engine coolant CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER 2007 1.G User Guide

Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine
parts and start a re. These include
liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake uid,
windshield washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others could be
burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
1. To open the hood,
rst pull the handle
with this symbol
on it. It is located
inside the vehicle
under the instrument
panel on the
driver’s side.
394

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 410.
B. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling
System on page 420.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 427.
D. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 426.
E. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick (Out of
View). See “Checking the Fluid Level” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid on page 411.
F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 402.G. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure
Cap on page 418.
H. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 402.
I. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (Marked GND).
SeeJump Starting on page 432.
J. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 428.
K. Battery. SeeBattery on page 431.
L. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 503.
397

A. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling
System on page 420.
B. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 410.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 427.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 402.
E. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick.
See “Checking the Fluid Level” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid on page 411.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 402.G. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure
Cap on page 418.
H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (Marked GND).
SeeJump Starting on page 432.
I. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 426.
J. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 428.
K. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 503.
L. Battery. SeeBattery on page 431.
399

A. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling
System on page 420.
B. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 410.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 427.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on
page 402.
E. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick.
See “Checking the Fluid Level” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid on page 411.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap (Under Engine Cover).
See “When to Add Engine Oil” underEngine
Oil on page 402.G. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure
Cap on page 418.
H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (Marked GND).
SeeJump Starting on page 432.
I. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 426.
J. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 428.
K. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 503.
L. Battery. SeeBattery on page 431.
401

How to Add Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of transmission uid to use. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 529.
Add uid only after checking the transmission
uid while it is hot. A cold check is used only as
a reference. If the uid level is low, add only
enough of the proper uid to bring the level up to
the HOT area for a hot check. It does not take
much uid, generally less than one pint (0.5 L).
Do not overll.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission uid may damage your vehicle,
and the damages may not be covered by
your warranty. Always use the automatic
transmission uid listed inRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 529.
After adding uid, recheck the uid level as
described under “How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid,” earlier in this section.
When the correct uid level is obtained, push
the dipstick back in all the way; then ip the
handle down to lock the dipstick in place.
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 418.
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.
414

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.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®coolant. If you use
this coolant mixture, you do not need to add
anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system
is set for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would not
get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could be
burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not be
covered by your warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
415

If you have to add coolant more than four times a
year, have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system,
you could damage your vehicle. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine coolant listed
in this manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 529for more information.Checking Coolant
The engine coolant
recovery tank is in the
engine compartment on
the passenger’s side of
the vehicle. The cap has
this symbol on it. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 396
for more information on
location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When
your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
FULL COLD, or a little higher.
416

Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture at the coolant
recovery tank.
{CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when
the engine and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to blow out
and burn you badly. With the coolant
recovery tank, you will almost never have
to add coolant at the radiator. Never turn
the radiator pressure cap — even a
little — when the engine and radiator
are hot.Add coolant mixture at the recovery tank, but be
careful not to spill it.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on
hot engine parts. Coolant contains
ethylene glycol, and it will burn if the
engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
Occasionally check the coolant level in the
radiator. For information on how to add coolant to
the radiator, seeCooling System on page 420.
417

Radiator Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and possible engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 396
for information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will nd a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 211for more
information.
If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center
(DIC), the display will show an Engine Coolant
Hot/Engine Overheated message. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 224for more
information.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can
burn you badly, even if you just open the
hood. Stay away from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming from it. Just
turn it off and get everyone away from the
vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant
before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch re.
You or others could be badly burned.
Stop your engine if it overheats, and get
out of the vehicle until the engine is cool.
Notice:If your engine catches re because
you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle
can be badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by your warranty.
418

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is
what you will see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Engine FanA. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Engine Fan
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
4.2L L6 Engine
5.3L V8 Engine shown, 6.0L V8 Engine similar
420