coolant GMC SIERRA 2001 User Guide

5-11
Cooling System (Gasoline Engine)
When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see:
8100 V8 Engines
All Other Engines
A. Coolant Surge Tank
B. Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
C. Engine Fan

5-12
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
don't do anything else until it cools down.
When the engine is cold,
the coolant level should
be at or above the FILL
COLD mark. If it isn't,
you may have a leak in
the radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else
in the cooling system.
CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don't touch them.
If you do, you can be burned.
Don't run the engine if there is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn't covered by your warranty.
See ªOverheated Engine Protection Operating
Modeº in the Index.

5-13
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use only DEX
-COOL
(silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the
use of coolant other than DEX
-COOL
is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again.
See if the engine cooling fan speed increases when idle
speed is doubled by pushing the accelerator pedal down.
If it doesn't, your vehicle needs service. Turn off the engine.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge
Tank --Gasoline Engines
If you haven't found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn't at or above the FILL COLD mark, add a 50/50
mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX
-COOL

coolant at the coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling
system, including the coolant surge tank pressure cap, is
cool before you do it. See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index
for more information.

5-14
CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn the coolant surge
tank pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and coolant surge tank pressure cap to cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.

5-15
CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle's coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too hot but you wouldn't
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and DEX
-COOL
coolant.
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
So use the recommended coolant.
CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.

5-16
1. You can 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 (left) about one full turn. If you
hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means there
is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and
remove it.3. Then fill the coolant surge tank with the proper
mixture, to the FILL COLD mark.

5-17
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start
the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling fan.
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 FILL COLD mark.5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure
cap is hand
-tight.

6-
6-1
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-3 Fuel
6
-5 Fuels in Foreign Countries
6
-6 Filling Your Tank
6
-8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-13 Noise Control System
6
-14 Engine Oil
6
-18 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-20 Passenger Compartment Air Filter
(If Equipped)
6
-21 Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Except Allison Transmission)
6
-25 Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Allison
Only)
6
-28 Manual Transmission Fluid
6
-30 Hydraulic Clutch
6
-30 Rear Axle
6
-31 Four-Wheel Drive6
-33 Engine Coolant
6
-36 Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
6
-36 Power Steering Fluid
6
-38 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-39 Brakes
6
-43 Battery
6
-43 Bulb Replacement
6
-51 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
6
-52 Tires
6
-62 Appearance Care
6
-62 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-65 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-69 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-70 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-71 Electrical System
6
-79 Replacement Bulbs
6
-80 Capacities and Specifications

6-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
CAUTION:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:

Dispense gasoline only into
approved containers.

Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.

Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.

Don't smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under the Hood
CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like fuel, oil,
coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and other
fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others could
be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill things
that will burn onto a hot engine.

6-10 Engine Compartment Overview
When you lift up the hood on the VORTEC 4300 V6 engine, you'll see the following:
A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
B. Coolant Surge Tank
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator
D. Engine Oil Dipstick
E. Automatic Transmission Dipstick
(If Equipped)F. F a n
G. Engine Oil Fill
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
I. Remote Negative (
-)
Terminal (GND)
J. Remote Positive (+) TerminalK. Brake Fluid Reservoir
L. Clutch Fluid Reservoir
(If Equipped)
M. Underhood Electrical Center
N. Battery
O. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir