checking oil HUMMER H3 2009 Owners Manual

Service and
Appearance Care
Service
Service...............................5-3
Accessories and
Modications.....................5-3
California Proposition
65 Warning.......................5-4
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own
Service Work....................5-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle........5-5
Fuel
Fuel....................................5-5
Gasoline Octane.................5-5
Gasoline Specications.......5-5
California Fuel....................5-5
Additives.............................5-6
Fuels in Foreign
Countries..........................5-7
Filling the Tank...................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container..........................5-8
Checking Things Under
the Hood
Checking Things Under
the Hood..........................5-9
Hood Release.....................5-9
Engine Compartment
Overview.........................5-10
Engine Oil.........................5-13
Engine Oil Life System.....5-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. . .5-17
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................5-18
Manual Transmission
Fluid................................5-20
Hydraulic Clutch................5-21
Cooling System.................5-22
Engine Coolant.................5-23
Engine Overheating...........5-27
Engine Fan Noise.............5-28
Power Steering Fluid.........5-29
Windshield Washer Fluid. . .5-30
Brakes..............................5-30
Battery..............................5-33
Jump Starting...................5-34
Rear Axle
Rear Axle.........................5-38
Four-Wheel Drive
Four-Wheel Drive..............5-38
Front Axle
Front Axle.........................5-39
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming..............5-39
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement.............5-41
Halogen Bulbs..................5-41
Headlamps........................5-41
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps and Back-up
Lamps (H3)
.....................5-42
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps and Back-up
Lamps (H3T)
...................5-42
License Plate Lamp..........5-43
Replacement Bulbs...........5-43
Service and Appearance Care 5-1

CAUTION (Continued)
vapor. You can be badly burned
and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
Dispense fuel 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 fuel.
Do not use a cellular phone
while pumping fuel.
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.
Hood Release
To open the hood:
1. Pull the handle with this symbol
on it. It is located inside the
vehicle on the lower left side of
the instrument panel.
2. Release the secondary latch on
the hood. It is located below the
front center of the hood.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure
all the ller caps are on properly.
Then pull the hood down and close
it rmly.
Service and Appearance Care 5-9

A. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-30.
B. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank.
SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-23.
C.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 5-17.
D. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir.
SeePower Steering Fluid on
page 5-29.
E. Automatic Transmission Fluid
Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“Checking the Fluid Level”
underAutomatic Transmission
Fluid on page 5-18.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 5-13.G. Radiator Pressure Cap.
SeeCooling System on
page 5-22.
H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal
(GND). SeeJump Starting on
page 5-34.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
J. Positive (+) Battery Terminal.
SeeJump Starting on
page 5-34.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir.
See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-30.
L.Engine Compartment Fuse Block
on page 5-92.
M.Battery on page 5-33.
N. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Reservoir
(If Equipped). SeeHydraulic
Clutch on page 5-21.
Service and Appearance Care 5-11

A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 5-17.
B. Air Filter Restriction Indicator
(If Equipped). SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-17.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-30.
D. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank.
SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-23.
E. Automatic Transmission
Fluid Dipstick (If Equipped).
See “Checking the Fluid Level”
underAutomatic Transmission
Fluid on page 5-18.
F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 5-13.G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” underEngine
Oil on page 5-13.
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir.
See “Brake Fluid” underBrakes
on page 5-30.
I.Battery on page 5-33.
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir.
SeePower Steering Fluid on
page 5-29.
K.Engine Compartment Fuse Block
on page 5-92.
L. Radiator Pressure Cap.
SeeCooling System on
page 5-22.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the
engine oil every time you get fuel.
In order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the
vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle
is a yellow loop. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-10for the location of the
engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the
oil several minutes to drain back
into the oil pan. If you do not
do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it
with a paper towel or cloth,
then push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the
tip down, and check the level.
Service and Appearance Care 5-13

Automatic Transmission
Fluid
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid
A good time to check the automatic
transmission uid level is when
the engine oil is changed.
Change the uid and lter at the
intervals listed inAdditional
Required Services on page 6-6, and
be sure to use the transmission
uid listed inRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-12.
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Because this operation can be a
little difficult, you may choose
to have this done at the
dealer/retailer service department.
If adding it yourself, be sure to follow
all the instructions here, or there
could be 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 3 (Third) until the engine
temperature gage moves and then
remains steady for 10 minutes.
A cold uid check can be made after
the vehicle has been sitting for
eight hours or more with the engine
off, but this is used only as a
reference. Let the engine run at
idle for ve minutes if outside
temperatures are 50°F (10°C) or
more. If it is colder than 50°F (10°C),
the engine might have to idle
longer. Should the uid level
be low during this cold check,
check the uid hot before adding
uid. Checking the uid hot gives
a more accurate reading of the
uid level.
5-18 Service and Appearance Care

Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the
coolant level.
The coolant recovery tank cap has
this symbol on it.
It is located toward the rear of
the engine compartment on
the passenger side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 5-10for more information
on location.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant recovery tank. If the
coolant inside the coolant recovery
tank is boiling, do not do anythingelse until it cools down. If coolant is
visible but the coolant level is not
at or above the FULL COLD
mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant at the coolant recovery tank,
but be sure the cooling system is
cool before this is done.
The vehicle must be on a level
surface. When the engine is cold,
the coolant level should be at FULL
COLD, or a little higher. When
the engine is warm, the level could
be above the FULL COLD level.
When the engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at least up to the
FULL COLD mark. If it is not, there
could be a leak in the cooling
system.
How to Add Coolant to the
Recovery Tank
{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.
Notice:This vehicle has a
specic coolant ll procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely
damaged.
When the coolant in the coolant
recovery tank is at the FULL COLD
mark, start the vehicle.
If coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL coolant mixture at
the coolant recovery tank.
5-24 Service and Appearance Care

Do not top off the brake uid. Adding
uid does not correct a leak. If uid is
added when the linings are worn,
there will be too much uid when new
brake linings are installed. Add or
remove brake uid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
{CAUTION
If too much brake uid is added,
it can spill on the engine and
burn, if the engine is hot enough.
You or others could be burned,
and the vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake uid only
when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system. See “Checking
Brake Fluid” in this section.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine when to check the
brake uid. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4.
Checking Brake Fluid
Check brake uid by looking at the
brake uid reservoir. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-10.
The uid level should be above
MIN. If it is not, have the brake
hydraulic system checked to see
if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake
hydraulic system, make sure the
level is above the MIN but not over
the MAX mark.
What to Add
Use only new DOT-3 brake uid
from a sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12.
Always clean the brake uid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it. This
helps keep dirt from entering
the reservoir.{CAUTION
With the wrong kind of uid in the
brake hydraulic system, the brakes
might not work well. This could
cause a crash. Always use the
proper brake uid.
Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly
damage brake hydraulic system
parts. For example, just a few
drops of mineral-based oil,
such as engine oil, in the brake
hydraulic system can damage
brake hydraulic system parts so
badly that they will have to be
replaced. Do not let someone
put in the wrong kind of uid.
If brake uid is spilled on the
vehicle’s painted surfaces, the
paint nish can be damaged.
Be careful not to spill brake uid
on the vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. SeeWashing
Your Vehicle on page 5-86.
Service and Appearance Care 5-31