engine overheat CHEVROLET KODIAK 2008 User Guide

Engine Overheating
You will find an engine coolant temperature gage, as
well as a low coolant warning light, on your vehicle’s
instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 3-35andLow Coolant Warning Light on
page 3-35for more information.
Your vehicle also has a check gages warning light on
the instrument panel. SeeCheck Gages Warning
Light on page 3-42for more information.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay
away from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it. Just turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle until it cools
down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch re. You
or others could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
5-48

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant light, can
indicate a serious problem. SeeLow Coolant Warning
Light on page 3-35for more information.
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
coolant light, but see or hear no steam, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a
little too hot when you:
•Climb a long hill on a hot day.
•Stop after high-speed driving.
•Idle for long periods in traffic.
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
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the
road, shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.
3. If climbing a hill, downshift to raise engine and fan
speeds.If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is about twice as
fast as normal idle speed for at least three minutes while
you are parked. If you still have the warning, turn off the
engine and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-49

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see if
coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not at the FULL COLD mark
or higher, add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and 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.
SeeEngine Coolant (Caterpillar
®Diesel Engines) on
page 5-44orEngine Coolant (Gas and
DURAMAX
®/Isuzu 7.8L L6 Engines) on page 5-44for
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. Never turn the
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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 the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle’s
coolant warning system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too hot but you
would not get the overheat warning. The
engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
5-52

Dome Lamps.................................................3-16
Door
Locks.......................................................... 2-6
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-7
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-13
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-3
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-15
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-15
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-14
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-20
Tow Hooks.................................................4-20
Winter........................................................4-16
Dual Tire Operation.........................................5-84
E
EDR .............................................................7-11
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-102
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-103
Fusible Links.............................................5-103
Headlamp Wiring.......................................5-102
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-103
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-103
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-106
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-102Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-39
Alarm and Automatic Shutdown.....................2-18
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-38
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-36
Checks Before Operating..............................2-23
Coolant......................................................5-44
Coolant Heater............................................2-25
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-35
Diesel Engine Exhaust Brake........................2-26
Drive Belt Routing......................................5-117
Exhaust.....................................................2-45
Exhaust Restrictor.......................................2-22
Fan Breakage............................................... 5-6
Fan Noise..................................................5-54
High Idle System.........................................2-20
Oil ....................................5-23, 5-24, 5-28, 5-32
Oil Life System...........................5-36, 5-37, 5-39
Overheating................................................5-48
Reduced Power Light...................................3-41
Shutdown Warning Light...............................3-39
Speed Limiter.............................................3-27
Starter Over-Crank Protection........................2-12
Starting Diesel............................................2-14
Starting the Gasoline...................................2-12
Engine Overspeed Warning Light......................3-39
Entry Lighting.................................................3-17
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-11
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