coolant temperature CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 2019 User Guide

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Vehicle Care 341
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard
GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause
damage to the engine cooling
system and the vehicle, which
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, or by pouring
it on the ground, or into sewers,
streams, or bodies of water. Have
the coolant changed by an
authorized service center, familiar
with legal requirements regarding
used coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is located in
the engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 328.
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
5.3L V8 Shown, 6.0L V8 Similar
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, wait until it cools down. The
coolant level should be at or above the full cold mark. If it is not, there
may be a leak in the cooling
system.
If coolant is visible but the coolant
level is not at or above the full cold
mark, see
“How to Add Coolant to
the Coolant Surge Tank for Gasoline
Engines,” following.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank for
Gasoline Engines
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see“Cooling System” in the
Duramax diesel supplement for the
proper coolant fill procedure.
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine
parts can burn you. Coolant
contains ethylene glycol and it will
burn if the engine parts are hot
enough.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
342 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific
coolant fill procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and could
cause system damage. If coolant
is not visible in the surge tank,
contact your dealer.
If no coolant is visible in the surge
tank, add coolant.
Light-Duty
Coolant Surge
Tank
Pressure CapHeavy-Duty
Coolant Surge
Tank
Pressure Cap
1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about one full
turn. If a hiss is heard, wait for
that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture to the full
cold mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until the
engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates approximately
90 °C (195 °F).
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level reaches the
full cold mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Vehicle Care 343
6. Verify coolant level after theengine is shut off and the
coolant is cold. If necessary,
repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1–6.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and engine
damage may occur. Be sure the
cap is properly and tightly
secured.
Engine Overheating
If the vehicle has the Duramax
diesel engine, see the Duramax
diesel supplement.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak in the engine cooling system.
This can cause a loss of all
coolant and can damage the
system and vehicle. Have any
leaks fixed right away. The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There is a coolant temperature
gauge in the vehicle's instrument
cluster. See
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge 0141.
In addition, there are ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE,
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE, and ENGINE POWER IS
REDUCED messages in the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance Program
0 453.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
5.3L V8 Engine
Check to see if the engine cooling
fans are running. If the engine is
overheating, the fans should be
running. If they are not, do not
continue to run the engine. Have the
vehicle serviced.
If Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
If No Steam is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message, along with a low coolant
condition, can indicate a serious
problem.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Vehicle Care 345
Caution (Continued)
attempting any repair. Repair the
cause of coolant loss, change the
oil, and reset the oil life system.
SeeEngine Oil 0331.
Engine Fan
If the vehicle has a clutched engine
cooling fan, when the clutch is
engaged, the fan spins faster to
provide more air to cool the engine.
In most everyday driving conditions,
the fan is spinning slower and the
clutch is not fully engaged. This
improves fuel economy and reduces
fan noise. Under heavy vehicle
loading, trailer towing, and/or high
outside temperatures, the fan speed
increases as the clutch more fully
engages, so an increase in fan
noise may be heard. This is normal
and should not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping or making
extra shifts. It is merely the cooling
system functioning properly. The fan will slow down when additional
cooling is not required and the
clutch disengages.
This fan noise may also be heard
when starting the engine. It will go
away as the fan clutch partially
disengages.
If the vehicle has electric cooling
fan(s), the fans may be heard
spinning at low speed during most
everyday driving. The fans may turn
off if no cooling is required. Under
heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing,
high outside temperatures,
or operation of the air conditioning
system, the fans may change to
high speed and an increase in fan
noise may be heard. This is normal
and indicates that the cooling
system is functioning properly. The
fans will change to low speed when
additional cooling is no longer
required.
The electric engine cooling fans
may run after the engine has been
turned. off. This is normal and no
service is required.
Power Steering Fluid
(1500 Series)
The vehicle has electric power
steering and does not use power
steering fluid.
Power Steering Fluid
(2500/3500 Series)
See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 328 for reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly
check power steering fluid unless
there is a leak suspected in the
system or an unusual noise is
heard. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Index 477
CaliforniaPerchlorate Materials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
California Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .325, 349, 408, Back Cover
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 446
Carbon Monoxide
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Cargo Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . 3
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . 123
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Center Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Charging Wireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 146 Check
Engine Light (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Ignition Transmission Lock . . . 354
Child Restraints Infants and Young Children . . . . . 92
Lower Anchors and Tethersfor Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110, 113
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423
Climate Control
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216, 218
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . 216, 218
Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216, 218
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 456
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Connected Services Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472 Connected Services (cont'd)
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 474
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 471
Connections
Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 472
Control Hill Descent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Traction and ElectronicStability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Control Light Hill Descent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Coolant Engine Temperature Gauge . . 141
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216, 218, 220
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 452 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451
Text Telephone (TTY)Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
478 Index
Customer InformationPublications Ordering
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 456
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 3
Data CollectionInfotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 462
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 462
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 461
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Diagnostics Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 474
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 448
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 279
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154, 156 Driving
Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 282
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 32
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 235
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 237
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 362
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366, 367 Electrical System (cont'd)
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 328
Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 448
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 140
Overheated Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 255
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 461
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

Chevrolet Silverado LD 1500 and Silverado 2500/3500 Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-12162993) - 2019 - crc - 4/4/18
Index 479
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Exterior Cargo Lamps . . . . . . . . . . 177
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 171
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 173
Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
F
FanEngine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 175
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
FlexFuel
E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Floor Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . 124
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 426
Fluid Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . 335, 337
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348 Fluid (cont'd)
Four-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Forward Automatic Braking . . . . . 285
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . 262, 350
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . . . 150
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 459
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 63
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 Fuel (cont'd)
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 153
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . 254
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Top Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
Fuses Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 362
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366, 367
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Gauges
Engine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 140
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139