starting CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2018 Owner's Guide

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
Driving and Operating 231
Automatic
Transmission
P :This position locks the front
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting
the engine because the vehicle
cannot move easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park 0221 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0271.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. You must fully apply the
regular brake first and then press
the shift lever button before shifting
from P (Park) when the ignition is
on. If you cannot shift out of
P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever, then push the shift lever all
the way into P (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever into another
gear. See
Shifting out of Park 0223.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0210.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 259
Caution (Continued)
.Aftermarket diesel fuel
additives, which contain
alcohols, organo-metallic
additives, or water
emulsifiers.
. Diesel fuel with sulfur
greater than 15 ppm.
. Diesel-biodiesel blends not
within the required
specification.
Some conditions, such as dirty fuel,
may decrease fuel filter life and a
CHANGE FUEL FILTER message
may come on in the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
What Fuel to Use in the
U.S. (Diesel)
Use of diesel fuel with ultra low
sulfur content (15 ppm, maximum) is
required. Look for service station
fuel dispensers with this label in
green:
The diesel fuel must meet ASTM
International specification D 975,
Grades No. 2-D or No. 1-D S15,
also known as Ultra Low Sulfur
Diesel. Contact a fuel supplier or
fueling station with any questions.
Diesel Fuel Grades
For best results use No. 2-D diesel
fuel year-round because it is
blended for seasonal temperature
differences, both above and below
freezing conditions. No. 1-D diesel
also meeting ASTM International
D975 fuel can be used in very cold
temperatures (below −18 °C or
0 °F); however, it will reduce power
and fuel economy. Avoid using No. 1-D diesel fuel in warm or hot
climates. It can result in stalling,
poor starting when the engine is hot,
and damage to the fuel injection
system.
Premium Diesel Fuel
Premium Diesel Fuel (FQP-1A)
corresponds to the Engine
Manufacturers Association (EMA)
Recommended Guideline. It may
provide less noise, better starting,
and better vehicle performance, but
is not required.
Biodiesel Blends
Retail pumps dispensing blends
containing up to 5% biodiesel (B5)
are not required to be labeled with
the concentration of biodiesel.
Blends up to B5 must meet ASTM
D975 (Grades No. 2-D or No. 1-D
S15 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel). When
refueling with a biodiesel blend
above B5, one of the following
labels should appear on the
dispenser:

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
260 Driving and Operating
Blends containing more than 5%
and up to 20% biodiesel must meet
ASTM specification D7467
(Biodiesel blend, B6 - B20) and are
labeled with an orange or bluepump label. To reduce the risk of
poor quality fuel, purchase biodiesel
blends from a fuel supplier or fueling
station that sells BQ-9000 certified
biodiesel. See www.bq-9000.org for
a list of certified marketers. See
Biodiesel
0261.
What Fuel to Use in
Canada and Mexico
(Diesel)
What Fuel to Use in Canada
Use of diesel fuel with ultra low
sulfur content (15 ppm, maximum) is
required. Use diesel fuel that meets
the CAN/CGSB-3.517 specification
in Canada. Contact a fuel supplier
with questions about fuel.
Caution
Use of diesel fuel other than Ultra
Low Sulfur Diesel (15 ppm sulfur
maximum) will cause damage to
the exhaust after-treatment
system. This damage would not
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not use marine,
locomotive, or boiler distillate fuel
since it may contain higher sulfur
levels.
Diesel Fuel Types
For best results use Ultra Low
Sulfur Type B Diesel. This fuel is
blended for seasonal changes. In
extreme cold temperatures (below
−18 °C or 0 °F) Ultra Low Sulfur
Type A Diesel fuel can be used, but
it may cause power and fuel
economy losses. Avoid using Type
A Diesel fuel in warm or hot
climates. Doing so can result in
stalling, poor starting when the
engine is hot, and damage to the
fuel injection system.
Premium Diesel Fuel
If available, premium diesel fuel
(FQP-1A) corresponding to the
Engine Manufacturers Association

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
Driving and Operating 261
(EMA) Recommended Guideline
could provide better starting and
vehicle performance with less noise.
Biodiesel Blends in Canada
Biodiesel blends that meet the
CAN/CGSB-3.522 specifications up
to 20% (B20) can be used. Avoid
the use of biodiesel blends above
20%, as they may damage the
engine and fuel system. For detailed
information on the use of biodiesel,
seeBiodiesel 0261.
What Fuel to Use in Mexico
Use diesel fuel specification
NOM-086 Pemex UBA, which meets
the Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel
requirement of 15 ppm sulfur
maximum. This fuel is not available
in all regions of Mexico.
Caution
Use of diesel fuel other than Ultra
Low Sulfur Diesel (15 ppm sulfur
maximum) will cause damage to
the exhaust after-treatment
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
system. This damage would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not use marine,
locomotive, or boiler distillate fuel
since it may contain higher sulfur
levels.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel
produced from vegetable oils or
animal fats that have been
chemically modified to make it
compatible with diesel fuel.
Caution
Do not use home-made biodiesel
or home test kits because the
quality cannot be verified by
approved scientific methods. Do
not use raw vegetable oil or other
unmodified bio-oils, fats,
or blends of vegetable oil with
diesel. They could damage the(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
fuel system and engine, and
damages would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Caution
Do not use blends containing
more than 20% biodiesel. Any
engine, fuel system, or exhaust
after-treatment system damage
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Biodiesel fuel quality degrades with
time and exposure to high
temperature quicker than Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel fuel. More frequent
refueling provides the best
opportunity to have a supply of fresh
fuel. Storage at hot ambient
temperatures will accelerate
biodiesel degradation.
Owners who use very little fuel,
or who have vehicles stored for
extended periods of time, should

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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262 Driving and Operating
avoid the use of biodiesel blended
fuels above 5% by volume. When
vehicles are stored for longer than
one month, they should be run out
of biodiesel to below one-quarter
tank, refueled with Ultra Low Sulfur
Diesel fuel, and driven at least
32 km (20 mi) before storage.
At temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F),
it is recommended to switch to Ultra
Low Sulfur Diesel fuel with no
biodiesel content, or to blends with
biodiesel containing less than 5% by
volume. At these extreme cold
temperatures, biodiesel blends
higher than 5% by volume may
cause fuel filter plugging and
system gelling, which can lead to
vehicle operability problems.
Fuels improperly blended for cold
temperature operation may result in
restricted fuel filters and degraded
vehicle performance. GM diesel
vehicles are equipped with a fuel
heating system to provide an extra
level of protection against filter
plugging from gelling or waxing of
conventional diesel fuel and
biodiesel blends. If the operatingtemperature is far below the
temperature at which gelling or
waxing of the fuel occurs, the
system cannot prevent all cases of
filter plugging.
If the vehicle experiences a fuel
filter restriction, the on-board
monitoring system will alert the
driver that the fuel filter requires
service. The fuel filter, however, will
not prevent all damage caused by
poor quality biodiesel.
Cold Weather Operation
(Diesel)
In cold weather, the fuel filter may
become clogged by wax naturally
present in the fuel. To unclog it,
move the vehicle to a warm garage
area and allow the filter to warm up.
The fuel filter may need to be
replaced. See
Fuel Filter
Replacement (Diesel) 0266.
At temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F),
it is recommended to avoid using
biodiesel blends above 5% blend.
This blend may cause fuel filter
plugging, system gelling, and freezing that may affect vehicle
starting. You may need to turn the
ignition on and off a few times
before the vehicle will start. Also,
idle the vehicle for a couple of
minutes before accelerating.
Water in Fuel (Diesel)
Improper fuel tank inspection or
cleaning, or contaminated fuel from
suppliers, can cause water to be
pumped into the fuel tank along with
the diesel fuel. If a WATER IN FUEL
- CONTACT SERVICE message
displays, the water must be drained
immediately.
{Warning
Diesel fuel containing water is still
combustible. You or others could
be burned. If the fuel needs to be
drained, keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away from the
mixture.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 267
Warning (Continued)
.Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended.
. Do not use a cell phone
while refueling.
. Do not reenter the vehicle
while pumping fuel.
. Keep children away from
the fuel pump and never let
children pump fuel.
. Fuel can spray out if the
refueling nozzle is inserted
too quickly. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly
full, and is more likely in hot
weather. Insert the refueling
nozzle slowly and wait for
any hiss noise to stop prior
to beginning to flow fuel.
To open the fuel door, push and
release the rearward center edge of
the door.
The vehicle has a capless fuel
system and does not have a fuel
cap. The filling nozzle must be fully
inserted and latched prior to starting
fuel flow.
{Warning
Overfilling the fuel tank by more
than three clicks of a standard fill
nozzle may cause:
. Vehicle performance issues,
including engine stalling and
damage to the fuel system.
. Fuel spills.
. Potential fuel fires.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Wait a
few seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the
nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care 0361.
{Warning
If a fire starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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272 Driving and Operating
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the sound of the
stability control system might be
heard. The system is reacting to the
vehicle movement caused by the
trailer, which mainly occurs during
cornering. This is normal when
towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.This can help to avoid situations
that require heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. Because the
rig is longer, it is necessary to go
farther beyond the passed vehicle
before returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move your hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Caution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle. (Continued)
Caution (Continued)
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal so the
trailer will not strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees, or other
objects. Use the turn signal well in
advance and avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
The turn signal indicators in the
instrument cluster flash whenever
signaling a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer
lamps also flash, telling other
drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes, or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the turn
signal indicators in the instrument
cluster flash for turns even if the

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 273
bulbs on the trailer are burned out.
Check occasionally to be sure the
trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Use a lower gear if the transmission
shifts too often.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, engine coolant
boils at a lower temperature than at
normal altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing
at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, the vehicle could show
signs similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the engine run
while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission in
P (Park) for a few minutes beforeturning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating
0299.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels. 3. When the wheel chocks are in
place, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal while you:
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 279
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Tire Sealant andCompressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 353
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
{Warning
Most motor vehicles, including
this one, as well as many of its
service parts and fluids, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and
systems, many fluids, and some
component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these
chemicals. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See Battery - North America 0303
and Jump Starting - North America
0 354 and the back cover.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
284 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0293.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0288.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0288.
4. Engine Cooling Fan. See Cooling System 0295.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0302. 6.
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0312.
7. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump
Starting - North America 0354.
8. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0295. 9.
Battery - North America 0303.
10. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North
America 0354.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 300.