Engine oil CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2003 1.G User Guide

Here are some things you can check before a trip:
·Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
·Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
·Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
·Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
·Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all in¯ated to the
recommended pressure?
·Weather Forecasts:What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
·Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as ªhighway
hypnosisº? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel?
Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don't
let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave
the road in
less than a second,and you could crash and
be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
·Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
·Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
·If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
4-45

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
The arrows on your instrument panel will ¯ash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also ¯ash, telling other drivers
you're about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ¯ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It's
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don't shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
If you have an automatic transmission, you can tow in
DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission
to lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often
(e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions).
You may also want to activate the tow/haul mode if the
transmission shifts too often. See
Tow/Haul Mode
Light on page 3-53.If you have a 5-speed manual transmission and you are
towing a trailer, it's better not to use FIFTH (5) gear.
Just drive in FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need
to, a lower gear).
If you have a 6-speed manual transmission and you are
towing a trailer, it's better not to use SIXTH (6) gear.
Drive in FIFTH (5) gear (or, as you need to, a lower gear).
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at normal altitudes. If you turn your
engine off immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the
engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission in PARK (P) (or
the manual transmission out of gear and the parking
brake applied) for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. If you do get the overheat warning,
see
Engine Overheating on page 5-33.
4-87

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
·start your engine,
·shift into a gear, and
·release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission ¯uid (don't over®ll),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system and
brake system. Each of these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you ®nd them quickly. If
you're trailering, it's a good idea to review these sections
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Your vehicle is equipped with one of the following wiring
harnesses for towing a trailer or hauling a slide-in
camper.
Basic Trailer Wiring
All regular, extended cab crew cab pickups have a
six-wire trailer towing harness.
The six-wire harness is located at the rear of the vehicle
and is tied to the vehicle's frame. The harness requires
the installation of a trailer-wiring harness connector,
which is available through your dealer.
4-89

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-5
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-8
Checking Things Under
the Hood......................................................5-8
Hood Release................................................5-9
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-10
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-21
Automatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmission
ž) ..........................................5-23Automatic Transmission Fluid (Allison
Transmission
ž) ..........................................5-26
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-28
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-29
Engine Coolant.............................................5-30
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-33
Engine Overheating.......................................5-33
Cooling System............................................5-36
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-41
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-42
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-43
Brakes........................................................5-44
Battery........................................................5-47
Jump Starting...............................................5-48
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-54
Rear Axle.......................................................5-55
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-56
Noise Control System.....................................5-58
Tampering with Noise Control System
Prohibited.................................................5-58
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ®ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
·Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
·Do not ®ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.
·Bring the ®ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ®ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the ®lling is complete.
·Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a ®re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake ¯uid, windshield washer and
other ¯uids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
5-8

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-21.
B. Coolant Surge Tank. See
Engine Coolant on
page 5-30.
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-21.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
Engine Oil on page 5-16.
E. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If equipped).
See
Automatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmissionž) on page 5-23orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (Allison Transmissionž)on
page 5-26.
F. Fan. See
Cooling System on page 5-36.
G. Engine Oil Fill. See
Engine Oil on page 5-16.H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See
Power Steering
Fluid on page 5-42.
I. Remote Negative (-) Terminal (GND). See
Jump
Starting on page 5-48.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting on
page 5-48.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brakes on page 5-44.
L. Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped). See
Hydraulic
Clutch on page 5-29.
M. Underhood Fuse Block. See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-110.
N. Battery. See
Battery on page 5-47.
O. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
Windshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-43.
5-11

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-21.
B. Coolant Surge Tank. See
Engine Coolant on
page 5-30.
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-21.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
Engine Oil on page 5-16.
E. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped).
See
Automatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmissionž) on page 5-23orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (Allison Transmissionž)on
page 5-26.
F. Engine Oil Fill. See
Engine Oil on page 5-16.
G. Fan. See
Cooling System on page 5-36.H. Remote Negative (-) Terminal (GND). See
Jump
Starting on page 5-48.
I. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See
Power Steering
Fluid on page 5-42.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting on
page 5-48.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brakes on page 5-44.
L. Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped). See
Hydraulic
Clutch on page 5-29.
M. Underhood Fuse Block. See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-110.
N. Battery. See
Battery on page 5-47.
O. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
Windshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-43.
5-13

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-21.
B. Coolant Surge Tank. See
Engine Coolant on
page 5-30.
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-21.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
Engine Oil on page 5-16.
E. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped).
See
Automatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmissionž) on page 5-23orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (Allison Transmissionž)on
page 5-26.
F. Engine Oil Fill. See
Engine Oil on page 5-16.
G. Fan. See
Cooling System on page 5-36.H. Remote Negative (-) Terminal (GND). See
Jump
Starting on page 5-48.
I. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting on
page 5-48.
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See
Power Steering
Fluid on page 5-42.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brakes on page 5-44.
L. Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped). See
Hydraulic
Clutch on page 5-29.
M. Underhood Fuse Block. See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-110.
N. Battery. See
Battery on page 5-47.
O. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
Windshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-43.
5-15

Engine Oil
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see ªEngine Oilº in
the Diesel Engine Supplement.
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL light appears on the
instrument cluster, it means you need to check your
engine oil level right away.
For more information, see
Driver Information Center
(DIC) on page 3-54.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It's a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.The engine oil dipstick has
a yellow ring handle and is
located in the engine
compartment on the
passenger's side of the
vehicle. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-10
for more
information on location.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
All Other Engines
5-16

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the cross-hatched area at the tip
of the dipstick, then you'll need to add at least one
quart of oil. But you must use the right kind. This part
explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see
Capacities and Speci®cations on
page 5-118.
Notice:Don't add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating
range, your engine could be damaged.The engine oil ®ll cap for
the VORTECŸ 4800,
5300 and 6000 V8 engines
is located on the engine
valve cover on the
passenger's side of the
vehicle. On the 8100
engine, the oil ®ll cap is
located on the front of the
engine.
See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-10for
more information on location.
Be sure to ®ll it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you're through. 8.1L Engine
5-17