fuel CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2020 Get To Know Guide

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13882570) - 2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
100 Instruments and Controls
DIC Buttons
The buttons are the trip/fuel, vehicle
information, customization, and set/
reset buttons. The button functions
are detailed in the following pages.
3:Press this button to display
the odometer, trip odometers, fuel
range, average economy, fuel used,
timer, average speed, and digital
tachometer.
T: Press this button to display the
oil life, rear park assist, units, tire
pressure readings for vehicles with
the Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS), engine hours, Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) programming for vehicles with the
TPMS and without a Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter, and
compass zone and compass
calibration on vehicles with this
feature.
U:
Press this button to customize
the feature settings on the vehicle.
See Vehicle Personalization 0105
for more information.
V: Press this button to set or reset
certain functions and to turn off or
acknowledge messages on the DIC.
Trip/Fuel Menu Items
3: Press this button to scroll
through the following menu items:
Odometer
Press
3until XX km (mi)
displays. This display shows the
distance the vehicle has been
driven in either kilometers (km) or
miles (mi). Trip Odometers
Press
3until A or B displays.
This display shows the current
distance traveled in either
kilometers (km) or miles (mi) since
the last reset for each trip odometer.
Both trip odometers can be used at
the same time.
Each trip odometer can be reset to
zero separately by pressing
Vwhile
the desired trip odometer is
displayed.
The trip odometer has a feature
called the retro-active reset. This
can be used to set the trip odometer
to the number of kilometers (miles)
driven since the ignition was last
turned on. This can be used if the
trip odometer is not reset at the
beginning of the trip.
To use the retro-active reset feature,
press and hold
Vfor at least
four seconds. The trip odometer will
display the number of
kilometers (km) or miles (mi) driven
since the ignition was last turned on
and the vehicle was moving. Once
the vehicle begins moving, the trip

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Instruments and Controls 101
odometer will accumulate mileage.
For example, if the vehicle was
driven 8 km (5 miles) before it is
started again, and then the
retro-active reset feature is
activated, the display will show 8 km
(5 miles). As the vehicle begins
moving, the display will then
increase to 8.1 km (5.1 miles),
8.2 km (5.2 miles), etc.
If the retro-active reset feature is
activated after the vehicle is started,
but before it begins moving, the
display will show the number of
kilometers (km) or miles (mi) that
were driven during the last ignition
cycle.
Fuel Range
Press
3until FUEL RANGE
displays. This display shows the
approximate number of remaining
kilometers (km) or miles (mi) the
vehicle can be driven without
refueling.
The fuel range estimate is based on
an average of the fuel economy
over recent driving history and the
amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank. This estimate will change if
driving conditions change. For
example, if driving in traffic and
making frequent stops, this display
may read one number, but if the
vehicle is driven on a freeway, the
number may change even though
the same amount of fuel is in the
fuel tank. This is because different
driving conditions produce different
fuel economies. Generally, freeway
driving produces better fuel
economy than city driving.
If the vehicle is low on fuel, the
FUEL LEVEL LOW message will be
displayed.
Average Economy
Press3until AVG ECONOMY
displays. This display shows the
approximate average liters per
100 kilometers (L/100 km) or miles
per gallon (mpg). This number is
calculated based on the number of
L/100 km (mpg) recorded since the
last time this menu item was reset.
To reset AVG ECONOMY, press and
hold
V. The display will return
to zero. Fuel Used
Press
3until FUEL USED
displays. This display shows the
number of liters (L) or gallons (gal)
of fuel used since the last reset of
this menu item. To reset the fuel
used information, press and hold
V
while FUEL USED is displayed.
Timer
Press
3until TIMER displays.
This display can be used as a timer.
To start the timer, press
Vwhile
TIMER is displayed. The display will
show the amount of time that has
passed since the timer was last
reset, not including time the ignition
is off. Time will continue to be
counted as long as the ignition is
on, even if another display is being
shown on the DIC. The timer will
record up to 99 hours, 59 minutes
and 59 seconds (99:59:59) after
which the display will return to zero.
To stop the timer, press
Vbriefly
while TIMER is displayed.
To reset the timer to zero, press and

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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150 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 155
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 156
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 158
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 162
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 167 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 171
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 177
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 182 Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 184
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 192
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 192
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 211

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Driving and Operating 151
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible:
. Set the climate controls to the
desired temperature after the
engine is started, or turn them
off when not required.
. Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
. Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
. Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
. When road and weather
conditions are appropriate, use
cruise control.
. Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
. Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated. .
Combine several trips into a
single trip.
. Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size.
. Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep
your eyes on the road, keep your
hands on the steering wheel, and
focus your attention on driving.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 157
.Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0178.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes
should be applied sooner than
when on dry pavement. See
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
0176.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside Assistance. See
Roadside
Assistance Program 0325. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0170.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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158 Driving and Operating
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 178.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see Towing the Vehicle 0291.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it was
designed to carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification/Tire label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
reduce stopping distance,
damage the tires, and shorten
the life of the vehicle.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 161
Example 3
1. Maximum Vehicle CapacityWeight for Example 3 =
453 kg (1,000 lbs)
2. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 91 kg (200 lbs) × 5 =
453 kg (1,000 lbs)
3. Available Cargo Weight = 0 kg (0 lbs)
Refer to the vehicle tire and
loading information label for
specific information about the
vehicle's capacity weight and
seating positions. The combined weight of the driver, passengers,
and cargo should never exceed
the vehicle capacity weight.
Certification/Tire Label
A vehicle specific Certification/
Tire label is attached to the rear
edge of the driver door. The
label may show the size of the
vehicle's original tires and the
inflation pressures needed to
obtain the gross weight capacity
of the vehicle. This is called
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR). The GVWR includes
the weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, fuel, and cargo.
The Certification/Tire label also
may show the maximum weights
for the front and rear axles,
called Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). To find out the actual
loads on the front and rear
axles, you need to go to a weigh
station and weigh the vehicle.
Your dealer can help you with
this. Be sure to spread out the
load equally on both sides of the
centerline.{Warning
Things you put inside the
vehicle can strike and injure
people in a sudden stop or
turn, or in a crash.
.Put things in the cargo
area of the vehicle. Try to
spread the weight evenly.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 165
If the key is left in ON/RUN with the
engine off, the battery could drain
and the vehicle may not start.
3 (START) :This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
returns to ON/RUN for driving.
Starting the Engine
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
To place the transmission in the
proper gear:
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeAdd-On Electrical Equipment
0 213.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
while starting the vehicle, damage
may occur to the hydraulic power
steering system and there may be
loss of power steering assist. Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When
the engine starts, let go of the
key. The idle speed will go
down as your engine gets
warm. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow the
oil to warm up and lubricate all
moving parts.
When the low fuel warning light
is on and the FUEL LEVEL
LOW message is displayed in
the Driver Information Center
(DIC), the Computer-Controlled
Cranking System is disabled to
prevent possible vehicle
component damage. When this
happens, hold the ignition
switch in the START position to
continue engine cranking.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 167
.Pressing the accelerator more
than one-quarter of the
way down.
. Turning the ignition off.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories can be
used for up to 10 minutes after the
engine is turned off:
.Audio System
. Power Windows (if equipped)
These features will work when the
ignition is on or in ACC/
ACCESSORY. Once the ignition is
turned from on to off, power to the
radio and power windows will
continue to work for 10 minutes or
until the driver door is opened.
Engine Coolant 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.
The engine coolant 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 coolant 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 coolant heater operation at
temperatures above −18 °C (0 °F).
To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
4.3L V6 Engine
6.0L V8 Engine
4. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.

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Driving and Operating 173
Caution (Continued)
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. It provides the best fuel
economy. If you need more power
for passing, and you are:
. Going less than about 55 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
. Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts
down to the next gear and has
more power.
D (Drive) can be used when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load,
or driving on steep hills. You might
want to shift the transmission to a
lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often. Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See
“Skidding”under
Loss of Control 0154.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization
feature that adjusts the transmission
shifting to the current driving
conditions in order to reduce rapid
upshifts and downshifts. This shift
stabilization feature is designed to
determine, before making an
upshift, if the engine is able to
maintain vehicle speed by analyzing
things such as vehicle speed,
throttle position, and vehicle load.
If the shift stabilization feature
determines that a current vehicle
speed cannot be maintained, the
transmission does not upshift and
instead holds the current gear.
In some cases, this could appear to
be a delayed shift, however the
transmission is operating normally.
The transmission uses adaptive
shift controls. Adaptive shift controls
continually compare key shift
parameters to pre-programmed
ideal shifts stored in the
transmission’s computer. The transmission constantly makes
adjustments to improve vehicle
performance according to how the
vehicle is being used, such as with
a heavy load or when the
temperature changes. During this
adaptive shift control process,
shifting might feel different as the
transmission determines the best
settings.
The shift quality of a new vehicle
may not be ideal because the
adaptive shift control process may
not have determined the best
settings for a particular shift or
condition. Shift quality will improve
with continued driving.
When temperatures are very cold,
the transmission's gear shifting
could be delayed, providing more
stable shifts until the engine warms
up. Shifts could be more noticeable
with a cold transmission. This
difference in shifting is normal.
M :
This position lets drivers select
the range of gears appropriate for
current driving conditions. If the