2022 GMC SIERRA automatic transmission fluid

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Instruments and Controls 111
.Digital configuration displays the info
display areas on the far left and right
sides of the display. The DIC area is larger
and located in the center of the display.
.Clean configuration is a simplified display
that has a digital speed in the center. The
DIC area is located on the far right of the
display.
Cluster Menu
There are interactive display areas in the
instrument cluster. Locations vary by the
selected display layout.
Use the right steering wheel control to open
and scroll through the different items and
displays.Press
oorpto access the instrument
cluster applications. Use the thumbwheel to
scroll through the list of available
applications. Press the thumbwheel to select.
Not all applications or features are available
on all vehicles.
.Info App. This is where the selected Driver
Information Center (DIC) displays can be
viewed. See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level) 0128 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 130.
.Audio
.Navigation
.Phone
.Options
Left/Right Side Info
Information displayed here can be
customized from the Options menu. See
“Options” below.
Compass : If equipped, shows the direction
the vehicle is heading. This info is the
default option for the left side.
Time & Outside Temperature : Displays the
current time and outside air temperature. Tire Pressure :
Shows the approximate
pressures of all four tires. Tire pressure is
displayed in either kilopascal (kPa) or in
pounds per square inch (psi). If the pressure
is low, the value for that tire is shown in
amber.
Average Fuel Economy : Displays average
fuel economy, the best fuel economy over
the selected distance, and a bar graph
showing instantaneous fuel economy
Press the thumbwheel to change the
selected distance. Press and hold the
thumbwheel while this display is active to
reset the best fuel economy and average
fuel economy. This display can also be reset
by selecting reset in the menu
Transmission Fluid Temperature : Shows the
temperature of the automatic transmission
fluid in either degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Drive Mode : Displays the state of the drive
mode, ride height, and transfer case. This
info is only available as a right side option
and is the default selection for the
right side.
None : Displays the info area as empty.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
132 Instruments and Controls
Brake Pad Life :Displays an estimate of the
remaining life of the front and rear brake
pads. Messages will display based on brake
pad wear and the state of the system. Reset
the Brake Pad Life display after replacing the
brake pads. See Brake Pad Life System
0 359.
Air Filter Life : Shows an estimate of the
remaining engine air filter’s life and the
state of the system. Engine Air Filter Life
95% means 95% of the current air filter life
remains. Messages will display based on the
engine air filter life and the state of the
system. When the REPLACE SOON message
displays, the engine air filter should be
replaced at the earliest convenience.
The Air Filter Life display must be reset after
the engine air filter replacement. To reset,
see Engine Air Filter Life System 0351.
Trailer Brake : On vehicles with the
Integrated Trailer Brake Control (ITBC)
system, the trailer brake display appears in
the DIC.
TRAILER GAIN shows the trailer gain setting.
This setting can be adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0
with either a trailer connected or
disconnected. OUTPUT shows the power output to the
trailer any time a trailer with electric brakes
is connected. Output is displayed as a bar
graph. Dotted lines may appear in the
OUTPUT display if a trailer is not connected.
Off Road :
If equipped, displays vehicle pitch
and roll information, road wheel angle, and
four-wheel drive (4WD) status. If the vehicle
has low traction, a low traction indicator
and the wheels affected will display amber
in the Off-Road page.
Engine Hours (Hourmeter) : Shows the total
number of hours the engine has run. This
display also shows the engine idle hours.
Average Speed : Displays the average
vehicle speed in kilometers per hour (km/h)
or miles per hour (mph). This average is
based on the various vehicle speeds
recorded since the last reset. Reset the
average speed by pressing the thumbwheel
while this display is active to show a
confirmation window to select Yes or No.
Transmission Fluid Temperature : Shows the
temperature of the automatic transmission
fluid in either degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F). Coolant Temperature :
Shows the engine
coolant temperature in either degrees
Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
Oil Temperature : Shows the engine oil
temperature in either degrees Celsius (°C) or
degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
Oil Pressure : Shows the current oil pressure
in either kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per
square inch (psi).
Info Page Options : Scroll to choose which
info pages appear on the DIC. Press the
thumbwheel to select or deselect.
Blank Page : Shows no information.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
{Warning
If the HUD image is too bright or too
high in your field of view, it may take
you more time to see things you need to
see when it is dark outside. Be sure to
keep the HUD image dim and placed low
in your field of view.
If equipped with HUD, some information
about the operation of the vehicle is
projected onto the windshield. The image is
projected through the HUD lens on top of

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
232 Driving and Operating
{Warning
If equipped with four-wheel drive, the
vehicle will be free to roll if the transfer
case is in N (Neutral), even when the shift
lever is in P (Park). You or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear—2
m, 4m,
or 4
n— or set the parking brake before
placing the transfer case in N (Neutral).
See Four-Wheel Drive 0240.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle is
stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get
out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging
the transmission, see If the Vehicle Is Stuck
0 214. N :
In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
Also, use N (Neutral) when the vehicle is
being towed.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on
the brake pedal, the vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while the engine is running at
high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with
the engine running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting the
vehicle.
Caution
A transmission hot message may display
if the automatic transmission fluid is too
hot. Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle the
engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message clears
when the transmission fluid has cooled
sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal driving.
It provides the best fuel economy. If more
power is needed for passing, press the
accelerator pedal down.
.When going less than about 55 km/h (35
mph), push the accelerator pedal about
halfway down.
.When going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all the
way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts down to
the next gear and has more power.
Use D (Drive) and Tow/Haul Mode when
towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load,
driving on steep hills, or driving off-road.
Shift the transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Driving and Operating 237
6. Exit the vehicle and close the door. Thevehicle is now ready for the car wash.
7. The vehicle may automatically shift to P (Park) upon re-entry.
Caution
A transmission hot message may display
if the automatic transmission fluid is too
hot. Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle the
engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message clears
when the transmission fluid has cooled
sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal driving.
If more power is needed for passing, press
the accelerator pedal down.
To shift into D (Drive):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. From the center position, move the shift lever back.
.If the vehicle is in P (Park) press the
shift lock release button while pulling
the shift lever back.
.D will illuminate in red.
.After releasing the shift lever, it will
return to the center position.
To shift out of D (Drive): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
Downshifting the transmission on a slippery
road could result in skidding. See “Skidding”
under Loss of Control 0208.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle
in one place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage the
transmission. The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. If the
vehicle is stuck, do not spin the tires.
When stopping on a hill, use the brakes
to hold the vehicle in place.
Manual Mode (Mechanical
Shifter)
Range Selection Mode
Range Selection Mode helps control the
vehicle transmission and vehicle speed while
driving downhill or towing a trailer.
It permits the manual selection of a desired
gear range.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to L (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus buttons on the shift lever to select the desired gear
range for current driving conditions.
When the shift lever is moved from
D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode), a number
displays next to the L, indicating the current
transmission range.

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

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Vehicle Care 351
in these vehicles. Because this procedure is
difficult, this should be done at the dealer.
Contact the dealer for additional information
or the procedure can be found in the service
manual. SeePublication Ordering
Information 0449.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage the
vehicle, and the damage may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always
use the correct automatic transmission
fluid. See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0434.
Change the fluid and filter at the scheduled
maintenance intervals listed in Maintenance
Schedule 0425. Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0434.
Engine Air Filter Life System
If equipped, this feature provides the engine
air filter’s remaining life and best timing for
a change. The timing to change an engine
air filter depends on driving and
environmental conditions.
When to Change the Engine Air Filter
When the Driver Information Center (DIC)
displays a message to replace the engine air
filter at the next oil change, follow this
timing.
When the DIC displays a message to replace
the engine air filter soon, replace the engine
air filter at the earliest convenience.
The system must be reset after the engine
air filter is changed.
If the DIC displays a message to check the
engine air filter system, see your dealer.
How to Reset the Engine Air Filter Life
System
To reset:
1. Place the vehicle in P (Park).
2. Display the Air Filter Life on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0128 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 130.
3. Press
Ton the steering wheel, or press
the trip odometer reset stem if the
vehicle does not have DIC controls, to
move to the Reset/Disable display area. Select Reset then press the thumbwheel
or press the reset stem for several
seconds.
4. Press the thumbwheel or the reset stem to confirm the reset.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is on the driver
side of the engine compartment. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0345.
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/
Filter
If the vehicle is not equipped with the
engine air filter life system see Maintenance
Schedule 0425 for intervals on inspecting
and replacing the engine air cleaner filter.
How to Inspect/Replace the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start or run the engine with the
engine air cleaner/filter housing open.
Before removing the engine air cleaner/
filter, clear any dirt and debris away from
the engine air cleaner/filter housing and
nearby components. Remove the engine air
cleaner/filter. Lightly tap and shake the
engine air cleaner/filter (away from the
vehicle), to release loose dust and dirt.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Vehicle Care 357
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.
The 2.7L L4 engine will shut down
automatically if the ENGINE OVERHEATED
STOP ENGINE message displays.
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; seeTrailer Towing0313.
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
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 operation
may 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
(Continued)