brake fluid CHEVROLET EXPRESS CARGO VAN 2017 1.G Owners Manual

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/6/16
166 Driving and Operating
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated withdrinking and driving is a globaltragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
asmallamountofalcohol.You
can have a serious—or even
fatal—collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
adriverwhohasbeendrinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and acceleratingare important factors in helping tocontrol a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perceptiontime and reaction time. Deciding topush the brake pedal is perceptiontime. Actually doing it isreaction time.
Average driver reaction time isabout three-quarters of a second. Inthat time, a vehicle moving at100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m(66 ft), which could be a lot ofdistance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mindinclude:
.Keep enough distance betweenyou and the vehicle in frontof you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while thevehicle is being driven, brakenormally but do not pump thebrakes. Doing so could make thepedal harder to push down. If theengine stops, there will be somepower brake assist but it will beused when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, itcan take longer to stop and thebrake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Hydraulic Power Steering
Yo u r v e h i c l e h a s h y d r a u l i c p o w e rsteering. It may requiremaintenance. SeePower SteeringFluid0232.
If power steering assist is lostbecause the engine stops orbecause of a system malfunction,the vehicle can be steered but mayrequired increased effort. See yourdealer if there is a problem.
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
for more than 15 seconds,
damage may occur to the power
steering system and there may be
loss of power steering assist.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/6/16
Driving and Operating 169
.Keep the windshield washer fluidreservoir filled.
.Have good tires with propertread depth. SeeTires0252.
.Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or throughmountains is different than drivingon flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and ingood shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,tires, cooling system, andtransmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when goingdown steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
.Drive at speeds that keep thevehicle in its own lane. Do notswing wide or cross thecenter line.
.Be alert on top of hills;something could be in your lane(e.g., stalled car, accident).
.Pay attention to special roadsigns (e.g., falling rocks area,winding roads, long grades,passing or no-passing zones)and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires andthe road creates less traction orgrip, so drive carefully. Wet ice canoccur at about 0 °C (32 °F) whenfreezing rain begins to fall. Avoiddriving on wet ice or in freezing rainuntil roads can be treated.
For slippery road driving:
.Accelerate gently. Acceleratingtoo quickly causes the wheels tospin and makes the surfaceunder the tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control. SeeTr a c t i o n C o n t r o l / E l e c t r o n i cStability Control0190.
.Antilock Brake System (ABS)improves vehicle stability duringhard stops, but the brakesshould be applied sooner than

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/6/16
Driving and Operating 205
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but donot shift into P (Park) yet. Turnthe wheels into the curb iffacing downhill or into traffic iffacing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocksunder the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are inplace, release the regularbrakes until the chocks absorbthe load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Thenapply the parking brake andshift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brakepedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer isclear of the chocks.
7. Stop and have someone pickup and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service moreoften when pulling a trailer. SeeMaintenance Schedule0297.Things that are especially importantin trailer operation are automatictransmission fluid, engine oil, axlelubricant, belts, cooling system, andbrake system. It is a good idea toinspect these before and duringthe trip.
Check periodically to see that allhitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Towing
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,see the Duramax dieselsupplement.
{Warning
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too heavy
or the trailer brakes are
inadequate for the load, the
vehicle may not stop as expected.
The driver and passengers could
be seriously injured. The vehicle
may also be damaged; the
resulting repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Pull a trailer only if all the steps in
this section have been followed.
Ask your dealer for advice and
information about towing a trailer
with the vehicle.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/2/16
214 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 215California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215California PerchlorateMaterials Requirements . . . . . 215Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217Engine CompartmentOverview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 221Automatic TransmissionFluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 225Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 230Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . 232Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Battery - North America . . . . . . 236Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 237Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 238Automatic Transmission ShiftLock Control FunctionCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238Ignition Transmission LockCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239Park Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 239Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 239
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 240Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 242Ta i l l a m p s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 3Center High-MountedStoplamp (CHMSL) . . . . . . . . . 244License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 244Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 245Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 246
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . 249
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 254Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260Tire Pressure MonitorSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261Tire Pressure MonitorOperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265Dual Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . 266When It Is Time for NewTires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268Different Size Tires andWheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269Uniform Tire QualityGrading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270Wheel Alignment and TireBalance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 271

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/2/16
Vehicle Care 219
1.Battery - North America0236.
2. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System0226.
3. Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System0226.
4. Automatic Transmission FluidDipstick. See“Checking theFluid Level”underAutomaticTr a n s m i s s i o n F l u i d0222.
5. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See“Whento Add Engine Oil”underEngine Oil0219.
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See“Checking Engine Oil”underEngine Oil0219.
7.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter0225.
8. Power Steering FluidReservoir. SeePower SteeringFluid0232.
9. Brake Master CylinderReservoir. SeeBrakeFluid0234.
10. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See“Adding WasherFluid”underWasherFluid0233.
Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see“Engine Oil”in the Duramax dieselsupplement.
To e n s u r e p r o p e r e n g i n eperformance and long life, carefulattention must be paid to engine oil.Following these simple, butimportant steps will help protectyour investment:
.Use engine oil approved to theproper specification and of theproper viscosity grade. See“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”in this section.
.Check the engine oil levelregularly and maintain theproper oil level. See“CheckingEngine Oil”and“When to AddEngine Oil”in this section.
.Change the engine oil at theappropriate time. SeeEngine OilLife System0221.
.Always dispose of engine oilproperly. See“What to Do withUsed Oil”in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly(every 650 km (400 mi), especiallyprior to a long trip. The engine oildipstick handle is a loop. SeeEngine Compartment Overview0218for 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 theoil level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To g e t a n a c c u r a t e r e a d i n g , p a r kthe vehicle on level ground.Check the engine oil level afterthe engine has been off for atleast two hours. Checking theengine oil level on steep gradesor too soon after engine shutoffcan result in incorrect readings.Accuracy improves when

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/2/16
Vehicle Care 223
Caution (Continued)
fluid could come out and fall on
hot engine parts or exhaust
system parts, starting a fire. Too
little fluid could cause the
transmission to overheat. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if
checking the transmission fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes with theengine off, before checking thetransmission fluid level if the vehiclehas been driven:
.In hot weather, when outsidetemperatures are above 32 °C(90 °F).
.The vehicle is heavily loaded.
.At high speed for quite a while inhot weather.
.In heavy traffic and hot weather.
.While pulling a trailer.
After driving under these conditions,ahotcheckcanbeperformed.Thefluid should be hot, which is 71 °C to93 °C (160 °F to 200 °F).
Acoldfluidlevelcheckcanbeperformed after the vehicle hasbeen sitting for eight hours or morewith the engine off, but this is usedonly as a reference. Let the enginerun at idle for five minutes if theoutside temperature is between 15 °Cto32°C(60°Fto90°F).Shouldthe fluid level be low during this coldcheck, the fluid must be checkedwarm or hot before adding fluid.If the outside temperature is colderthan 15 °C (60 °F) or hotter than 32 °C(90°F),acoldcheckcannotbeperformed.
Awarmfluidlevelcheckcanbeperformed by driving the vehicleunder lightly loaded conditions andoutside temperatures between 10 °Cto 27 °C (50 °F to 80 °F). Thevehicle should be driven for at least24 km (15 mi) before performing awarm check. Checking the fluidwarm or hot will give a moreaccurate reading of the fluid levelthan a cold check.
Because the vehicle is equippedwith a high-efficiency air-to-oilcooler, the transmission fluidtemperature may not reach the
required hot fluid level checkingtemperature under normal lightlyloaded driving vehicle conditions.
Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare the vehicle:
1. Park the vehicle on a levelplace. Keep the enginerunning.
2. With the parking brake applied,place the shift lever in P (Park).
3. With a foot on the brake pedal,move the shift lever througheach gear range, pausing forabout three seconds in eachrange. When M is reached,move the selector from M1through M3. Then, position theshift lever in P (Park).
4. Let the engine run at idle fortwo minutes or more.
Then, without shutting off theengine, use the steps that follow.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/2/16
232 Vehicle Care
outside temperatures, the fan speedincreases as the clutch more fullyengages, so an increase in fannoise may be heard. This is normaland should not be mistaken as thetransmission slipping or makingextra shifts. It is merely the coolingsystem functioning properly. The fanwill slow down when additionalcooling is not required and theclutch partially disengages.
This fan noise may be heard whenstarting the engine. It will go awayas the fan clutch partiallydisengages.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering fluid reservoir isin the engine compartment on thedriver side of the vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment Overview0218for reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
It is not necessary to regularlycheck power steering fluid unlessthere is a leak suspected in thesystem or an unusual noise isheard. A fluid loss in this systemcould indicate a problem. Have thesystem inspected and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
To c h e c k t h e p o w e r s t e e r i n g f l u i d :
1. Turn the key off and let theengine compartmentcool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of thereservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe thedipstick with a clean rag.
4. Replace the cap andcompletely tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again andlook at the fluid level on thedipstick.
The level should be at the COLDFILL mark. If necessary, add onlyenough fluid to bring the level up tothe mark.
To p r e v e n t c o n t a m i n a t i o n o f b r a k efluid, never check or fill the powersteering reservoir with the brakemaster cylinder cover off.
What to Use
Caution
Use of the incorrect fluid may
damage the vehicle and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
the correct fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0305.
To d e t e r m i n e w h a t k i n d o f f l u i d t ouse, seeRecommended Fluids andLubricants0305.Alwaysusetheproper fluid. Failure to use theproper fluid can cause leaks anddamage hoses and seals.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/2/16
Vehicle Care 233
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When the vehicle needs windshieldwasher fluid, be sure to read themanufacturer's instructions beforeuse. If operating the vehicle in anarea where the temperature may fallbelow freezing, use a fluid that hassufficient protection againstfreezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washersymbol on it. Add washer fluid untilthe tank is full. SeeEngineCompartment Overview0218forreservoir location.
Caution
.Do not use washer fluid thatcontains any type of waterrepellent coating. This cancause the wiper blades tochatter or skip.
.Do not use engine coolant(antifreeze) in thewindshield washer. It candamage the windshieldwasher system and paint.
.Do not mix water withready-to-use washer fluid.Water can cause thesolution to freeze anddamage the washer fluidtank and other parts of thewasher system.
.When using concentratedwasher fluid, follow themanufacturer instructions foradding water.
.Fill the washer fluid tankonly three-quarters full whenit is very cold. This allowsfor fluid expansion if
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
freezing occurs, which coulddamage the tank if it iscompletely full.
Brakes
Disc brake pads have built-in wearindicators that make a high-pitchedwarning sound when the brake padsare worn and new pads are needed.The sound can come and go or canbe heard all the time when thevehicle is moving, except whenapplying the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
acrash.Whenthebrakewear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/2/16
234 Vehicle Care
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climatescan cause a brake squeal when thebrakes are first applied or lightlyapplied. This does not meansomething is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts arenecessary to help prevent brakepulsation. When tires are rotated,inspect brake pads for wear andevenly tighten wheel nuts in theproper sequence to torquespecifications. SeeCapacities andSpecifications0309.
Brake pads should be replaced ascomplete sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedaldoes not return to normal height,or if there is a rapid increase inpedal travel. This could be a signthat brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system partswith new, approved replacementparts. If this is not done, the brakesmay not work properly. The brakingperformance expected can changein many other ways if the wrongreplacement brake parts areinstalled or if parts are improperlyinstalled.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoiris filled with DOT 3 brake fluid. SeeEngine Compartment Overview0218for the location of thereservoir.
There are only two reasons why thebrake fluid level in the reservoir maygo down:
.Normal brake lining wear. Whennew linings are installed, thefluid level goes back up.
.Afluidleakinthebrakehydraulic system. Have thebrake hydraulic system fixed.With a leak, the brakes will notwork well.
Always clean the brake fluidreservoir cap and the area aroundthe cap before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid.Adding fluid does not correct a leak.If fluid is added when the linings areworn, there will be too much fluidwhen new brake linings areinstalled. Add or remove fluid, asnecessary, only when work is doneon the brake hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-9967827) - 2017 - crc - 5/2/16
Vehicle Care 235
Warning (Continued)
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a lowlevel, the brake warning light comeson. SeeBrake System WarningLight0104.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time.Replace brake fluid at the specifiedintervals to prevent increasedstopping distance. SeeMaintenanceSchedule0297.
Checking Brake Fluid
Check brake fluid by looking at thebrake fluid reservoir. SeeEngineCompartment Overview0218.
The fluid level should be aboveMIN. If it is not, have the brakehydraulic system checked to see ifthere is a leak.
After work is done on the brakehydraulic system, make sure thelevel is above MIN but not over theMAX mark.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3brake fluid from a clean, sealedcontainer. SeeRecommendedFluids and Lubricants0305.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.