coolant level CHEVROLET DURAMAX 2006 Owners Manual

Fuel Operated Heater (FOH)
(Van Models Only)
If your vehicle includes a fuel operated heater (FOH),
it will enhance heater performance and will reduce the
amount of time it takes to warm the inside of your vehicle
in cold conditions below 40°F (4.4°C). The fuel operated
heater is installed in the frame rail on the driver’s side of
the vehicle and uses diesel to warm up the engine
coolant, which finally warms up the passenger’s cabin
air. The FOH works automatically, depending on the
fuel level, engine coolant temperature and outside air
temperature. It works only with the engine running.
Engine Coolant Heater
In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is located in the engine compartment,
on the passenger’s side of the vehicle, near the
right side engine mount.
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.
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Towing
Towing a Trailer
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following:
Engine coolant will boil at a lower temperature than sea
level. 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 automatic transmission equipped
vehicles in PARK (P) or manual transmission equipped
vehicles in NEUTRAL with the park brake applied for at
least five minutes before turning the engine off. If you do
get the overheat warning, seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-39.
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A. Battery
B. Coolant Surge Tank
C. Automatic Transmission Dipstick
D. Engine Fan
E. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil level every
time you get fuel.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-18
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must be
warm, at normal operating temperature, and the vehicle
must be on level ground.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil at least
five minutes to drain back into the oil pan. With a
cool engine, allow 30 minutes. 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 a cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove
it again, keeping the tip down.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of the
dipstick, you will need to add at least two quarts/liters of
oil. But you must use the right kind. This section explains
what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase capacity,
seeSpecication Charts on page 5-50.
Notice:Do not add too much oil. If 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.
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission fluid to use. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-15.
Using a funnel, add fluid down the transmission dipstick
tube only after checking the transmission fluid while it is
hot. A cold check is used only as a reference. If the fluid
level is low, add only enough of the proper fluid to bring
the level up to the HOT area for a hot check. It does not
take much fluid, generally less than one pint (0.5L). Do
not overfill.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic transmission
uid may damage your vehicle, and the damages
may not be covered by your warranty. Always
use the automatic transmission uid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-15.
•After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check” earlier in
this section.
•When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way. Then flip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
Engine Coolant
Pickup Models
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, seeEngine Overheating
on page 5-39.
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.
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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 5-18for more
information on its 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 mixtureat the surge tank, but only when the
engine is cool. If the surge tank is empty, seeEngine
Overheating on page 5-39.
{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.
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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. SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 6-15for more information.
Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery tank
is located near the center
of the engine compartment.
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-18
for more information on
its location.
{CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. With the coolant recovery tank, you will
almost never have to add coolant at the
radiator. Never turn the radiator 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
COLD FILL mark.
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If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. 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.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s 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 three minutes while
you’re parked. If there is no sign of steam and your
vehicle is equipped with an electric cooling fan, idle the
engine for three minutes while you’re parked. If you still
have the warning,turn off the engine and get everyone
out of the vehicleuntil it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.Cooling System
Pickup Models
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
A. Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
B. Coolant Surge Tank
C. Engine Fan
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface.
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The coolant level should
be at or above the FULL
COLD mark. If it isn’t, you
may have a leak at the
pressure cap or in the
radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere
else in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. If
you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak xed before you drive
the vehicle.If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again. If
your vehicle is equipped with an engine driven cooling
fan, the engine cooling fan speed should increase when
idle speed is doubled by pushing the accelerator pedal
down. If it doesn’t, your vehicle needs service. Turn off
the engine.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty.
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 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.
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How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
Notice:The diesel engine has a specic coolant
ll procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause your engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
If you haven’t found a problem yet, check to see
if coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level isn’t at or above the FULL COLD
mark, add a 50/50 mixture ofclean, drinkable waterand
DEX-COOL
®coolant at the coolant surge tank, but
be sure the cooling system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap, is cool before you do it. See
Engine Coolant on page 5-34for more information.
If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add coolant
as follows:
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly.
They are under pressure, and if you turn the
coolant surge tank pressure cap — even a
little — they can come out at high speed.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Never turn the cap when the cooling system,
including the coolant surge tank pressure cap,
is hot. Wait for the cooling system and coolant
surge tank pressure cap to cool if you ever
have to turn the pressure cap.
{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.
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Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
{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.
Park the vehicle on a level
surface. You can remove
the coolant surge tank
pressure cap when the
cooling system, including
the coolant surge tank
pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
1. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise (left)
until it first stops. Don’t press down while turning the
pressure cap. If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still some pressure left.2. Then keep turning the cap, but now push down as
you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
3. After the engine cools, open the air bleed valve on
the thermostat housing.
Fill with the proper mixture. Add coolant until you
see a steady stream of coolant coming from the
bleed valve.
4. Close the bleed valve.
5. Rinse or wipe the spilled coolant from the engine
and compartment.
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