engine CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2019 Repair Manual

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146162) - 2019 - crc - 11/26/18
Driving and Operating 211
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. Read this section
carefully before pulling a trailer.
When towing a trailer:
.Become familiar with and follow
all state and local laws that
apply to trailer towing. These
requirements vary from state to
state.
. State laws may require the use
of extended side view mirrors.
Even if not required, you should
install extended side view
mirrors if your visibility is limited
or restricted while towing.
. Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 mi) of vehicle
use to prevent damage to the
engine, axle, or other parts.
. It is recommended to perform
the first oil change before heavy
towing.
. During the first 800 km (500 mi)
of trailer towing, do not drive
over 80 km/h (50 mph) and do
not make starts at full throttle. .
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Tow/Haul Mode is recommended
for heavier trailers. See Tow/
Haul Mode 0189. If the
transmission downshifts too
often, a lower gear may be
selected using Manual Mode.
See Manual Mode 0188.
If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be
turned off when towing a trailer:
. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
. Super Cruise Control
. Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
. Park Assist
. Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
. Reverse Automatic
Braking (RAB)
If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be
turned to alert or off when towing a
trailer:
. Forward Automatic Braking
System (FAB)
. Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) .
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
If equipped with Lane Change Alert
(LCA), the LCA detection zones that
extend back from the side of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed. Use caution
while changing lanes when towing a
trailer.
If equipped with Rear Cross Traffic
Alert (RCTA), use caution while
backing up when towing a trailer, as
the RCTA detection zones that
extend out from the back of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed.
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death
from carbon monoxide (CO),
when towing a trailer: . Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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212 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air.
See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0184.
Towing a trailer requires experience.
The combination of the vehicle and
trailer is longer and not as
responsive as the vehicle itself. Get
used to the handling and braking of
the combination by driving on a
level road surface before driving on
public roads.
The trailer structure, the tires, and
the brakes must be all be rated to
carry the intended cargo.
Inadequate trailer equipment can
cause the combination to operate in an unexpected or unsafe manner.
Before driving, inspect all trailer
hitch parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. See
Towing
Equipment 0222. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then
manually apply the trailer brake
controller to check the trailer brakes
work. During the trip, occasionally
check that the cargo and trailer are
secure and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are working.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the stability control
system might be heard. The system
reacts to 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 without a trailer. This can
help to avoid heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination of the vehicle and
trailer will not accelerate as quickly
and is much longer than the vehicle
alone. It is necessary to go much
farther beyond the passed vehicle
before returning to the lane. Pass
on level roadways. Avoid passing
on hills if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move that hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146162) - 2019 - crc - 11/26/18
Driving and Operating 213
Making TurnsCaution
Turn more slowly and make wider
arcs when towing a trailer to
prevent damage to your vehicle.
Making very sharp turns could
cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when
towing, so trailer will not go over soft
shoulders, over curbs, or strike road
signs, trees, or other objects.
Always signal turns well in advance.
Do not steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downhill grade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes may overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency. The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes,
engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at lower 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, preferably on
level ground, with the transmission
in P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating
0248.Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and
trailer on a level surface when
possible. When parking your vehicle and your
trailer 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, gradually release the
brake pedal to allow the chocks
to absorb the load of the trailer.
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.
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146162) - 2019 - crc - 11/26/18
214 Driving and Operating
3. Drive slowly until the trailer isclear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks
Launching and Retrieving
a Boat
Backing the Trailer into the Water
{Warning
.Have all passengers get out
of the vehicle before
backing onto the sloped part
of the ramp. Lower the
driver and passenger side
windows before backing
onto the ramp. This will
provide a means of escape
in the unlikely event the
vehicle slides into the water.
. If the boat launch surface is
slippery, have the driver
remain in the vehicle with
the brake pedal applied
while the boat is being
launched. The boat launch
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
can be especially slippery at
low tide when part of the
ramp was previously
submerged at high tide. Do
not back onto the ramp to
launch the boat if you are
not sure the vehicle can
maintain traction.
. Do not move the vehicle if
someone is in the path of
the trailer. Some parts of the
trailer might be underwater
and not visible to people
who are assisting in
launching the boat.
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer
before backing the trailer into the
water to prevent damage to the
electrical circuits on the trailer.
Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after removing the trailer from the
water. If the trailer has electric
brakes that can function when the
trailer is submerged, it might help to leave the electrical trailer connector
attached to maintain trailer brake
functionality while on the boat ramp.
To back the trailer into the water:
1. Slowly back down the boat ramp until the boat is floating,
but no further than necessary.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal, but do not shift into
P (Park) yet.
3. Have someone place chocks under the front wheels of the
vehicle.
4. Gradually release the brake pedal to allow the chocks to
absorb the load of the trailer.
5. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park). If equipped
with a manual transmission,
turn off the engine and move
the shift lever into 1 (First) gear.
6. Release the brake pedal.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146162) - 2019 - crc - 11/26/18
Driving and Operating 215
Pulling the Trailer from the Water
To pull the trailer from the water:1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine and shift into a 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.
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 0319. 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 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
0 248.
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.
Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips
and safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. Read this section
carefully before pulling a trailer.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 225
controller should be installed by
your dealer or a qualified service
center.
If equipped, wiring provisions for an
aftermarket electric trailer brake
controller are included with the
vehicle as part of the trailer wiring
package. The harness contains the
following circuits:Electric Trailer
Brakes Dark Blue
Battery Feed Red/White
Brake Apply
Signal Light Blue
Ground Black
There are four blunt cut wires under
the floor carpeting in front of the
brake pedal. It will be necessary to
have a technician connect the
12-volt power to the engine
compartment fuse block.
Refer to the aftermarket electric
trailer brake controller owner's
manual to determine wire color
coding of the electric trailer brake controller. The wire colors on the
brake controller may be different
from the vehicle.
Trailer Lamps
Always check all trailer lamps are
working at the beginning of each
trip, and periodically on longer trips.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer
turn signals will illuminate to indicate
the vehicle is turning, changing
lanes, or stopping. When towing a
trailer, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will illuminate even if the
trailer is not properly connected or
the bulbs are burned out.
Tow/Haul Mode
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy
load. For instructions on how to
enter Tow/Haul mode, see
Tow/Haul
Mode 0189.
Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be
most effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least 75% of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See
“Trailer Weight ”under Trailer
Towing 0215.
Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when
towing a heavy trailer or carrying a
large or heavy load:
. through rolling terrain
. in stop-and-go traffic
. in busy parking lots
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
Mode when lightly loaded or not
towing will not cause damage;
however, it is not recommended and
may result in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) have a
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) feature.
Trailer sway is unintended
side-to-side motion of a trailer while
towing. If the vehicle is towing a
trailer and the TSC detects that

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146162) - 2019 - crc - 11/26/18
226 Driving and Operating
sway is increasing, the vehicle
brakes are selectively applied at
each wheel, to help reduce
excessive trailer sway. If equipped
with the Integrated Trailer Brake
Control (ITBC) system, and the
trailer has an electric brake system,
StabiliTrak/ESC may also apply the
trailer brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak/
ESC warning light will flash on the
instrument cluster. Reduce vehicle
speed by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator. If trailer
sway continues, StabiliTrak/ESCcan reduce engine torque to help
slow the vehicle. TSC will not
function if StabiliTrak/ESC is turned
off. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0192.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a crash
and in serious injury or death,
even if the vehicle is equipped
with TSC.
If the trailer begins to sway,
reduce vehicle speed by
gradually removing your foot from
the accelerator. Then pull over to
check the trailer and vehicle to
help correct possible causes,
including an improperly or
overloaded trailer, unrestrained
cargo, improper trailer hitch
configuration, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle or
trailer tires. See Towing
Equipment 0222 for trailer ratings
and hitch setup
recommendations.
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ from
vehicle tires. Trailer tires are
designed with stiff sidewalls to help
prevent sway and to support heavy
loads. These features can make it
difficult to determine if the trailer tire
pressures are low only based on a
visual inspection.
Always check all trailer tire
pressures before each trip when the
tires are cool. Low trailer tire
pressure is a leading cause of trailer
tire blow-outs.
Trailer tires deteriorate over time.
The trailer tire sidewall will show the
week and year the tire was
manufactured. Many trailer tire
manufacturers recommend
replacing tires more than six
years old.
Overloading is another leading
cause of trailer tire blow-outs. Never
load your trailer with more weight
than the tires are designed to
support. The load rating is located
on the trailer tire sidewall.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146162) - 2019 - crc - 11/26/18
228 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 229
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 230
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 237
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 238
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 241
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 242
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 248
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . 250
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Battery - North America . . . . . . 253
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 255
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 256
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 257
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 257
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 258
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 260
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) . . . . . . . . . 262
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 262
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 263
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 264
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . 268
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 272
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Dual Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146162) - 2019 - crc - 11/26/18
Vehicle Care 229
Wheel Alignment and TireBalance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 289
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 301
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
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 0253
and Jump Starting - North America
0 302 and the back cover.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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232 Vehicle Care
Engine Compartment Overview
4.3L V6 Engine