engine coolant GMC C-SERIES 1999 Owner's Manual

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5-26
4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the HOT
LEVEL mark on the vehicle with the specialty hood,
or approximately one
-half full on the vehicle with
the sloped hood.
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.
6. Start the engine and
let it run until you can
feel the upper radiator
hose getting hot. Watch
out for the engine
cooling 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 DEX
-COOL
coolant mixture
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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5-27
Cooling System (Diesel Engine)
When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see:
Caterpillar
Diesel Engine
A. Engine Fan
B. Coolant Surge Tank
CAUTION:
If your vehicle has air conditioning, the auxiliary
electric engine cooling fan under the hood can
start up even when the engine is not running and
can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
don't do anything else until it cools down.
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5-28
The coolant level
should be at COLD
ADD or higher. 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.
Caterpillar

Diesel
Engine
CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don't touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don't run the engine if there is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
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.
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5-29 How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you haven't found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn't at the COLD ADD mark or higher, add a 50/50
mixture of clean, drinkable water and coolant at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant surge tank pressure cap, is cool
before you do it. (See the Caterpillar

Operation &
Maintenance Manual for the proper engine coolant to use.)
CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn the coolant surge
tank pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and coolant surge tank pressure cap to cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.
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5-30
CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like 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 wouldn't
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and coolant.
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts. So
use the recommended coolant.
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. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
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5-32
3. Then fill the coolant surge tank with the proper
coolant mixture, up to the COLD FULL mark.
4. 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.
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 COLD FULL mark.
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6-
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6-1
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-4 Fuel (Gasoline Engine)
6
-5 Diesel Fuel Requirements and Fuel System
6
-6 Fuels in Foreign Countries (Gasoline Engines)
6
-7 Filling Your Tank
6
-8 Filling a Portable Fuel Container
6
-9 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-11 Noise Control System
6
-13 Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
6
-17 Engine Oil (Caterpillar
Diesel Engine)
6
-17 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-18 Automatic Transmission Fluid
6
-19 Manual Transmission Fluid
6
-20 Rear Axle
6
-20 Rear Axle Shift Motor (Option)
6
-21 Radiator Pressure Cap (Gasoline Engines)
6
-22 Surge Tank Pressure Cap (Diesel Engines)
6
-22 Thermostat6
-23 Engine Coolant (Gasoline Engine)
6
-27 Engine Coolant (Caterpillar
Diesel Engine)
6
-28 Power Steering Fluid
6
-29 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-30 Brakes
6
-36 Electric/Hydraulic Parking Brake Fluid
6
-42 Battery
6
-44 Other Service Items
6
-48 Tires
6
-59 Appearance Care
6
-59 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-63 Cleaning the Outside Your Vehicle
6
-66 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-67 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-67 Service Parts Identification Label
6
-68 Electrical System
6
-74 Capacities and Specifications
6
-77 Air Conditioning Refrigerants
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6-11
Then place the prop rod,
located on the panel, where
the arrow is pointing.
CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline or
diesel fuel, oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield
washer and other fluids, 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.
Before closing the hood or access panels, be sure all the
filler caps are on properly.
Noise Control System
The following information relates to compliance with
Federal noise emission standards for vehicles with a
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than
10,000 lbs. (4 536 kg). The Maintenance Schedule
provides information on maintaining the noise control
system to minimize degradation of the noise emission
control system during the life of your vehicle. The
noise control system warranty is given in your
Warranty booklet.
These standards apply only to vehicles sold in the
United States.
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6-21
Radiator Pressure Cap
(Gasoline Engines)
The radiator pressure cap
must be tightly installed
with the arrows on the cap
lined up with the top of the
overflow tube. This will
prevent coolant loss and
possible engine damage
from overheating.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an
ACDelco

cap is recommended.
NOTICE:
Your radiator pressure cap is a 9 psi (62kPa)
pressure
-type cap for use with medium duty
cooling systems only. It must be tightly installed
to prevent coolant loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be sure the arrows on
the cap line up with the top of the overflow tube.
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6-22
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
(Diesel Engines)
The surge tank pressure cap
must be tightly installed
with the arrows on the cap
lined up with the top tube of
the coolant surge tank.
When you replace your surge tank pressure cap, an
ACDelco

cap is recommended.
NOTICE:
Your surge tank pressure cap is a 9 psi (62kPa)
pressure
-type cap for use with medium duty
cooling systems only. It must be tightly installed
to prevent coolant loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be sure the arrows on
the cap line up with the top tube of the coolant
surge tank.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by one or more
thermostats in the engine cooling system. The
thermostat stops the flow of coolant through the radiator
until the coolant reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an ACDelco


thermostat is recommended for gasoline engines.
Caterpillar
parts are recommended for diesel engines.
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