automatic transmission fluid CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 Z71 2018 Owners Manual

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
156 Instruments and Controls
Remaining Oil Life
Turn the trip odometer reset stem
until REMAINING OIL LIFE
displays. An estimate of the oil's
remaining useful life is shown.
REMAINING OIL LIFE 99% means
99% of the current oil life remains.
When the remaining oil life is low,
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the display.
The oil should be changed as soon
as possible. SeeEngine Oil0343.
In addition to the engine oil life
system monitoring the oil life,
additional maintenance is
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule. See Maintenance
Schedule 0443.
The Oil Life display must be reset
after each oil change. It will not
reset itself. Do not reset the Oil Life
display at any time other than when
the oil has just been changed.
It cannot be reset accurately until
the next oil change. To reset the
engine oil life system, see Engine
Oil Life System 0346. Transmission Fluid Temperature
The temperature of the automatic
transmission fluid displays in either
degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Trailer Brake
On vehicles with the Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system,
turn the trip odometer reset stem
until TRAILER GAIN and TRAILER
OUTPUT displays.
TRAILER GAIN shows the Trailer
Gain setting. This setting can be
adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0 with either
a trailer connected or disconnected.
TRAILER OUTPUT shows the
power output to the trailer anytime a
trailer with electric brakes is
connected. Output is displayed as a
bar graph. Dashes may appear in
the TRAILER OUTPUT display if a
trailer is not connected.
Hourmeter
This display shows the total number
of hours the engine has run.
Unit
This will change the displays on the
instrument cluster and DIC to either
metric or English (US)
measurements. To change the units,
press the trip odometer reset stem
when UNITS is displayed to enter
the Unit menu. Turn the trip
odometer reset stem to switch
between English and metric. Press
the trip odometer reset stem when
the desired setting is displayed.
Compass
The vehicle may have a compass in
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See
Compass 0131.
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Uplevel)
The DIC displays are shown in the
center of the instrument cluster in
the Info app. See Instrument Cluster
0 137. The displays show the status
of many vehicle systems. The
controls for the DIC are on the right
steering wheel control.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
Instruments and Controls 159
and the timer is running. To reset
the timer to zero, press and hold
V
while this display is active, or
press
pand select reset.
Speed Limit (If Equipped) : Shows
sign information, which comes from
a roadway database in the onboard
navigation.
Engine Hours : Shows the total
number of hours the engine has run.
Transmission Fluid
Temperature : Shows the
temperature of the automatic
transmission fluid in either degrees
Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Trailer Brake (If Equipped) : On
vehicles with the Integrated Trailer
Brake Control (ITBC) system, the
trailer brake display appears in
the DIC. TRAILER GAIN shows the trailer
gain setting. This setting can be
adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0 with either
a trailer connected or disconnected.
TRAILER OUTPUT shows the
power output to the trailer anytime a
trailer with electric brakes is
connected. Output is displayed as a
bar graph. Dashes may appear in
the OUTPUT display if a trailer is
not connected.
Off Road :
Displays vehicle pitch
and roll information, road wheel
angle, and four-wheel drive (4WD)
status.
Blank Page : Shows no
information.
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action that may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple
messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by
pressing
V. The messages that
require immediate action cannot be
cleared until that action is
performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously; clearing the message
does not correct the problem.
If a SERVICE message appears,
see your dealer.
Follow the instructions given in the
messages. The system displays
messages regarding the following
topics:
. Service Messages
. Fluid Levels
. Vehicle Security

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
258 Driving and Operating
{Warning
If equipped with four-wheel drive,
the vehicle will be free to roll if the
transfer case is in N (Neutral),
even when the shift lever is in
P (Park). You or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be
sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear—2
m, 4m, or 4n—or set the
parking brake before placing the
transfer case in N (Neutral). See
Four-Wheel Drive 0265.
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 0238.
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.
Also, use N (Neutral) when the
vehicle is being towed.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
300 Driving and Operating
4. Stop and have someone pickup and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Maintenance Schedule 0443.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 356.
Trailer Towing
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in.
See New Vehicle Break-In 0247.
{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.
Caution
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this
section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
See Vehicle Load Limits 0239 for
more information about the vehicle's
maximum load capacity.
To identify the trailering capacity of
the vehicle, read the information in
“Weight of the Trailer” later in this
section.
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.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
334 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 335
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 336
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 346
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 347
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 350
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 350
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 351
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 356 Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Power Steering Fluid (1500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Power Steering Fluid (2500/ 3500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Battery - North America . . . . . . 362
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 366
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 367
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 368
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 369
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 369
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Taillamps (Chassis Cab Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices andWiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Electrical System Overload . . . 375
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 376
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
Vehicle Care 339
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0421.
2. Battery - North America 0362.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0352.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0351.
5. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission) 0347
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8-Speed Transmission)
0 350. 6. Remote Negative (–) Location.
See Jump Starting - North
America 0421.
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 352.
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0343.
9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0343. 10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brake Fluid 0361.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 359.
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0376.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
Vehicle Care 341
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0421.
2. Battery - North America 0362.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0352.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0351.
5. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission) 0347
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8-Speed Transmission)
0 350. 6. Remote Negative (–) Location
(Out of View). See Jump
Starting - North America 0421.
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 352.
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0343.
9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0343. 10. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 359.
11. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0361.
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0376.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
Vehicle Care 343
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0421.
2. Battery - North America 0362.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0352.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0351.
5. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6-Speed Transmission) 0347
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8-Speed Transmission)
0 350.
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0343.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0343.
8. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 352. 9. Remote Negative (–) Location.
See Jump Starting - North
America 0421.
10. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering
Fluid (1500 Series) 0359 or
Power Steering Fluid (2500/
3500 Series) 0359.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 359.
12. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0361.
13. Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped). See Hydraulic
Clutch 0351.
14. Auxiliary Battery (If Equipped). SeeBattery - North America
0 362.
15. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0376.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine
and/or an Allison Transmission, see
the Duramax diesel supplement. For an eAssist vehicle, see the
Silverado/Sierra eAssist
supplement.
Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see
“Engine Oil”
in the Duramax diesel
supplement.
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
. Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0346.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
Vehicle Care 347
1. Display the OIL LIFEREMAINING on the DIC. If the
vehicle does not have DIC
buttons, the vehicle must be in
P (Park) to access this display.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level) 0155 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0156.
2. Press and hold
V, or the trip
odometer reset stem if the
vehicle does not have DIC
buttons, for several seconds.
The oil life will change
to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows:
1. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level) 0155 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0156.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within
five seconds. 3. Display the OIL LIFE
REMAINING on the DIC. If the
display shows 100%, the
system is reset.
If the vehicle has a CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message and it
comes back on when the vehicle is
started and/or the OIL LIFE
REMAINING is near 0%, the engine
oil life system has not been reset.
Repeat the procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid (6-Speed
Transmission)
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level. The only
reason for fluid loss is a
transmission leak or overheated
transmission. If a small leak is
suspected, then use the following
checking procedures to check the
fluid level. However, if there is a
large leak, then it may be necessary
to have the vehicle towed to a dealer service department and have
it repaired before driving the vehicle
further.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage
the vehicle, and the damage may
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use the
automatic transmission fluid listed
in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0451.
Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule
0 443. Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0451.

Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349200) - 2018 - CRC - 2/27/18
348 Vehicle Care
How to Check Automatic
Transmission FluidCaution
Too much or too little fluid can
damage the transmission. Too
much can mean that some of the
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.
Before checking the fluid level,
prepare the vehicle: 1. Start the engine and park the vehicle on a level surface.
Keep the engine running.
2. Apply the parking brake and place the shift lever in P (Park).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever
through each gear range,
pausing for about three seconds in each range.
Then, move the shift lever back
to P (Park).
4. Allow the engine to idle (500– 800 rpm) for at least
one minute. Slowly release the
brake pedal.
5. Keep the engine running and check the transmission fluid
temperature on the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level) 0155 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0156.
6. Using the transmission fluid temperature reading, determine
and perform the appropriate
check procedure. If the
transmission fluid temperature
reading is not within the
required temperature ranges,
allow the vehicle to cool,
or operate the vehicle until the
appropriate transmission fluid
temperature is reached. Cold Check Procedure
Use this procedure only as a
reference to determine if the
transmission has enough fluid to be
operated safely until a hot check
procedure can be made. The hot
check procedure is the most
accurate method to check the fluid
level. Perform the hot check
procedure at the first opportunity.
Use this cold check procedure to
check fluid level when the
transmission temperature is
between 27 °C and 32 °C (80 °F and
90 °F).
1. Locate the transmission
dipstick at the rear of the
engine compartment, on the
passenger side of the vehicle.
See Engine Compartment
Overview 0338.