fuel cap CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2011 2.G Owners Manual

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
1-34 In Brief
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and, on most vehicles, displays a
DIC message when it is necessary
to change the engine oil and filter.
The oil life system should be reset
to 100% only following an oil
change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
To reset the Engine Oil Life System
on most vehicles:
1. Display OIL LIFE REMAININGon the DIC. If the vehicle does
not have DIC buttons, the
vehicle must be in P (Park)
to access this display.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET button on the DIC, or the trip
odometer reset stem if the
vehicle does not have DIC
buttons, for more than
five seconds. The oil life
will change to 100%. On all vehicles, the Engine Oil Life
System can be reset as follows:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with
the engine off.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within
five seconds.
3. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. If the display shows
100%, the system is reset.
See Engine Oil Life System
on
page 10‑9.
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge
and a yellow fuel cap can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
See Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
on
page 9‑86. For all other vehicles,
use only the unleaded gasoline
described under Recommended
Fuel on page 9‑84.
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving
tips to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.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.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
5-18 Instruments and Controls
Here are some situations owners
can experience with the fuel gauge.
None of these indicate a problem
with the fuel gauge.
.At the gas station, the fuel pump
shuts off before the gauge
reads full.
.It takes a little more or less fuel
to fill up than the fuel gauge
indicated. For example, the
gauge may have indicated the
tank was half full, but it actually
took a little more or less than
half the fuel tank's capacity to
fill it.
.The gauge goes back to empty
when the ignition is turned off.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel supplement
for more information.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
Engine Oil Pressure
Gauge
Metric
English
For vehicles with an engine oil
pressure gauge, it shows the engine
oil pressure in kPa (kilopascals)
or psi (pounds per square inch)
when the engine is running.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
5-20 Instruments and Controls
English
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature.
It also provides an indicator of
how hard the vehicle is working.
During a majority of the operation,
the gauge reads 100°C (210°F) or
less. If pulling a load or going up
hills, it is normal for the temperature
to fluctuate and go over the 113°C
(235°F) mark. If the gauge reaches
the 125°C (260°F) mark, it indicates
that the cooling system is working
beyond its capacity. See
Engine Overheating
on
page 10‑24.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Voltmeter Gauge
For vehicles with a voltmeter gauge,
this gauge indicates the battery
voltage when the ignition is
turned on. When the ignition is on, this gauge
indicates the battery voltage.
When the engine is running, this
gauge shows the condition of the
charging system. The gauge can
transition from a higher to lower
or a lower to higher reading. This is
normal. If the vehicle is operating
outside the normal operating range,
the charging system light comes on.
See
Charging System Light
on
page 5‑26for more information.
The voltmeter gauge may also read
lower when in fuel economy mode.
This is normal.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
5-28 Instruments and Controls
To prevent more serious damage to
the vehicle:
.Reduce vehicle speed.
.Avoid hard accelerations.
.Avoid steep uphill grades.
.If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled as
soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so, stop the vehicle.
Find a safe place to park the
vehicle. Turn the vehicle off, wait at
least 10 seconds, and restart the
engine. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps and see
your dealer for service as soon as
possible.
Light On Steady: An emission
control system malfunction has
been detected on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be
required. An emission system malfunction
might be corrected:
.Make sure the fuel cap is fully
installed. See
Filling the Tankon
page 9‑88. The diagnostic
system can determine if the
fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap allows fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap
properly installed should turn
the light off.
.If the vehicle has been driven
through a deep puddle of water,
the vehicle's electrical system
might be wet. The condition
is usually corrected when the
electrical system dries out.
A few driving trips should turn
the light off.
.Make sure to fuel the vehicle
with quality fuel. Poor fuel quality
causes the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and can
cause: stalling after start-up,
stalling when the vehicle is
changed into gear, misfiring,
hesitation on acceleration,
or stumbling on acceleration.
These conditions might go away
once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these
conditions occurs, change the
fuel brand used. It will require at
least one full tank of the proper
fuel to turn the light off.
See Recommended Fuel
on
page 9‑84.
If none of the above have made
the light turn off, your dealer can
check the vehicle. The dealer
has the proper test equipment
and diagnostic tools to fix any
mechanical or electrical problems
that might have developed.

Black plate (48,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
5-48 Instruments and Controls
Fuel System Messages
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays and a chime
may sound if the fuel level is low.
Refuel as soon as possible. See
Fuel Gauge
on page 5‑17andFuelon page 9‑83for more information.
TIGHTEN GAS CAP
This message may display along
with the check engine light on
the instrument panel cluster if the
vehicle's fuel cap is not tightened
properly. See Malfunction Indicator
Lamp
on page 5‑27. Reinstall the
fuel cap fully. See Filling the Tank
on page 9‑88. The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly
installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap allows fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. A few driving trips with
the cap properly installed should
turn this light and message off.
Key and Lock Messages
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY
This message displays if a Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter
battery is low. The battery needs
to be replaced in the transmitter.
See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3.
Lamp Messages
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message displays and a chime
sounds if a turn signal is left on for
1.2 km (0.75 mile). Move the turn
signal/multifunction lever to the off
position.
Object Detection System
Messages
PARK ASST BLOCKED SEE
OWNERS MANUAL
If the vehicle has the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system,
this message displays if there is
something interfering with the park
assist system. See Ultrasonic
Parking Assist
on page 9‑76for more information.
PARK ASSIST OFF
If the vehicle has the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system,
after the vehicle has been started,
this message displays to remind the
driver that the URPA system has
been turned off. Press the set/reset
button or the trip odometer reset
stem to acknowledge this message
and clear it from the DIC display.
To turn the URPA system back on,
see Ultrasonic Parking Assist
on
page 9‑76.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-27
The label shows the size of
your vehicle's original tires
and the inflation pressures
needed to obtain the gross
weight capacity of your 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
tells you the maximum weights
for the front and rear axles,
called Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). To find out the
actual loads on your front and
rear axles, you need to go to a
weigh station and weigh your
vehicle. Your dealer can help
you with this. Be sure to spread
out your load equally on both
sides of the centerline.Never exceed the GVWR for
your vehicle, or the GAWR for
either the front or rear axle.
The Certification/Tire label also
contains important information
about your Front Axle Reserve
Capacity. See
“What is front axle
reserve capacity, and how do
I calculate it?” underAdding a
Snow Plow or Similar Equipment
on page 9‑123.
{WARNING
In the case of a sudden stop
or collision, things carried in
the bed of your truck could
shift forward and come into
the passenger area, injuring
you and others. If you put
things in the bed of your truck,
you should make sure they
are properly secured.
{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).
If you do, parts on the vehicle
can break, and it can change
the way the vehicle handles.
These could cause you to
lose control and crash. Also,
overloading can shorten the
life of the vehicle.
Notice :Overloading the
vehicle may cause damage.
Repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Do not overload the vehicle.

Black plate (83,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-83
Fuel
For diesel engine vehicles, see
“Fuel for Diesel Engines”in the
Duramax Diesel Supplement.
For Vehicles with gasoline engines,
please read this.
Gasoline
Use of the recommended fuel
is an important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. To help
keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, we
recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
Look for the TOP TIER label on the
fuel pump to ensure gasoline meets
enhanced detergency standards
developed by auto companies. A list
of marketers providing TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline can be found
at www.toptiergas.com.
The 8th digit of the Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) shows
the code letter or number that identifies the vehicle's engine.
The VIN is at the top left of the
instrument panel. See
Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN)
on
page 12‑1.
Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge
and a yellow fuel cap can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
See Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
on
page 9‑86. For all other vehicles,
use only the unleaded gasoline
described under Recommended
Fuel on page 9‑84.

Black plate (86,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-86 Driving and Operating
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol,
and reformulated gasolines
might be available in your area.
We recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed
for those fuels.
Notice:This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty. Some gasolines that are
not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant
where you buy gasoline whether the
fuel contains MMT. We recommend
against the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the
performance of the emission
control system could be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp
might turn on. If this occurs, return
to your dealer for service.Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge
and a yellow fuel cap can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
For all other vehicles, use only the
unleaded gasoline described under
Recommended Fuel on page 9‑84.
We encourage the use of E85 in
vehicles that are designed to use it.
The ethanol in E85 is a
“renewable”
fuel, meaning it is made from
renewable sources such as corn
and other crops.
Many service stations will not have
an 85% ethanol fuel (E85) pump
available. The U.S. Department
of Energy has an alternative fuels
website (www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/
infrastructure/locator.html) that
can help you find E85 fuel.

Black plate (88,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
9-88 Driving and Operating
Filling the Tank
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel supplement
for more information.
{WARNING
Fuel vapor burns violently and a
fuel fire can cause bad injuries.
To help avoid injuries to you and
others, read and follow all the
instructions on the fuel pump
island. Turn off the engine when
refueling. Do not smoke near
fuel or when refueling the vehicle.
Do not use cellular phones. Keep
sparks, flames, and smoking
materials away from fuel. Do not
leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling the vehicle. This is
against the law in some places.
Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel. Keep children away
from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel.
The tethered fuel cap is located
behind a hinged fuel door on the
driver side of the vehicle. If the
vehicle has E85 fuel capability,
the fuel cap will be yellow and state
that E85 or gasoline can be used.
SeeFuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
on
page 9‑86.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it
slowly counterclockwise.
{WARNING
Fuel can spray out on you if you
open the fuel cap too quickly.
If you spill fuel and then
something ignites it, you could
be badly burned. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly full,
and is more likely in hot weather.
Open the fuel cap slowly and wait
for any hiss noise to stop. Then
unscrew the cap all the way.
If the vehicle is a dual fuel tank
chassis cab model, and it runs out
of fuel, refuel the front fuel tank first
to ensure a quick restart.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not
top off or overfill the tank and wait
a few seconds after you have
finished pumping before removing
the nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
“Washing the Vehicle” in Exterior
Cleaning.

Black plate (89,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-89
When replacing the fuel cap, turn
it clockwise until it clicks. It will
require more effort to turn the fuel
cap on the last turn as you tighten it.
Make sure the cap is fully installed.
The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been
left off or improperly installed. This
would allow fuel to evaporate into
the atmosphere. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑27.
The TIGHTEN GAS CAP message
displays on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) if the fuel cap is not
properly installed. See Fuel System
Messages
on page 5‑48for more
information.
{WARNING
If a fire starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel
by shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately. Notice:
If a new fuel cap is
needed, be sure to get the right
type of cap from your dealer.
The wrong type fuel cap might
not fit properly, might cause the
malfunction indicator lamp to
light, and could damage the fuel
tank and emissions system. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on
page 5‑27.
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container
{WARNING
Never fill a portable fuel container
while it is in the vehicle. Static
electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel
vapor. You can be badly burned
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you
and others:
.Dispense fuel only into
approved containers.
.Do not fill 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 fill nozzle in contact
with the inside of the fill
opening before operating the
nozzle. Contact should be
maintained until the filling is
complete.
.Do not smoke while
pumping fuel.
.Do not use a cellular phone
while pumping fuel.