GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-16417394) - 2023 - CRC - 5/16/22
Driving and Operating 281
Pulling the Trailer from the Water1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine and shift into a 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 0388. It is especially important to
check the engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system, and brake system before
and during each trip.
Check periodically 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 0321.
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, dimensions of the front of the
trailer, and how frequently the vehicle is
used to tow a trailer.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-16417394) - 2023 - CRC - 4/26/22
Vehicle Care 307
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 308
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 309
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 311
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 316
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327 Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Bulb Replacement
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 332
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . 336
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 338
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 343
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 348
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 349 Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 354
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 356
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 356
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 357
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 370
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . 373
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-16417394) - 2023 - CRC - 4/26/22
Vehicle Care 319
6.2L V8 Engine
1. Engine Electric Cooling Fans (Outof View)
2. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can start up
even when the engine is not running and
can cause injury. Keep hands, clothing,
and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
{Warning
Do not touch heater, radiator, a/c pipes
or hoses, or other engine parts. They can
be very hot and can burn you. Do not
run the engine if there is a leak; all
coolant could leak out. That could cause
an engine fire and can burn you. Fix any
leak before driving the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is filled
with DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant
is designed to remain in the vehicle for
5 years or 240 000 km (150,000 mi),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains the cooling system
and how to check and add coolant when it
is low. If there is a problem with engine
overheating, see Engine Overheating 0321.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain water or
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the wrong mixture, the engine could get
too hot but there would not be an
overheat warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant. This mixture:
.Gives freezing protection down to −37 °C
(−34 °F), outside temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to 129 °C
(265 °F), engine temperature.
.Protects against rust and corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Caution
Do not use anything other than a mix of
DEX-COOL coolant that meets GM
Standard GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause damage
to the engine cooling system and the
vehicle, which would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-16417394) - 2023 - CRC - 4/26/22
Vehicle Care 321
Caution
Failure to follow the specific coolant fill
procedure could cause the engine to
overheat and could cause system
damage. If coolant is not visible in the
surge tank, contact your dealer.
If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add
coolant.
1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling system, including
the coolant surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about one full turn. If a
hiss is heard, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it. 3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the
proper mixture to the full cold mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the engine and let it run until
the engine coolant temperature gauge
indicates approximately 90 °C (195 °F).
By this time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be lower. If the
level is lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge tank until
the level reaches the indicated mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly.
6. Verify coolant level after the engine is shut off and the coolant is cold.
If necessary, repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1–6.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and
tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a leak
in the engine cooling system. This can
cause a loss of all coolant and can
damage the system and vehicle. Have
any leaks fixed right away.
The vehicle has several indicators to warn of
engine overheating.
There is a coolant temperature gauge and a
engine coolant temperature warning light in
the vehicle's instrument cluster. See Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge 0109 and
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
0 118.
In addition, there are ENGINE OVERHEATED
STOP ENGINE, ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE, and ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
messages in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the decision is made not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, get service help
right away. See Roadside Assistance Program
0 402.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-16417394) - 2023 - CRC - 4/26/22
322 Vehicle Care
If the decision is made to lift the hood,
make sure the vehicle is parked on a level
surface.
Check to see if the engine cooling fan(s) are
running. If the engine is overheating, the
fans should be running. If they are not, do
not continue to run the engine. Have the
vehicle serviced.
If Steam is Coming from the Engine
Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system are under pressure.
Turning the pressure cap, even a little,
can cause them to come out at high
speed and you could be burned. Never
turn the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and pressure cap
to cool.
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.
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 Towing0281.
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 engine coolant temperature 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.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-16417394) - 2023 - CRC - 4/26/22
340 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
F45 AFL AHL –Adaptive
Forward Lighting/
Automatic Headlamp
Leveling
F46 Rear HVAC Blower Motor F47 LH CINCH Latch –Left Hand
Cinch Latch
F48 Power Seat Recline Module
F49 Lift Glass F50 Driver Power Seat F51 Power Liftgate Module
F52 Passenger Power Seat
Relays Usage
K53 –
K54 –
K55 L/GLASSWheels and Tires
Tires
Every new GM vehicle has high-quality
tires made by a leading tire
manufacturer. See the warranty manual
for information regarding the tire
warranty and where to get service. For
additional information refer to the tire
manufacturer.
{Warning
.Poorly maintained and improperly
used tires are dangerous.
.Overloading the tires can cause
overheating as a result of too
much flexing. There could be a
blowout and a serious crash. See
Vehicle Load Limits 0194.
.Underinflated tires pose the same
danger as overloaded tires. The
resulting crash could cause serious
injury. Check all tires frequently to
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be
checked when the tires are cold.
.Overinflated tires are more likely
to be cut, punctured, or broken by
a sudden impact —such as when
hitting a pothole. Keep tires at the
recommended pressure.
.Worn or old tires can cause a
crash. If the tread is badly worn,
replace them.
.Replace any tires that have been
damaged by impacts with
potholes, curbs, etc.
.Improperly repaired tires can cause
a crash. Only your dealer or an
authorized tire service center
should repair, replace, dismount,
and mount the tires.
(Continued)
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-16417394) - 2023 - CRC - 4/26/22
346 Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air
pressure to operate effectively.
{Warning
Neither tire underinflation nor
overinflation is good. Underinflated
tires, or tires that do not have
enough air, can result in:
.Tire overloading and overheating,
which could lead to a blowout
.Premature or irregular wear
.Poor handling
.Reduced fuel economy for
internal combustion engine
vehicles
.Reduced range for electric vehicles
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Overinflated tires, or tires that have
too much air, can result in:
.Unusual wear
.Poor handling
.Rough ride
.Needless damage from road
hazards
The Tire and Loading Information label
on the vehicle indicates the original
equipment tires and the correct cold
tire inflation pressures. The
recommended pressure is the minimum
air pressure needed to support the
vehicle's maximum load carrying
capacity. For additional information regarding
how much weight the vehicle can carry,
and an example of the Tire and Loading
Information label, see
Vehicle Load
Limits 0194. How the vehicle is loaded
affects vehicle handling and ride
comfort. Never load the vehicle with
more weight than it was designed to
carry.
When to Check
Check the pressure of the tires once a
month or more.
Do not forget the spare, if the vehicle
has one. See Full-Size Spare Tire 0370
for additional information.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Cana-
da/Mexico-16417394) - 2023 - CRC - 5/11/22
422 Index
Driver (cont'd)Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Mode Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Teen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . 277
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Distracted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Dual
Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . 175
Dynamic Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
E
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Electric (cont'd)
Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Electrical System Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 332
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 338
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Check Light (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . 113
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . 118
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Engine (cont'd)
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
F
FanEngine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Filter Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Floor Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316