radiator cap GMC C-SERIES 1999 Owners Manual

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5-20
Cooling System (Gasoline Engine)
When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see:
Specialty Hood
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Engine Fan
Sloped Hood
A. Engine Fan
B. Coolant Recovery Tank
C. Radiator Pressure Cap
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5-24
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at the
HOT LEVEL mark on the vehicle with the specialty
hood, or approximately half full on the vehicle with the
sloped hood, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there's one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant
mixture directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling
system is cool before you do it.
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 radiator
pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come out
at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever have to
turn the pressure cap.
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5-25 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 counterclockwise 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.
3. Fill the radiator with the
proper DEX
-COOL

coolant mixture, up to
the base of the filler
neck. (See ªEngine
Coolantº in the Index
for more information
about the proper
coolant mixture.)
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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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5-31
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
counterclockwise 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 cap, but now push down as
you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
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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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6-21
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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6-27
CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap (on a gasoline
engine) or the surge tank cap (on a diesel engine)
when the engine and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to blow out and burn
you badly. With the coolant recovery system, you
will almost never have to add coolant at the
radiator. Never turn the radiator pressure cap
or the surge tank pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
Add coolant mixture at the recovery tank or the surge
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. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
Some conditions, such as trapped air in the cooling
system, can affect the coolant level in the radiator. If you
need to add coolant to the radiator, follow the steps
listed under ªHow to Add Coolant to the Radiator.º
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.
Engine Coolant
(Caterpillar
Diesel Engine)
If your vehicle has a Caterpillar diesel engine, see the
Caterpillar
Operation & Maintenance Manual provided
with your vehicle to find out what to add, also when and
how to service your cooling system.
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