radiator GMC SIERRA 1996 Owners Manual

Cooling System -- Gasoline Engines
When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tdnk
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Engine Fan(s)
A CAUTION:
If your vehicle has air conditioning, the auxiliary
electric 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 recovery tank is boiling,
don't do anything else
until it cools down.
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A 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.
The coolant level should be at or above the
COLD mark.
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.
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NOTICE:
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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.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at or above the
COLD mark, add a SO/SO mixture
of ciecu? wter (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL”
(orange-colored, silicate-free) antifreeze at the coolant
recovery tank.
(See (‘Engine Coolant” in the Index for
more information.)
I A 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 mix
will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system
is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, 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 mix of clean
water and
DEX-COOL TM antifreeze.
I NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mix.
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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 hat engine.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or
above
the COLD mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues. there’s one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant mix
directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.
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A 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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How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
I. 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.
j
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is
still some pressure left.
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3. Fill the radiator with the
proper mix, up to the
base of the filler neck. I
4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the
COLD mark.
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator
pressure cap off.
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6. Start the engine and let it
run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose
getting
hot. Watch out
for the engine 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 mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches the base of the filler neck.
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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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A. Battery
B. Air Cleaner
C. Radiator Cap
D. Coolant Recovery Tmk
E. Air Filter Restriction Indicator
E Engine Oil Dipstick
G. Automatic Transmission Dipstick
H. Fan
I. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
J. Engine Oil Fill
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir
L. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
M. FuseIRelay Center
N. Storage Compartment
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“VORTEC” 7400 Engine
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A. Battery
B. Coolant Recovery Tank
C. Air Cleaner
D. Radiator Cap
E. Air Filter Restriction Indicator
E Engine Oil Dipstick K. Brake Fluid Reservoir
G. Automatic Transmission Dipstick L. Storage Compartment
H. Engine Oil Fill M. Windshield Washer
I. Fan Fluid
Reservoir
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir Ne Fuse/RelaY Center
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