oil temperature GMC SIERRA CLASSIC 2007 Owners Manual

3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC
outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded
outlet could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a re. You
could be seriously injured. Plug the cord
into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not
reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug
and store the cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine parts. If you do
not, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater
plugged in? The answer depends on the outside
temperature, the kind of oil you have, and
some other things. Instead of trying to list
everything here, we ask that you contact yourdealer in the area where you will be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best
advice for that particular area.
Automatic Transmission Operation
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission,
it features an electronic shift position indicator
within the instrument panel cluster. This display
must be powered anytime the shift lever is moved
out of PARK (P). SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers
on page 600.
There are several different positions for your shift
lever.
Automatic Transmission
140

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light...... 255
Traction Off Light...................................... 256
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage............ 256
Transmission Temperature Gage............... 257
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........................ 258
Oil Pressure Gage..................................... 262
Security Light............................................ 263
Cruise Control Light.................................. 263
Highbeam On Light................................... 263
Four-Wheel-Drive Light.............................. 263
Tow/Haul Mode Light................................ 264
Cargo Lamp Light..................................... 264
Fuel Gage................................................. 264
Low Fuel Warning Light............................ 265
Driver Information Center (DIC).................. 265
DIC Operation and Displays...................... 266
DIC Warnings and Messages.................... 270
DIC Vehicle Customization........................ 282Audio System(s)......................................... 289
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS).................... 290
Setting the Time for Radios with
Radio Data Systems (RDS).................... 291
AM-FM Radio............................................ 291
Radio with CD........................................... 294
Radio with Cassette and CD..................... 304
Radio with Six-Disc CD............................. 318
XM Radio Messages................................. 332
Rear Seat Entertainment System............... 334
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)............................. 347
Theft-Deterrent Feature............................. 348
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.................. 349
Radio Reception........................................ 350
Care of the Cassette Tape Player............. 350
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.................... 352
Care of the CD and DVD Player............... 352
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................. 353
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System....... 353
Chime Level Adjustment............................ 353
Section 3 Instrument Panel
208

If the transmission continues to operate above
265°F (130°C), contact your nearest dealer or the
GM Roadside Assistance Center. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 644.
Notice:If you drive your vehicle with the
transmission temperature gage above normal
operating range, you can damage the
transmission. This could lead to costly repairs
that would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not drive your vehicle while the
transmission temperature gage reading is
above normal. See your dealer for service.
The following situations can cause the
transmission to operate at higher temperatures:
Towing a trailer
Hot outside air temperatures
Hauling a large or heavy load
Low transmission uid level
High transmission uid level
Restricted air ow to the radiator and the
auxiliary transmission oil cooler, if equipped.A temporary solution to reduce hotter transmission
operating temperatures may be to let the
transmission cool down. If the transmission is
operated at higher temperatures on a frequent
basis, seeScheduled Maintenance (Gasoline
Engine) on page 617for the proper transmission
maintenance intervals.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle has a
computer which
monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition,
and emission control
systems.
258

Oil Pressure Gage
The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil
pressure in psi (pounds per square inch) when the
engine is running. Canadian vehicles indicate
pressure in kPa (kilopascals).
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings
above the low pressure zone indicate the normal
operating range.A reading in the low pressure zone may be
caused by a dangerously low oil level or some
other problem causing low oil pressure. Check
your oil as soon as possible. See “OIL PRESSURE
LOW” underDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 270andEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
on page 486.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is
low. If you do, your engine can become so
hot that it catches re. You or others
could be burned. Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always follow
the maintenance schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.United StatesCanada
262

TRANSMISSION HOT
Notice:If you drive your vehicle while the
transmission uid is overheating and the
transmission temperature warning is displayed
on the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC,
you can damage the transmission. This could
lead to costly repairs that would not be
covered by your warranty. Do not drive your
vehicle with overheated transmission uid
or while the transmission temperature warning
is displayed.
If the transmission uid temperature becomes
high, this message will appear on the DIC display.
When the transmission enters the protection
mode, you may notice a change in the
transmission shifting patterns. When the
transmission uid temperature returns to normal,
the display will turn off and the transmission
shifting patterns will return to normal.If the vehicle has the Tow/Haul mode, use this
feature if the transmission is operating at higher
temperatures and/or the following situations
exist, which can cause the transmission to operate
at higher temperatures:
Towing a trailer
Hot outside air temperatures
Hauling a large or heavy load
Over-loading
Low transmission uid level
High transmission uid level
Restricted air ow to the radiator and the
auxiliary transmission oil cooler
A temporary solution to hotter transmission
operating temperatures may be to let the
transmission cool down. If the transmission is
operated at higher temperatures on a frequent
basis, seeScheduled Maintenance (Gasoline
Engine) on page 617for the transmission
your vehicle is equipped with for the proper
transmission maintenance intervals. Also see
Transmission Temperature Gage on page 257for
more information.
280

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
The arrows on your instrument panel will
ash whenever you signal a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
ash, telling other drivers you’re about to
turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your
instrument panel will ash for turns even if the
bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may
think drivers behind you are seeing your signal
when they are not. It’s important to check
occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbefore
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
don’t shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
If you have an automatic transmission, you can
tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the
transmission to lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often (e.g., under heavy
loads and/or hilly conditions).You may also want to activate the tow/haul mode
if the transmission shifts too often. SeeTow/Haul
Mode Light on page 264.
If you have a 5-speed manual transmission and
you are towing a trailer, it’s better not to use
FIFTH (5) gear. Just drive in FOURTH (4) gear
(or, as you need to, a lower gear).
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, consider the following: Engine coolant at
or near sea level will boil at a lower temperature
than at higher altitudes. If you turn your engine off
immediately after towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let
the engine run while parked, preferably on
level ground, with the automatic transmission in
PARK (P) for a few minutes before turning
the engine off. For manual transmissions, let the
engine run while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission out of gear and the
parking brake applied, for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If you do get the overheat
warning, seeEngine Overheating on page 505.
453

If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below−20°F (−29°C), it is
recommended that you use either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an SAE 0W-30 oil. Both will
provide easier cold starting and better protection
for the engine at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to the oil. The recommended
oils with the starburst symbol that meet GM
Standard GM6094M are all you will need for
good performance and engine protection.
Engine Oil Life System
(Gasoline Engine)
When to Change Engine Oil
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you
know when to change the engine oil and lter.
This is based on engine revolutions and engine
temperature, and not on mileage. Based on driving
conditions, the mileage at which an oil change
will be indicated can vary considerably. For the oil
life system to work properly, you must reset the
system every time the oil is changed.When the system has calculated that oil life has
been diminished, it will indicate that an oil change
is necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL message
will come on. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 270. Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible
that, if you are driving under the best conditions,
the oil life system may not indicate that an oil
change is necessary for over a year. However,
the engine oil and lter must be changed at least
once a year and at this time the system must
be reset. Your dealer has GM-trained service
people who will perform this work using genuine
GM parts and reset the system. It is also important
to check the oil regularly and keep it at the
proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change the oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since
your last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
489

Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Allison Transmission
®)
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transmission Fluid
A good time to check your automatic transmission
uid level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change the uid and lter at the intervals listed in
Additional Required Services (Gasoline Engine)
on page 621, and be sure to use the transmission
uid listed inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 629.
How to Check Automatic Transmission
Fluid
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the dealership
service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading
on the dipstick.Notice:Too much or too little uid can
damage your transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the uid could come out
and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system
parts, starting a re. Too little uid could
cause the transmission to overheat. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission uid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic — especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
1. Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift
lever in PARK (P).
494

Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Except Allison Transmission
®)
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transmission Fluid
A good time to check your automatic transmission
uid level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change the uid and lter at the intervals listed in
Additional Required Services (Gasoline Engine)
on page 621, and be sure to use the transmission
uid listed inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 629.
How to Check Automatic Transmission
Fluid
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the dealership
service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading
on the dipstick.Notice:Too much or too little uid can
damage your transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the uid could come out
and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system
parts, starting a re. Too little uid could
cause the transmission to overheat. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if you check
your transmission uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission uid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic — especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the uid should
be at normal operating temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F (82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about
15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are
above 50°F (10°C). If it is colder than 50°F (10°C),
drive the vehicle in THIRD (3) until the engine
temperature gage moves and then remains steady
for 10 minutes.
497

How to Check and Add Fluid
The proper uid should be added if the level does
not reach the bottom of the diaphragm when it
is in place in the reservoir. See the instructions on
the reservoir cap.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever
occurs rst, if you add only DEX-COOL
®
extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If you have
a problem with engine overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 505.A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down
to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at
the rst maintenance service after each
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
502