octane GMC SIERRA 2007 Owner's Manual

Page 262 of 680

Did you just drive through a deep puddle
of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The
condition will usually be corrected when the
electrical system dries out. A few driving trips
should turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 489. Poor fuel
quality will cause your engine not to run as
efficiently as designed. You may notice this as
stalling after start-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation on
acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is
warmed up.) This will be detected by the system
and cause the light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at
least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the
light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light
turn off, your dealer can check the vehicle.
Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have
or may begin programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass
this inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
check engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if
the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control systems have not
been completely diagnosed by the system.
The vehicle would be considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen if you have recently
replaced your battery or if your battery has
run down. The diagnostic system is designed to
evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and
your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for
lack of OBD system readiness, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for inspection.
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Page 483 of 680

Service........................................................ 486
Accessories and Modications................... 486
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 487
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 487
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 488
Fuel............................................................. 488
Gasoline Octane........................................ 489
Gasoline Specications.............................. 489
California Fuel........................................... 489
Additives................................................... 490
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)............................ 491
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 492
Filling the Tank......................................... 493
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 495
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 496
Hood Release........................................... 497
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 498
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine).................... 500
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 503
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
(Gasoline Engines)................................. 505Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 508
Engine Coolant.......................................... 513
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 516
Engine Overheating................................... 516
Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode (V8 Engines Only)........................ 519
Cooling System......................................... 520
Engine Fan Noise..................................... 525
Power Steering Fluid................................. 526
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 527
Brakes...................................................... 528
Battery...................................................... 531
Jump Starting............................................ 532
Rear Axle.................................................... 538
Four-Wheel Drive........................................ 539
Front Axle................................................... 541
Noise Control System................................. 542
Tampering with Noise Control System
Prohibited.............................................. 542
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
483

Page 489 of 680

Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating
is less than 87, you might notice an audible
knocking noise when you drive, commonly referred
to as spark knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible. If
you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher and you hear heavy knocking, the engine
needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). General Motors recommends against the
use of gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives
on page 490for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate on
fuels that meet California specications. See
the underhood emission control label. If this fuel is
not available in states adopting California
emissions standards, your vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp may turn on and your vehicle may
fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 260. If this occurs, return to
your authorized GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is caused by the type
of fuel used, repairs may not be covered by
your warranty.
489

Page 490 of 680

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United
States are now required to contain additives
that will help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing your emission
control system to work properly. In most cases,
you should not have to add anything to your fuel.
However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean,
or if your vehicle experiences problems due to
dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that is
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Also,
your dealer has additives that will help correct
and prevent most deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may
be available in your area. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specications described earlier.However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other fuels
containing more than 10% ethanol must not
be used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not use
fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in the fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage would
not be covered under your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT.
General Motors recommends against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn on. If this
occurs, return to your dealer for service.
490

Page 491 of 680

Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identication Number
(VIN) shows the code letter or number that
identies your vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at the
top left of the instrument panel. SeeVehicle
Identication Number (VIN) on page 607.
If your vehicle has the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN
Code 0) or the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code 3), you
can use either regular unleaded gasoline or
ethanol fuel containing up to 85% ethanol (E85);
also seeFuel on page 488. In all other engines,
use only the unleaded gasoline described
underGasoline Octane on page 489.
Only vehicles that have the 5.3L V8 engine
(VIN Code 0) or the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code 3)
can use 85% ethanol fuel (E85). We encourage
the use of E85 in vehicles that are designed to use
it. The ethanol in E85 is a “renewable” fuel,
meaning it is made from renewable sources such
as corn and other crops.Many service stations will not have an 85%
ethanol fuel (E85) pump available. The U. S.
Department of Energy has an alternative fuels
website (www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/infrastructure/
locator.html) that can help you nd E85 fuel.
Those stations that do have E85 should have a
label indicating ethanol content. Do not use
the fuel if the ethanol content is greater than 85%.
At a minimum, E85 should meet ASTM
Specication D 5798. By denition, this means
that fuel labeled E85 will have an ethanol content
between 70% and 85%. Filling the fuel tank
with fuel mixtures that do not meet ASTM
specications can affect driveability and could
cause the malfunction indicator lamp to come on.
491

Page 622 of 680

This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within
recommended limits. You will nd these limits
on the Tire and Loading Information label.
SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 425.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within
legal driving limits.
are driven off-road in the recommended
manner. SeeOff-Road Driving on page 390.
use the recommended fuel. SeeGasoline
Octane on page 489.
The services inScheduled Maintenance (Gasoline
Engine) on page 623should be performed
when indicated. SeeAdditional Required Services
(Gasoline Engine) on page 627andMaintenance
Footnotes (Gasoline Engine) on page 629for
further information.
{CAUTION:
Performing maintenance work on a
vehicle can be dangerous. In trying to do
some jobs, you can be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance work only if
you have the required know-how and the
proper tools and equipment for the job. If
you have any doubt, see your GM
Goodwrench
®dealer to have a qualied
technician do the work. SeeDoing Your
Own Service Work on page 487.
Some maintenance services can be complex. So,
unless you are technically qualied and have
the necessary equipment, you should have your
GM Goodwrench
®dealer do these jobs.
When you go to your GM Goodwrench
®dealer for
your service needs, you will know that GM-trained
and supported service technicians will perform
the work using genuine GM parts.
622

Page 670 of 680

Event Data Recorders (EDR)...................... 656
Exit Lighting................................................ 226
Extender, Safety Belt..................................... 44
Exterior Lamps............................................ 221
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner................................... 505
Finish Damage............................................ 605
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................... 371
Flashers, Hazard Warning........................... 211
Flash-to-Pass.............................................. 214
Flat Tire...................................................... 576
Flat Tire, Changing...................................... 576
Flat Tire, Storing......................................... 592
Fluid
Automatic Transmission............................ 508
Power Steering........................................ 526
Windshield Washer.................................. 527
Fog Lamp
Fog .......................................................... 224
Fog Lamp Light........................................... 265
Four-Wheel Drive...............................147, 539
Four-Wheel-Drive Light................................ 265
Front Axle................................................... 541Fuel............................................................ 488
Additives.................................................. 490
California Fuel.......................................... 489
E85 (85% Ethanol)................................... 491
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.............. 495
Filling Your Tank...................................... 493
Fuels in Foreign Countries....................... 492
Gage....................................................... 266
Gasoline Octane...................................... 489
Gasoline Specications............................ 489
Low Warning Light................................... 267
Fuses
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block........ 611
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...................... 608
Instrument Panel Fuse Block................... 609
Underhood Fuse Block............................. 612
Windshield Wiper..................................... 608
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.................... 258
Fuel......................................................... 266
Oil Pressure............................................. 263
Speedometer........................................... 248
670

Page 671 of 680

Gage (cont.)
Tachometer.............................................. 248
Voltmeter Gage........................................ 255
Garage Door Opener................................... 185
Gasoline
Octane..................................................... 489
Specications........................................... 489
Glove Box................................................... 196
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.......... 649
H
Hazard Warning Flashers............................ 211
Head Restraints............................................ 18
Headlamps.................................................. 544
Bulb Replacement.................................... 543
Daytime Running Lamps.......................... 222
Flash-to-Pass........................................... 214
Halogen Bulbs......................................... 544
High/Low Beam Changer......................... 214
On Reminder........................................... 222
Pickup Box Identication and Fender
Marker Lamps...................................... 546
Heated Seats................................................ 12
Heater................................................234, 237
Heater......................................................... 238Highbeam On Light..................................... 265
Highway Hypnosis....................................... 415
Hill and Mountain Roads............................. 416
Hood
Checking Things Under............................ 496
Release................................................... 497
Horn............................................................ 211
How to Use This Manual................................ 4
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly............... 27
I
Ignition Positions......................................... 133
Infants and Young Children, Restraints.......... 48
Ination - Tire Pressure............................... 559
Instrument Panel
Overview.........................................206, 209
Storage Area............................................ 197
Instrument Panel (I/P)
Brightness................................................ 225
Cluster..................................................... 247
J
Jump Starting.............................................. 532
671