement.
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can damage
the vehicle and result in costly repairs
not covered by the vehicle warranty. To
tow a trailer correctly, follow the
directions in this section and see your
dealer for important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle. Trailering is different than just driving the
vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips and
safety rules. Many of these are important
for your safety and that of your passengers.
Read this section carefully before pulling a
trailer.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity for
your vehicle.
Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature, and how frequently the vehicle
is used to tow a trailer.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
338 Driving and Operating
if the setting is on for the active Trailer
Profile, the vehicle has an OnStar or
connected service plan and the smartphone
number has been added to the account for
this notification.
If the setting is turned off for a given Trailer
Profile, the smartphone will not receive this
security notification even if the Trailer
Profile is active.
Tow/Haul Mode Reminder
This is a reminder to turn on the Tow/Haul
Mode when towing a trailer. SeeDriver
Mode Control 0249.
Touch Tow/Haul Mode Reminder to turn on/
off Tow/Haul Mode reminders for the
selected profile. These alerts are based on
the Trailer Profile, so the settings for each
Trailer Profile must be turned on or off.
This setting will default to OFF for each
Trailer Profile, including the Guest Trailer
Profile.
If Tow/Haul Mode is off and this setting is
on for a Trailer Profile, each time the vehicle
is turned on, a reminder will appear to turn
on Tow/Haul Mode when the Trailer Profile
is active. If Tow/Haul Mode is on and this setting is
on for a Trailer Profile, the reminder will not
appear when the Trailer Profile is active.
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is used for
vehicle service and Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. See
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0119.
A device connected to the DLC —such as
an aftermarket fleet or driver-behavior
tracking device —may interfere with
vehicle systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash. Such devices
may also access information stored in the
vehicle’s systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can damage
the vehicle or cause components to not
work and would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check with your
dealer before adding electrical equipment. Add-on equipment can drain the vehicle's
12-volt battery, even if the vehicle is not
operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to add anything electrical to the
vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 070 and
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 070.
For information on wiring auxiliary switches,
see www.gmupfitter.com or contact your
dealer.
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment
Caution
Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph) with a
snow plow mounted to the vehicle. The
vehicle could overheat and be damaged.
Before installing a snow plow on the vehicle,
follow these guidelines:

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Driving and Operating 339
Caution
If the vehicle does not have the snow
plow prep package, RPO VYU, adding a
plow can damage the vehicle, and the
repairs would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Unless the vehicle was
built to carry a snow plow, do not add
one to the vehicle. If the vehicle has RPO
VYU, then the payload the vehicle can
carry will be reduced when a snow plow
is installed. The vehicle can be damaged
if either the front or rear axle ratings or
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
are exceeded.
The plow the vehicle can carry depends on
many things, such as:
.The options the vehicle came with, and
the weight of those options.
.The weight and number of passengers to
be carried.
.The weight of items added to the vehicle,
like a tool box or truck cap.
.The total weight of any additional cargo
to be carried.
To safely carry a snow plow on the vehicle:
.With a snow plow attached, the engine
coolant temperature gauge may show a
higher temperature than while driving
without one. The snow plow could block
the airflow to the radiator. This could be
more noticeable as vehicle speed
increases. At speeds above 72 km/h
(45 mph), this may cause the engine
coolant to overheat. Move or angle the
snow plow blade to allow increased
airflow to the radiator.
.To increase the airflow, move the snow
plow blade position.
.If driving more than 24 km/h (15 mi),
angle the plow blade position.
.Make sure the weight on the front and
rear axles does not exceed the axle rating
for each.
.Follow the snowplow manufacturer’s
recommendations for any rear ballast that
may be required. Rear ballast may be
required to ensure a proper front and rear
weight distribution ratio even though the
actual weight at the front axle may be
less than the front axle rating.
.The snowplow manufacturer or installer
can assist in determining the amount of
rear ballast required to ensure that the
vehicle with the attached snowplow does not exceed the GVW rating, the front and
rear axle ratings, or the front and rear
weight distribution ratio (refer to the GM
Upfitter Manual).
Front axle reserve capacity is the difference
between the Front Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) and the front axle weight of
the vehicle with full fuel, passengers, and
any other cargo. This is the amount of
weight that can be added to the front axle
before reaching the Front GAWR.
To calculate the amount of weight any front
accessory, such as a snow plow, is adding to
the front axle, use this formula:
(W x (A + W.B.)) /W.B.= Weight the accessory
is adding to the front axle.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Vehicle Care 341
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 342
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 343
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 345
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 350
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363 Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control Function Check (Mechanical
Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 370
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . 373
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . 375
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 382
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 385
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 385
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 391
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 392
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 393
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 394
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 407
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 411

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
350 Vehicle Care
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system that
indicates when to change the engine oil and
filter. This is based on a combination of
factors which include engine revolutions,
engine temperature, and miles driven. Based
on driving conditions, the mileage at which
an oil change is indicated can vary
considerably. For the oil life system to work
properly, the system must be reset every
time the oil is changed.
On some vehicles, when the system has
calculated that oil life has been diminished,
a CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message comes
on to indicate that an oil change is
necessary. Change the oil as soon as
possible within the next 1 000 km (600 mi).
It is possible that, if driving under the best
conditions, the oil life system might indicate
that an oil change is not necessary for up to
a year. The engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and, at this
time, the system must be reset. For vehicles
without the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message, an oil change is needed when the
REMAINING OIL LIFE percentage is near 0%.
Your dealer has trained service people whowill perform this work and reset the system.
It is also important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain interval and
keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, the
oil must be changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change. Remember to reset
the oil life system whenever the oil is
changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil Life System
Reset the system whenever the engine oil is
changed so that the system can calculate
the next engine oil change. Always reset the
engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To reset the
engine oil life system:
1. Display the oil life percentage on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0128 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 130.
2. Press the thumbwheel on the steering wheel, or the trip odometer reset stem if
the vehicle does not have DIC controls,
for several seconds. When the
confirmation message displays, select
YES. The oil life will change to 100%. The oil life system can also be reset as
follows:
1. Display the oil life percentage on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0128 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 130.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within five seconds.
3. If the display changes to 100%, the system is reset.
If the vehicle has a CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message and it comes back on when
the vehicle is started and/or the oil
life percentage is near 0%, the engine oil
life system has not been reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level. The only reason for
fluid loss is a transmission leak or
overheated transmission. This vehicle is not
equipped with a transmission fluid level
dipstick. There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the transmission fluid