check oil CHEVROLET COLORADO 2020 Owner's Manual

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
Keys, Doors, and Windows 15
Remote Vehicle Start
If equipped, the engine can be
started from outside of the vehicle.
The climate controls and rear
window defogger may also
come on.
If the vehicle has heated seats and
the feature is turned on in vehicle
personalization, the heated seats
will turn on during colder outside
temperatures and will shut off when
the ignition is turned on. See
Heated Front Seats032.
Laws in some communities may
restrict the use of remote starters.
Check local regulations for any
requirements on remote starting of
vehicles.
If your vehicle is low on fuel, do not
use the remote start feature. The
vehicle may run out of fuel.
The vehicle cannot be remote
started if:
. The key is in the ignition.
. The hood is not closed. .
There is an emission control
system malfunction and the
malfunction indicator lamp is on.
. The hazard warning flashers
are on.
. Two remote vehicle starts, or a
single remote start with an
extension, have already
been used.
. The vehicle is not in P (Park).
The engine will turn off during a
remote vehicle start if:
. The coolant temperature gets
too high.
. The oil pressure gets low.
The RKE transmitter range may be
less while the vehicle is running.
Other conditions can affect the
performance of the transmitter. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System 012 or
Vehicle Personalization 0120.
Starting the Engine Using Remote
Start
1. Press and release
Q. 2. Immediately press and hold
/
until the turn signal lamps flash
or for at least four seconds.
When the vehicle starts, the
parking lamps will turn on. The
doors will be locked and the
climate control system may
come on.
The engine will continue to run for
15 minutes. Repeat the steps for
one 15-minute time extension. Turn
the ignition on to operate the
vehicle.
Extending Engine Run Time
The engine run time can be
extended by 15 minutes, for a total
of 30 minutes, if during the first
15 minutes Steps 1 and 2 are
repeated while the engine is still
running. An extension can be
requested 30 seconds after starting.
A maximum of two remote starts,
or a single start with an extension,
is allowed between ignition cycles.
The ignition must be turned on and
then back off to use remote start
again.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
90 Instruments and Controls
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . 91
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . 91
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . 91
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . 92
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Instrument Cluster (Base Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) . . . 99
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . 103
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 104
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Charging System Light . . . . . . . 105
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 106
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . 109
Hill Descent Control Light . . . . 109
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . 109
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . 110
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . 111
Low Fuel Warning Light (Base Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Low Fuel Warning Light (Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 112
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . 113
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . 113 Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 113
Door Ajar Light (Uplevel
Cluster) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC)(Base Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 120
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . 120
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 120

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
Instruments and Controls 111
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine is
started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS.
When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of
the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
tire pressure message may also
display. Stop as soon as possible,
and inflate the tires to the pressure
value shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. SeeTire
Pressure 0268. When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute
and then stays on, there may be a
problem with the TPMS. If the
problem is not corrected, the light
will come on at every ignition cycle.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation 0270.
Engine Oil Pressure Light
Caution
Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. Driving with the engine oil
low can also damage the engine.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Check
the oil level as soon as possible.
Add oil if required, but if the oil
level is within the operating range
and the oil pressure is still low,
have the vehicle serviced. Always
follow the maintenance schedule
for changing engine oil.
This light should come on briefly as
the engine is started. If it does not
come on, have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem. See
your dealer.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
Driving and Operating 163
clears the extra gasoline from
the engine. Do not race the
engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates
all moving parts.
Engine Heater
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
{Warning
Do not plug in the engine block
heater while the vehicle is parked
in a garage or under a carport.
Property damage or personal
injury may result. Always park the
vehicle in a clear open area away
from buildings or structures.
If equipped, the engine heater can
provide easier starting and better
fuel economy during engine
warm-up in cold weather conditions
at or below −18 °C (0 °F). Vehicles
with an engine heater should be plugged in at least four hours before
starting. An internal thermostat in
the plug-end of the cord may exist,
which will prevent engine heater
operation at temperatures above
−18 °C (0 °F).
Heater Cord Near Engine Air
Cleaner, 2.5L L4 Engine Shown, 3.6L V6 Engine Similar
To Use the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap theelectrical cord. The cord is
secured near the coolant surge tank or to the engine air
cleaner. Carefully remove
the cord.
Check the heater cord for
damage. If it is damaged, do
not use it. See your dealer for
a replacement. Inspect the
cord for damage yearly.
3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord
or an extension cord can damage
the cord and may result in
overheating and fire.
. Plug the cord into a
three-prong electrical utility
receptacle that is protected
by a ground fault detection
function. An ungrounded
outlet could cause an
electric shock.
. Use a weatherproof,
heavy-duty, 15 amp-rated
extension cord if needed.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
Driving and Operating 207
1. Press and hold the brakepedals.
2. Start the engine and shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the
sloped part of the boat ramp,
the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into
the drive mode that is
appropriate for the road
conditions.Caution
If the vehicle tires begin to spin
and the vehicle begins to slide
toward the water, remove your
foot from the accelerator pedal
and apply the brake pedal. Seek
help to have the vehicle towed up
the ramp.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0315. It is
especially important to check the
automatic transmission fluid, engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before
and during each trip.
Check periodically to see that all
nuts and bolts on the trailer hitch
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 239.
Trailer Towing
If equipped with a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To tow a trailer
correctly, follow the directions in
this section and see your dealer
for important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
Trailering is different than just
driving the vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking,
durability, and fuel economy.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
222 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 223
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 224
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 232
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 234
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 239
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Battery - North America . . . . . . 243 Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 245
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 246
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 247
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 247
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . 249
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 252
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 253
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 263
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
230 Vehicle Care
1. Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0236.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0234.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0230.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 236.
5. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0230.
6. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0253.
7. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0242.
8. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 241.
9. Battery - North America 0243.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see
“Engine Oil” in the Duramax diesel
supplement.
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
. Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0232.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially
prior to a long trip. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0227 for the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the
oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
. To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground.
Check the engine oil level after
the engine has been off for at
least two hours. Checking the
engine oil level on steep grades
or too soon after engine shutoff
can result in incorrect readings.
Accuracy improves when

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Vehicle Care 231
checking a cold engine prior to
starting. Remove the dipstick
and check the level.
. If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is
warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out
the dipstick, wipe it with a clean
paper towel or cloth, then push it
back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and
check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
2.5L L4 Engine
3.6L V6 Engine
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick and
the engine has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then recheck
the level. See “Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for
an explanation of what kind of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications 0330.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If the oil level is
above the operating range (i.e.,
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
the engine has so much oil that
the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows
the proper operating range), the
engine could be damaged. Drain
the excess oil or limit driving of
the vehicle, and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 227 for the location of the engine
oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0325.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 233
include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
On some vehicles, when the system
has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, a CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on to
indicate that an oil change is
necessary. Change the oil as soon
as possible within the next 1 000 km
(600 mi). It is possible that, if driving
under the best conditions, the oil life
system might indicate that an oil
change is not necessary for up to a
year. The engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a year
and, at this time, the system must
be reset. For vehicles without the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message, an oil change is needed
when the OIL LIFE REMAINING
percentage is near 0%. Your dealer
has trained service people who will
perform this work and reset the
system. It is also important to checkthe oil regularly over the course of
an oil drain interval and keep it at
the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. Always reset the
engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the engine oil life system:
1. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0114 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0116. If the vehicle
does not have DIC buttons, the
vehicle must be in P (Park) to
access this display. 2. Press and hold
Von the DIC,
or SET/CLR on the turn signal
lever if the vehicle does not
have DIC buttons, for several
seconds. The oil life will
change to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows: 1. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0114 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0116.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within
five seconds.
If the display shows 100%, the
system is reset.
If the vehicle has a CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message and it
comes back on when the vehicle is
started and/or the OIL LIFE
REMAINING is near 0%, the engine
oil life system has not been reset.
Repeat the procedure.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 237
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts.
They can be very hot and can
burn you. Do not run the engine if
there is a leak; all coolant could
leak out. That could cause an
engine fire and can burn you. Fix
any leak before driving the
vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine
coolant mixture. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0325 and
Maintenance Schedule 0315.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating 0239.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F) outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F) engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts. .
Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard
GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause
damage to the engine cooling
system and the vehicle, which
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, or by pouring
it on the ground, or into sewers,
streams or, bodies of water. Have
the coolant changed by an
authorized service center, familiar
with legal requirements regarding
used coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.