oil level CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2021 Owner's Manual

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
Instruments and Controls 93
Instruments and Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . 107
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . 109
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . 112
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Hill Descent Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Traction Control System (TCS)/Electronic Stability Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Driver Mode Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Four Corner Air Suspension Light . . . . . . 116
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Engine Oil Pressure Light (Uplevel Cluster) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . 119
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Engine Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Universal Remote System Operation . . . 131

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
Instruments and Controls 97
INT :Turns on the rear wiper with a delay
between wipes.
ON : Turns on the rear wiper.
L:Push the windshield wiper lever
forward to spray washer fluid on the rear
window. The wipers will clear the rear
window and either stop or return to your
preset speed. For more washer cycles, push
and hold the lever.
The rear window wiper/washer will not
operate if the liftgate is open or ajar. If the
liftgate is opened while the rear wiper is on,
the wiper returns to the parked position and
stops.
See “Rear Camera Washer” later in this
section.
Rear Wiper Arm Assembly Protection
When using an automatic car wash, move
the rear wiper control to OFF to disable the
rear wiper. In some vehicles, if the
transmission is in N (Neutral) and the
vehicle speed is very slow, the rear wiper
will automatically park under the rear
spoiler.
The wiper operations return to normal when
the transmission is no longer in N (Neutral)
or the vehicle speed has increased. Auto Wipe in Reverse Gear
If the rear wiper control is off, the rear
wiper will automatically operate
continuously when the transmission is in
R (Reverse), and the front windshield wiper
is performing low or high speed wipes.
If the rear wiper control is off, the
transmission is in R (Reverse), and the front
windshield wiper is performing INT wipes,
then the rear wiper automatically performs
INT wipes.
This feature can be turned on or off. See
Vehicle Personalization
0124.
The windshield washer reservoir is used for
the windshield, rear window, and rear mirror
camera, if equipped. See Rear Camera Mirror
0 30. Check the fluid level in the reservoir if
either washer is not working. See Washer
Fluid 0324.
Rear Camera Washer
If equipped, push the windshield wiper lever
forward to spray washer fluid on the rear
camera lens. The lever returns to its starting
position when released. See Rear Camera
Mirror 030.
Compass
The vehicle may have a compass display on
the Driver Information Center (DIC). The
compass receives its heading and other
information from the Global Positioning
System (GPS) antenna, Electronic Stability
Control (ESC), and vehicle speed information.
The compass system is designed to operate
for a certain number of miles or degrees of
turn before needing a signal from the GPS
satellites. When the compass display shows
CAL, drive the vehicle for a short distance in
an open area where it can receive a GPS

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
102 Instruments and Controls
Instrument Cluster
Base Level Cluster English Shown, Metric Similar
1.Tachometer 0105
2. Engine Oil Pressure Gauge 0106
3. Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
0107
4. Fuel Gauge 0105 5.
Voltmeter Gauge 0107
6. Speedometer 0105
7. Driver Information Center (DIC) 0119

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
Instruments and Controls 103
Uplevel Cluster English Shown, Metric Similar
1.Tachometer 0105
2. Engine Oil Pressure Gauge 0106
3. Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
0107 4.
Fuel Gauge 0105
5. Voltmeter Gauge 0107
6. Speedometer 0105
7. Driver Information Center (DIC) 0119
Cluster Menu
There is an interactive display area in the
center of the instrument cluster.
Use the right steering wheel control to open
and scroll through the different items and
displays.
Press
SorTto access the cluster
applications. Use the thumbwheel to scroll
through the list of available features. Press
the thumbwheel to select. Not all
applications will be available on all vehicles.
.Home

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
106 Instruments and Controls
Uplevel English Fuel Gauge Shown, BaseLevel Fuel Gauge Similar
When the ignition is on, the fuel gauge
indicates about how much fuel is left in
the tank.
There is an arrow near the fuel gauge
pointing to the side of the vehicle the fuel
door is on.
When the indicator nears empty, the low
fuel light comes on. There still is a little fuel
left, but the vehicle should be refueled soon.
Here are three things that some owners ask
about. None of these show a problem with
the fuel gauge:
.It takes a little more, or less fuel to fill up
than the 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 tank's capacity
to fill the tank.
.The gauge moves a little while turning a
corner, speeding up or braking.
.The gauge takes a few seconds to
stabilize after the ignition is turned on
and goes back to empty when the
ignition is turned off.
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge
Uplevel Metric Shown, Base Level Similar
Uplevel English Shown, Base Level Similar
The engine oil pressure gauge shows the
engine oil pressure in kPa (kilopascals)
or psi (pounds per square inch) when the
engine is running.
Oil pressure can vary with engine speed,
outside temperature, coolant temperature,
and oil viscosity.
On some models, the oil pump will vary
engine oil pressure according to engine
needs. Oil pressure may change quickly as
the engine speed or load varies. This is
normal. If the oil pressure warning light or
Driver Information Center (DIC) message

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
Instruments and Controls 107
indicates oil pressure outside the normal
operating range, check the vehicle's oil as
soon as possible.
SeeEngine Oil 0315.
Caution
Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
can damage the engine. Driving with the
engine oil low can also damage the
engine. The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Check the oil
level as soon as possible. Add oil if
required, but if the oil level is within the
operating range and the oil pressure is
still low, have the vehicle serviced.
Always follow the maintenance schedule
for changing engine oil.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
Uplevel Metric Shown, Base Level Similar
Uplevel English Shown, Base Level Similar This gauge measures the temperature of the
vehicle's engine coolant.
While driving under normal operating
conditions, if the needle moves into the red
warning area, the engine is too hot. Pull off
the road, stop the vehicle, and turn off the
engine as soon as possible.
Voltmeter Gauge
Uplevel Shown, Base Level Similar
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

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
Instruments and Controls 117
A Driver Information Center (DIC) tire
pressure message may also display. Stop as
soon as possible, and inflate the tires to the
pressure value shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. SeeTire Pressure
0 346.
When the Light Flashes First and Then Is On
Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute and
then stays on, there may be a problem with
the TPMS. If the problem is not corrected,
the light will come on at every ignition
cycle. See Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
0 349.
Engine Oil Pressure Light (Uplevel
Cluster)
Caution
Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
can damage the engine. Driving with the
engine oil low can also damage the
engine. The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Check the oil
level as soon as possible. Add oil if
required, but if the oil level is within the
operating range and the oil pressure is
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
still low, have the vehicle serviced.
Always follow the maintenance schedule
for changing engine oil.
This light should come on briefly as the
engine is started. If it does not come on,
have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on, it means
that oil is not flowing through the engine
properly. The vehicle could be low on oil
and might have some other system
problem. See your dealer.
Low Fuel Warning Light
A Low Fuel Warning Light near the fuel
gauge comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on as a check to show it is working.
For vehicles with a reconfigurable cluster,
this light is in the display area and may not
come on when the ignition is turned on.
It also comes on when the fuel gauge
indicator nears empty. The light turns off
when fuel is added. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced.
Security Light
The security light should come on briefly as
the engine is started. If it does not come on,
have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off.
If the light stays on and the engine does
not start, there could be a problem with the
theft-deterrent system. See Immobilizer
Operation 027.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
228 Driving and Operating
Service Mode
This power mode is available for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction indicator lamp
as may be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and the
brake pedal not applied, pressing and
holding the button for more than
five seconds will place the vehicle in Service
Mode. The instruments and audio systems
will operate as they do when the ignition is
on, but the vehicle will not be able to be
driven. The engine will not start in Service
Mode. Press the button again to turn the
ignition off.
Starting the Engine
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or accessories,
you could change the way the engine
operates. Any resulting damage would
not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeAdd-On Electrical Equipment 0306. Shift the vehicle into P (Park) or N (Neutral).
To restart the engine when the vehicle is
already moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could
damage the transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Starting Procedure
1. The remote key must be in the vehicle.
Press ENGINE START/STOP with the brake
pedal applied. When the engine begins
cranking, let go of the button.
The idle speed will go down as the
engine gets warm. Do not race the
engine immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and transmission
gently to allow the oil to warm up and
lubricate all moving parts.
When the low fuel warning light is on
and the FUEL LEVEL LOW message is
displayed in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), press the ENGINE START/
STOP position to continue engine
cranking.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by trying to start the engine
immediately after cranking has ended,
can overheat and damage the cranking
motor, and drain the battery. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each try, to let
the cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds, especially in very cold
weather (below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing the accelerator pedal all the way
to the floor and holding it there while
pressing ENGINE START/STOP for up to a
maximum of 15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try, to allow
the cranking motor to cool down. When
the engine starts, let go of the button
and accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the
same thing. This clears the extra gasoline
from the engine. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it. Operate
the engine and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
282 Driving and Operating
beyond the passed vehicle before returning
to the lane. Pass on level roadways. Avoid
passing on hills if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with
one hand. To move the trailer to the left,
move that hand to the left. To move the
trailer to the right, move that hand to the
right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Turn more slowly and make wider arcs
when towing a trailer to prevent damage
to your vehicle. Making very sharp turns
could cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when towing,
so trailer will not go over soft shoulders,
over curbs, or strike road signs, trees,
or other objects. Always signal turns well in
advance. Do not steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before starting down a long or steep
downhill grade. If the transmission is not
shifted down, the brakes may overheat and
result in reduced braking efficiency.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive). Shift the
transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often under heavy
loads and/or hilly conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes, engine
coolant will boil at a lower temperature
than at lower altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the vehicle
could show signs similar to engine
overheating. To avoid this, let the engine
run, preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes
before turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see Engine
Overheating 0322.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and trailer on a
level surface when possible.
When parking your vehicle and your trailer
on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn the wheels into
the curb if facing downhill or into traffic
if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the brake pedal to
allow the chocks to absorb the load of
the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
.Start the engine.
.Shift into a gear.
.Release the parking brake.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
Vehicle Care 315
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See“Adding Washer Fluid” underWasher
Fluid 0324.
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. SeeEngine Oil Life System 0316.
.Always dispose of engine oil properly. See
“What to Do with Used Oil” in this
section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly, every
650 km (400 mi), especially prior to a long
trip. The engine oil dipstick handle is a loop.
See Engine Compartment Overview 0312 for
the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may be
hot; it could burn you. Use a towel or
glove to touch the dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center (DIC)
message displays, check the oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading, park the
vehicle on level ground. Check the engine
oil level after the engine has been off for
at least two hours. Checking the engine
oil level on steep grades or too soon after
engine shutoff can result in incorrect
readings. Accuracy improves when
checking a cold engine prior to starting.
Remove the dipstick and check the level.
.If unable to wait two hours, the engine
must be off for at least 15 minutes if the
engine is warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it with a clean paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the tip down,
and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at
the tip of the dipstick and the engine has
been off for at least 15 minutes, add 1 L (1
qt) of the recommended oil and then
recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for an
explanation of what kind of oil to use. For
engine oil crankcase capacity, see Capacities
and Specifications 0398.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil levels above
or below the acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful to the
engine. If the oil level is above the
operating range (i.e., the engine has so
(Continued)