maintenance schedule GMC SIERRA 1996 User Guide

Front Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often
to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
"Scheduled Maintenance Services"
in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole.
you'll
need to add some lubricant.
If the differential is at operating temperature (warm),
add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
If the differential is cold, add enough lubricant to raise
the level
to 1/2 inch (1 2 mm) below the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of lubricant to use. See "Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants"
in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your
vehicle for
5 years or 100,000 miles (1 66 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains
your cooling system and how
to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see "Engine Overheating"
in
the Index.
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Power Steering Fluid
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate
a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine cotnparttnent is cool, unscrew the cap
and
wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten
it. Then remove the cap again
and
look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should he at the FULL COLD mark. If
necessary, add only enough fluid to bring the level up
to the mark.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index. Always use the proper fluid.
Failure to
use the proper fluid can cause leaks and
damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will be
operating
your vehicle in an area where the tetnperature
may
fill1 below freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
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Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder
reservoir
is here. It is filled
I with DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are
only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir might go down. The first is that
the brake fluid
goes down to an acceptable level during normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put
in, the fluid level
goes back
up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out
of the brake system. If it is, you should have your brake
system fixed, since a leak
means that sooner or later your
brakes
won’t work well, or won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid.
Adding
brake fluid won’t correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have
too much
fluid
when you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
A CAUTION0
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill
on the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine
is hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work
is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
check your brake fluid. See “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections”
in the Index.
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How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure.
You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may
look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure
to put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks
by keeping out dirt
.and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear. If
unusual wear
is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When It’s Time for New
Tires” and ‘‘Wheel Replacement” later
in this section for
more information.
If your vehicle has dual rear wheels,
also see “Dual ‘Tire Operation” later
in this section.
I
FRT FRT
I
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation
is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services”
in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
If
your vehicle has single rear wheels, always use one of
the correct rotation patterns
shown here when rotating
your tires.
If your vehicle has front [Ires with different load ranges
or tread designs (such as all season vs. on/off road) than
the rear tires, don’t rotate your tires front to rear.
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Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
I IMPORTANT: I
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
This section covers the maintenance required for your
vehicle. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its
safety, depe.ndability and emission control performance.
7- 1
Protection
Plan
Introduction
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle
in good working condition. but also helps the
environment.
All 1-ecommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
levels or the wrong
tire inflation can increase the level
of emissions fr6m your vehicle. To help protect our
environlnent, and to keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
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How This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services’’ shows
what to
have done and how often. Some of these
services can be complex, so unless you are technically
qualified and have
the necessary equipment, you should
let
your dealer’s service department or another qualified
service center do these jobs.
Performing ma~ntenance worK on a vehicle can
be dangerous. In trying to do
some jobs, you can
be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance
work only
if you have the required know-how
and the proper tools and equipment for the
job.
If you have any doubt, have a qualified technician do the work.
If you are skilled enough to do some work on your
vehicle, you will probably want to get the service
information
GM publishes. See “Service and Owner
Publications”
in the Index.
“Part B: Owner Checks and Services” tells you
what should be checked whenever you stop for fuel.
It
also explains what you can easily do to help keep your
vehicle
in good condition.
“Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections”
explains important inspections that your GM dealer’s
service department
or another qualified service center
should perform.
“Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
lists some products GM recommends to help keep your
vehicle properly maintained. These products, or their
equivalents, should be used whether you do the work
yourself or have
it done.
“Part E: Maintenance Record” provides a place
for you to record the maintenance performed
on your
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance
is perf‘ormed, be
sure to write
it down in this part. This will help you
determine when your
next maintenance should be done.
In addition, it is a good idea to keep your maintenance
receipts. They may
be needed to qualify your vehicle for
warranty repairs.
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Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle
in good working condition. But we don’t know
exactly how you’ll drive
it. You may drive very short
distances only a few times a week. Or
you may drive
long distances all the time
in very hot, dusty weather.
You may use your vehicle in making deliveries.
Or you may drive
it to work, to do errands or in
many other ways.
Because
of all the different ways people use their GM
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may even need
more frequent checks and replacements than you’ll find
in the schedules in this section. So please read this
section and note how
you drive. If you have any
questions on
how to keep your vehicle in good
condition, see your GM dealer.
This part tells
you the maintenance services you should
have done and when
you should schedule them. If you
go to your dealer for your service needs, you’ll know
that GM-trained and supported service people will
perform the work using genuine GM parts.
The proper fluids and lubricants to
use are listed in
Part D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses these.
All parts should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before
you or anyone else drives the vehicle.
These schedules are for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these limits
on your vehicle’s
CertificatiodTire label. See “Loading Your Vehicle”
in the Index.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
are driven off-road in the recommended manner. See
”Off-Road Driving With Your Four-Wheel-Drive
Vehicle”
in the Index.
use the recommended fuel. See “Fuel” in the Index.
Selecting the Right Schedule
First you’ll need to decide which of the two schedules is
right for your vehicle.
Here’s how to decide which
schedule
to follow:
Gasoline engine vehicles and diesel engine vehicles
have different maintenance requirements.
If you have a
diesel engine, follow a schedule designated
for diesel
engine vehicles only.
See the Diesel Engine Supplement for diesel engine
maintenance schedules.
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Maintenance Schedule
I Short Trip/City Definition -- Gasoline Engines . I ~
Follow the Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule if any
one of these conditions is true for your vehicle:
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
off-road frequently.
0 Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
0 You operate your vehicle in dusty areas or
You frequently tow a trailer.
If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
One of the reasons you should follow this schedule if you
operate your vehicle under any of these conditions is that
these conditions cause engine oil to break down soonez
or other commercial application.
I Short Trip/City Intervals -- Gasoline Engines I
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change
(or 3 months, whichever occurs first). Chassis
Lubrication (or
3 months, whichever occurs first). Drive
Axle Service (or
3 months, whichever occurs first).
At 6,000 Miles (10 000 km) -- Then Every
12,000 Miles (20
000 km): 'Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Shields and
Underhood Insulation Inspection
(GVWR above
8,500 lbs. only). Thermostatically Controlled Engine
Cooling Fan Check (or every
12 months, whichever
occurs first). Front Wheel Bearing Repack
(2WD only)
(or at each brake relining, whichever occurs first).
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Fuel Filter Replacement.
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic
Transmission Service (vehicles over
8600 GVWR or
driven under severe conditions only).
Evwy 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines
Inspection. Exhaust Gas Recirculation System
Inspection. Evaporative Control System Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
Spark Plug Wire Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Positive Crankcase Ventilation
(PCV) Valve Inspection.
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete maintenance schedule
on
the following pages.
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Maintenance Schedule
Long Trip/Highway Definition -- Gasoline Engines 1
Follow this maintenance schedule only if none of the
conditions from the Short TripKity Maintenance
Schedule is true.
Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine
under highway conditions causes engine oil to break
down slower:
I Long Tripmighway Intervals -- Gasoline Engines I
Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or every
12 months, whichever occurs first).
Chassis Lubrication (or every
12 months, whichever
occurs first). Drive Axle Service.
At 7,500 Miles (12 500 km) -- Then Every
15,000 Miles (25
000 km): Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Shields and
Underhood Insulation Inspection (GVWR above
8,500 lbs. only). Thermostatically Controlled Engine
Cooling Fan Check (or every
12 months, whichever
occurs first).
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Fuel Filter
Replacement. Front Wheel Bearing Repack
(2WD only) (or at each brake relining, whichever
occurs first).
Transmission Service (vehicles over
8600 GVWR or
driven under severe conditions only).
-Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory I
Drive Belt Inspection. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines
Inspection. Exhaust Gas Recirculation System
Inspection. Evaporative Control System Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
Spark Plug Wire Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Valve Inspection.
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete maintenance schedule
on the following pages.
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic
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Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule -- Gasoline Engines
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(1 66 000 km) should be performed after 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) at the same intervals.
Footnotes
T The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board has determined that
the failure to perform this maintenance item will
not
nullify the emission warranty or limit recall liability
prior
to the completion of the vehicle‘s useful life.
We, however, urge that all recommended
maintenance services be performed at the indicated
intervals and the maintenance be recorded.
# Lubricate the front suspension, kingpin bushings,
steering linkage, transmission shift linkage, transfer
case shift linkage, parking brake cable guides, rear
driveline center splines, front axle propshaft splines
and brake pedal springs. Ball joints and kingpin
bushings should not be lubricated unless their
temperature is 10°F
(- 12°C) or higher, or they
could be damaged.
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Drive axle service:
Locking Differential
-- Drain fluid and refill at first
engine
oil change. At subsequent oil changes, check
fluid level and add fluid as needed. If driving in
dusty areas or towing a trailer, drain fluid and refill
every 15,000 miles
(25 000 km).
Standard Differential -- Check fluid level and add
fluid
as needed at every oil change. If driving in
dusty areas or towing a trailer, drain fluid and refill
every
I5,OOO miles (25 000 km).
More frequent lubrication may be required for
heavy-duty or off-road
use.
3500 HD Models with applications requiring extreme
overload/trailer towing conditions and high-speed
(above
45 mph or 70 kmh) conditions for extended
periods
of time must have the drive axle fluid changed
evey
30,000 miles (50 000 km). See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants’’
in this section.
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