radiator CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1996 Owners Manual

NOTICE:
When using concentrated washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer fluid. Water can
cause the solution to freeze and damage your washer fluid
tank and other parts of the washer system. Also, water
doesn’t clean
as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only 3/4 full when it’s very cold.
This allows for expansion, which could damage the tank
if it is
completely full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your windshield washer. It
can damage your washer system and paint.
Cruise Control (Option)
’ If you have Cruise
Control, the end
of
your multifunction lever will look like
this.
With Cruise Control, you can maintain a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h)
or more without keeping your foot on the accelerator. This can really help
on long trips. Cruise Control does
not work at speeds below about 25 mph
(40 km/h).
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If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, push the accelerator until the engine speed is
about twice as fast as normal idle speed. Bring the engine speed back
to
normal idle speed after two or three minutes. Now see if the warning stops.
But then, if you still have the warning,
turn ofthe 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.
Cooling System - Gasoline Engines
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what you’ll see:
A. Coolant recovery tank
B . Engine fan( s)
C. Radiator pressure cap
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling, don’t do anything
else until
it cools down.
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The coolant level
should be
at or above
the
COLD mark. If it
isn’t, you may have a
leak in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump
or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine without coolant isn’t \
covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again. See if the fan speed
increases when idle speed
is doubled by pushing the accelerator pedal down.
If it doesn’t, your vehicle needs service. Turn
off the engine.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level isn’t at or above
the
COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean water (preferably distilled)
and a proper antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant”
in the Index for more information about the proper coolant mix.)
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If the overheat warning continues, there's one more thing you can try. You
can
add the proper coolant mix directly to the radiator, but be sure the
cooling system is
cool before you do it.
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How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the cooling system,
including the radiator pressure cap and upper radiator hose,
is no longer
hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly to the left until
it first stops. (Don’t
press down while turning the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the
pressure cap, but
now push down
as you turn it.
Remove the
pressure cap.
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3. Fill the radiator with the proper
mix, up to the
base
of the filler
neck.
4. Then fill the
coolant recovery
tank to the
COLD
mark.
5. Put the cap back
on the coolant
recovery tank,
but leave the
radiator pressure
cap
off.
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I
6. Start the engine
and let it run until
you can feel the
upper radiator
hose getting hot.
Watch
out for the
engine fan(s).
7. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator filler neck may be
lower. If the level
is lower, add more of the proper mix through the
filler neck until the level reaches the base of the filler neck.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during this procedure if
coolant begins to flow out of the filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap.
Be sure the arrows
on the pressure cap line up like this.
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Cooling System - Diesel Engines
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what you’ll see:
A. Coolant surge tank pressure cap
B. Engine fan(s)
C. Radiator
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling, don’t do anything else
until
it cools down.
The coolant level
should be at or above
the
COLD mark. If it
isn’t,
you may have a
leak in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump
1 or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
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NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the engine, radiat\
or,
heater core and other parts.
So use the recommended coolant.
1. You can 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 to the left
until
it first stops. (Don’t press down while turning the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that
to stop. A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
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7. Then fill the coolant
surge
tank with the
proper mix, up to
the COLD mark.
8. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the engine and let it
run until you can feel the upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for
the engine fan(s).
By this time, the coolant level inside
the coolant surge tank may be
lower. If the level is lower, add more of the proper mix to the coolant
surge tank until the level reaches the
COLD mark.
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