engine coolant CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2002 1.G Owner's Manual

6-11
When you open the hood on the VORTEC 8100 V8 engine you will see the following:
A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
B. Coolant Surge Tank
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator
D. Engine Oil Dipstick
E. Automatic Transmission DipstickF. Engine Oil Fill
G. Fan
H. Remote Negative (
-)
Terminal (GND)
I. Remote Positive (+) TerminalJ. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir
L. Underhood Electrical Center
M. Battery
N. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir

6-27
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX
-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, 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, see ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
-COOL coolant will:

Give freezing protection down to
-34F (-37C).

Give boiling protection up to 265F (129C).

Protect against rust and corrosion.

Help keep the proper engine temperature.

Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
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.

6-28 What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one
-half DEX-COOL
coolant which won't
damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don't 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 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:
If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn't 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 the proper coolant, you don't have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.

6-29 Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is
located in the engine
compartment on the
passenger's side of the
vehicle. See ªEngine
Compartment Overviewº
in the Index for 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
FILL COLD mark.
If the LOW COOLANT
message comes on and
stays on, it means you're
low on engine coolant.
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. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is hand-tight.

6-30
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
The coolant surge tank pressure cap must be fully
installed on the coolant surge tank. See ªEngine
Compartment Overviewº in the Index for more
information on location.
NOTICE:
Your coolant surge tank pressure cap is a 15 psi
(105 kPa) pressure
-type cap and must be tightly
installed to prevent coolant loss and possible
engine damage from overheating.
Power Steering Fluid
5300 V8 Engine

6-32
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer's instructions before use. If you will be
operating your vehicle in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing. See ªEngine Compartment
Overviewº in the Index for reservoir location.
Adding Washer Fluid
Your vehicle has a low washer fluid message that
comes on when the washer fluid is low. The message is
displayed for 15 seconds at the start of each ignition
cycle. When the LOW WASHER FLUID message is
displayed, you will need to add washer fluid to the
windshield washer fluid reservoir.
The windshield washer fluid
reservoir is located in the
engine compartment toward
the front of the vehicle on
the driver's side.Open the cap with the washer symbol on it. Add washer
fluid until the tank is full.
NOTICE:

When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer's instructions for
adding water.

Don't mix water with ready
-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze
and damage your washer fluid tank and
other parts of the washer system. Also,
water doesn't clean as well as washer fluid.

Fill your washer fluid tank only
three
-quarters full when it's very cold.
This allows for expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.

Don't use engine coolant (antifreeze) in
your windshield washer. It can damage
your washer system and paint.

Scheduled Maintenance
7-15

Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly driven
under one or more of these conditions:
± In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches
90
F (32
C) or higher.
± In hilly or mountainous terrain.
± When doing frequent trailer towing.
± Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you haven't used your vehicle under severe service conditions listed
previously and, therefore, haven't changed your automatic transmission fluid,
change both the fluid and filter.
Change transfer case fluid.
Except 8.1L V8 Engine: Inspect Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve.
An Emission Control Service.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every 60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck. Pressure test
the cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service. ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE

7-16
Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed in this part are owner checks and services which
should be performed at the intervals specified to help
ensure the safety, dependability and emission control
performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil
if necessary. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index for
further details.Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX
-COOL

coolant mixture if necessary. See ªEngine Coolantº in
the Index for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the
windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if
necessary. See ªWindshield Washer Fluidº in the
Index for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures.
Don't forget to check your spare tire. See ªTiresº in
the Index for further details.

7-23
Part D: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identified below by name,
part number or specification may be obtained from
your dealer.
USAGE
FLUID/LUBRICANT
Engine OilEngine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certified
for Gasoline Engines starburst
symbol of the proper viscosity.
To determine the preferred
viscosity for your vehicle's engine,
see ªEngine Oilº in the Index.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and use only
GM Goodwrench

DEX-COOL

or Havoline
DEX-COOL

Coolant. See ªEngine Coolantº in
the Index.
USAGEFLUID/LUBRICANT
Hydraulic
Brake SystemDelco Supreme 11
Brake Fluid
(GM Part No. 12377967 or
equivalent DOT
-3 brake fluid).
Windshield
Washer SolventGM Optikleen
Washer Solvent
(GM Part No. 1051515)
or equivalent.
Power
Steering SystemGM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. 1052884
- 1 pint,
1050017
- 1 quart, or equivalent).
Automatic
TransmissionDEXRON
-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Key
Lock CylindersMulti-Purpose Lubricant,
Superlube
(GM Part
No. 12346241 or equivalent).