engine CHEVROLET TAHOE 2007 3.G Owners Manual

The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 458
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil
several minutes to drain back into the oil
pan. If you do not do this, the oil dipstick might
not show the actual level.
2. 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.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip
of the dipstick, you need to add at least one
quart/liter of oil. But you must use the right kind.
This section explains what kind of oil to use.
For engine oil crankcase capacity, seeCapacities
and Specications on page 572.Notice:Do not add too much oil. If the engine
has so much oil that the oil level gets above
the cross-hatched area that shows the
proper operating range, the engine could be
damaged.
SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 458for the
location of the engine oil
ll cap.
Be sure to add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating range. Push
the dipstick all the way back in when you are
through.
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What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Look for three things:
GM6094M
Your vehicle’s engine requires oil meeting GM
Standard GM6094M. Look for and use only
an oil that meets GM Standard GM6094M.
SAE 5W-30
As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE 5W-30 is
best for your vehicle.These numbers on an oil container show its
viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other
viscosity oils such as SAE 20W-50.
Oils meeting these
requirements should
have the starburst
symbol on the
container. This
symbol indicates that
the oil has been
certied by the
American Petroleum
Institute (API).
Look for this information on the oil container, and
use only those oils that are identied as meeting
GM Standard GM6094M and have the starburst
symbol on the front of the oil container.
Notice:Use only engine oil identied as
meeting GM Standard GM6094M and showing
the American Petroleum Institute Certied For
Gasoline Engines starburst symbol. Failure to
use the recommended oil can result in engine
damage not covered by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench
®oil meets all the requirements
for your vehicle.
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If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below−20°F (−29°C), it is
recommended that you use either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an SAE 0W-30 oil. Both provide
easier cold starting and better protection for
the engine at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to the oil. The recommended
oils with the starburst symbol that meet GM
Standard GM6094M are all you need for good
performance and engine protection.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you
know when to change the engine oil and lter.
This is based on engine revolutions and engine
temperature, and not on mileage. Based on driving
conditions, the mileage at which an oil change
will be indicated can vary considerably. For the oil
life system to work properly, you must reset the
system every time the oil is changed.When the system has calculated that oil life has
been diminished, it will indicate that an oil change
is necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will come on. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 270. Change your oil as
soon as possible within the next 600 miles
(1 000 km). It is possible that, if you are driving
under the best conditions, the oil life system may
not indicate that an oil change is necessary for
over a year. However, your engine oil and
lter must be changed at least once a year and at
this time the system must be reset. Your dealer
has GM-trained service people who will perform
this work using genuine GM parts and reset
the system. It is also important to check your oil
regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km)
since your last oil change. Remember to reset the
oil life system whenever the oil is changed.
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How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to
change your engine oil and lter based on vehicle
use. Anytime your oil is changed, reset the
system so it can calculate when the next oil
change is required. If a situation occurs where you
change your oil prior to a CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message coming on, reset the system.
Always reset the engine oil life to 100% after
every oil change. It will not reset itself. To reset
the Engine Oil Life System, do the following:
1. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC.
If your vehicle does not have DIC buttons, the
vehicle must be in PARK (P) to access this
display. SeeDIC Operation and Displays (With
DIC Buttons) on page 261orDIC Operation
and Displays (Without DIC Buttons) on
page 267.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET button on
the DIC, or the trip odometer reset stem if your
vehicle does not have DIC buttons, for more
than ve seconds. The oil life will change
to 100%.If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message
comes back on when you start your vehicle, the
Engine Oil Life System has not reset. Repeat
the procedure.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that
may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your skin and nails
with soap and water, or a good hand cleaner.
Wash or properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer’s
warnings about the use and disposal of oil
products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from
the lter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used
oil. If you have a problem properly disposing of
used oil, ask your dealer, a service station, or a
local recycling center for help.
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Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 458for the
location of the engine air
cleaner/lter and the
air lter restriction
indicator, if the vehicle
has one.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
If your vehicle has an air lter restriction indicator,
it lets you know when the engine air cleaner/lter
needs to be replaced. On vehicles with a restriction
indicator, you should inspect the air lter
restriction indicator at every oil change and
replace the engine air cleaner/lter when the
indicator tells you to.
On vehicles without an air lter restriction indicator,
inspect the air cleaner/lter at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace it at the rst oil change after
each 50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 579for more
information. If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the lter at each engine oil
change.
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How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Vehicles With an Air Filter Restriction
Indicator
Locate the air lter restriction indicator on the
engine air cleaner/lter cover. When the indicator
turns black or is in the red/orange “change” zone,
replace the lter and reset the indicator. See the
steps following to replace the engine air cleaner/
lter and to reset the air lter restriction indicator.
Vehicles Without an Air Filter Restriction
Indicator
To inspect the air cleaner/lter, remove the engine
air cleaner/lter from the vehicle by following
Steps 1 through 6. When you have the engine air
cleaner/lter removed, lightly shake it to release
loose dust and dirt. If the engine air cleaner/lter
remains caked with dirt, a new lter is required.
Replacing the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
and Resetting the Air Filter Restriction
Indicator
1. Locate the air cleaner/lter assembly. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 458.
2. Loosen the four screws on the cover of the
housing and lift up the cover.
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3. Remove the engine air cleaner/lter from the
housing. Care should be taken to dislodge as
little dirt as possible.
4. Clean the engine air cleaner/lter sealing
surfaces and the housing.
5. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/lter.
6. Reinstall the cover and tighten the screws.
7. Reset the air lter restriction indicator, if
the vehicle has one, by pressing the top button
on the indicator.
{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/lter off can cause you or others
to be burned. The air cleaner not only
cleans the air; it helps to stop ames if
the engine backres. If it is not there and
the engine backres, you could be
burned. Do not drive with it off, and be
careful working on the engine with the air
cleaner/lter off.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transmission Fluid
A good time to check your automatic transmission
uid level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change the uid and lter at the intervals listed in
Additional Required Services on page 582, and
be sure to use the transmission uid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 590.
466

How to Check Automatic Transmission
Fluid
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the dealership
service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading
on the dipstick.
Notice:Too much or too little uid can
damage your transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the uid could come out
and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system
parts, starting a re. Too little uid could
cause the transmission to overheat. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission uid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic — especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.To get the right reading, the uid should be at
normal operating temperature, which is 180°F to
200°F (82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about
15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are
above 50°F (10°C). If it is colder than 50°F (10°C),
drive the vehicle in THIRD (3) until the engine
temperature gage moves and then remains steady
for 10 minutes.
A cold uid check can be made after the vehicle
has been sitting for eight hours or more with
the engine off, but this is used only as a reference.
Let the engine run at idle for ve minutes if
outside temperatures are 50°F (10°C) or more. If it
is colder than 50°F (10°C), you may have to idle
the engine longer. Should the uid level be
low during this cold check, you must check the
uid hot before adding uid. Checking the uid hot
will give you a more accurate reading of the
uid level.
467

Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
1. Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift
lever in PARK (P).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the
shift lever through each gear range, pausing
for about three seconds in each range.
Then, position the shift lever in PARK (P).
4. Let the engine run at idle for three minutes
or more.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these
steps:
The transmission
dipstick handle with this
graphic is located at
the rear of the engine
compartment, on
the passenger’s side of
the vehicle.SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 458
for more information on location.
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the
dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds
and then pull it back out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the
lower level. The uid level must be in the
COLD area, below the cross-hatched area, for
a cold check or in the HOT or cross-hatched
area for a hot check. Be sure to keep the
dipstick pointed down to get an accurate
reading.
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Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years or
150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs
rst, if you add only DEX-COOL
®extended
life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If you have
a problem with engine overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 473.A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to
−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core, or
radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at the
rst maintenance service after each
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
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