engine coolant GMC YUKON XL DENALI 2007 User Guide

Service........................................................ 420
Accessories and Modications................... 421
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 421
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 422
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 423
Fuel............................................................. 423
Gasoline Octane........................................ 423
Gasoline Specications.............................. 424
California Fuel........................................... 424
Additives................................................... 424
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 425
Filling the Tank......................................... 426
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 428
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 428
Hood Release........................................... 429
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 430
Engine Oil................................................. 432
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 435Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 437
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 440
Engine Coolant.......................................... 445
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 448
Engine Overheating................................... 448
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 450
Cooling System......................................... 451
Engine Fan Noise..................................... 456
Power Steering Fluid................................. 457
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 458
Brakes...................................................... 459
Battery...................................................... 463
Jump Starting............................................ 464
All-Wheel Drive........................................... 469
Rear Axle.................................................... 470
Front Axle................................................... 471
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 473
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
417

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll 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 ll 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 ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before
operating the nozzle. Contact should
be maintained until the lling is
complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine
parts and start a re. These include
liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake uid,
windshield washer and other uids, 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.
428

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 437.
B. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped).
SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 437.
C. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCooling System on page 451andCoolant
Surge Tank Pressure Cap on page 448.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 464.
E. Battery. SeeBattery on page 463.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 432.
G. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (Out of View).
See “Checking the Fluid Level” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid on page 440.H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (GND) (Out of
View). SeeJump Starting on page 464.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on
page 432.
J. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). SeeCooling
System on page 451.
K. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Out of View).
SeePower Steering Fluid on page 457.
L. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 459.
M. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse
Block on page 541.
N. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 458.
431

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 448.
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.
445

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant
mixture, you do not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as 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 would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not be
covered by your warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a
year, have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system, you
could damage your vehicle. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine coolant listed in
this manual for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 561for more information.
446

Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger’s side of the
vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 430for more information on location.
{CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when
the engine and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to blow out
and burn you badly. Never turn the surge
tank pressure cap — even a little — when
the engine and radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When
your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the FULL COLD mark.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture at the surge tank,
but only when the engine is cool.
{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. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight and fully seated.
447

Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and possible engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
The coolant surge tank pressure cap must be fully
installed on the coolant surge tank. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 430for more
information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will nd a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 236.
In addition, you will nd an ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE, ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE, and an ENGINE
POWER IS REDUCED message in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) on the instrument panel.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 252.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood.
Stay away from the engine if you see or
hear steam coming from it. Just turn it off
and get everyone away from the vehicle
until it cools down. Wait until there is no
sign of steam or coolant before you open
the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch re.
You or others could be badly burned.
Stop your engine if it overheats, and get
out of the vehicle until the engine is cool.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 450for
information on driving to a safe place
in an emergency.
448

Notice:If your engine catches re because
you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle
can be badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by your warranty.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode on page 450for information on driving
to a safe place in an emergency.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE
or the ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message, along with a low coolant condition,
can indicate a serious problem.
If you get an engine overheat warning, but see or
hear no steam, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too
hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. SeeTowing a Trailer
on page 400.If you get the ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE message with no sign of steam, try this
for a minute or so:
1. If you have an air conditioner and it is on,
turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest
fan speed and open the windows as
necessary.
3. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in
NEUTRAL (N) while stopped. If it is safe to
do so, pull off the road, shift to PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N) and let the engine idle.
If you no longer have the overheat warning,
you can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about 10 minutes. If the warning does not
come back on, you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and
park your vehicle immediately.
449

If there is still no sign of steam and your 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 ve minutes while you are parked.
If there is still no sign of steam and your vehicle is
equipped with an electric cooling fan, idle the
engine for ve minutes while you are parked.
If you still have the warning, turn off the engine
and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down. Also, see “Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode” later in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
If an overheated engine condition exists and the
REDUCED ENGINE POWER message is
displayed, an overheat protection mode which
alternates ring groups of cylinders helps prevent
engine damage. In this mode, you will notice a
loss in power and engine performance. This
operating mode allows your vehicle to be driven to
a safe place in an emergency. Driving extended
miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in the overheat
protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool before
attempting any repair. The engine oil will be
severely degraded. Repair the cause of coolant
loss, change the oil and reset the oil life
system. SeeEngine Oil on page 432.
450

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is
what you will see:
A. Coolant Surge Tank
B. Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
C. Engine Cooling Fan{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the
hood can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
Check the coolant level after the system cools
down. Some amount of coolant may be lost due to
overheating.
451