fuel GMC SIERRA 2007 Owner's Guide

You will need a well-charged battery to restart the
vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with
your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window
almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start
the engine again and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as
little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as
you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of
the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you
need to spin the wheels, but you do not want
to spin the wheels too fast. The method known as
rocking can help you get out when you are
stuck, but you must use caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. And, the
transmission or other parts of the vehicle
can overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment re or other damage. When
you are stuck, spin the wheels as little as
possible. Do not spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the
speedometer.
422

Item Description Total
AVehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 3=1,000 lbs (453 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight 200 lbs
(91 kg)×5=1000 lbs (453 kg)
C Available Cargo Weight=0 lbs (0 kg)
Refer to your vehicle’s tire and loading information
label for specic information about your vehicle’s
capacity weight and seating positions. The
combined weight of the driver, passengers, and
cargo should never exceed your vehicle’s capacity
weight.
Certication/Tire Label
A vehicle specic Certication/Tire label is found
on the rear edge of the driver’s door. The
label shows the size of your vehicle’s original tires
and the ination pressures needed to obtain the
gross weight capacity of your vehicle. This is called
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The
GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, fuel, and cargo.
The Certication/Tire label also tells you the
maximum weights for the front and rear axles,
called Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
Example 3
428

Q:What is front axle reserve capacity, and
how do I calculate it?
A:Front axle reserve capacity is the difference
between your front Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) and the front axle weight of your
vehicle with full fuel and passengers. Basically,
it is the amount of weight you can add to
your front axle before reaching your
front GAWR.
The front axle reserve capacity for your vehicle
can be found in the lower right corner of the
Certication/Tire label, as shown.In order to calculate the amount of weight any
front accessory, such as a snow plow, is adding to
the front axle, use the following formula:
(W x (A + W.B.)) /W.B.= Weight the accessory is
adding to the front axle.
Where:
W = Weight of added accessory
A = Distance that the accessory is in front of the
front axle
W.B. = Vehicle Wheelbase
United StatesCanada
434

Q:What is total vehicle reserve capacity?
A:This is the difference between your GVWR and
the weight of your truck with full fuel and
passengers. It is the amount of weight you can
add to your vehicle before reaching your
GVWR. Keep in mind that reserve capacity
numbers are intended as a guide when
selecting the amount of equipment or cargo
your truck can carry. If you are unsure of your
vehicle’s front, rear, or total weight, go to a
weigh station and weigh your vehicle.
Your dealer can also help you with this.
The total vehicle reserve capacity for your
vehicle can be found in the lower right corner
of the Certication/Tire label as shown
previously.
See your dealer for additional advice and
information about using a snow plow on your
vehicle. Also, seeLoading Your Vehicle on
page 425.
Emergency Roof Lamp Provisions
Vehicles with the RPO VYU snow plow prep
package also have an emergency roof lamp
provision package, RPO TRW. Wiring for the
emergency roof lamp is provided above the
overhead console. SeeAuxiliary Roof Mounted
Lamp on page 225for switch location.
Truck-Camper Loading Information
A vehicle specic Truck-Camper Loading
information label is attached to the inside of your
vehicle’s glove box. This label will tell you if
your vehicle can carry a slide-in camper, how
much of a load your vehicle can carry, and how to
correctly spread out the load. Also, it will help
you match the right slide-in camper to your vehicle.
When you carry a slide-in camper, the total
cargo load of your vehicle is the weight of the
camper, plus the following:
Everything else added to the camper after it
left the factory
Everything in the camper
All the people inside
436

Towing a Trailer
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see the
DURAMAX®Diesel manual for more information.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeNew
Vehicle Break-In on page 132for more information.
{CAUTION:
If you do not use the correct equipment
and drive properly, you can lose control
when you pull a trailer. For example, if the
trailer is too heavy, the brakes may not
work well — or even at all. You and your
passengers could be seriously injured. Pull
a trailer only if you have followed all the
steps in this section. Ask your dealer for
advice and information about towing a
trailer with your vehicle.Notice:Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage your vehicle and result in costly repairs
not covered by your warranty. To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this part, and see
your dealer for important information about
towing a trailer with your vehicle.
To identify the trailering capacity of your vehicle,
you should read the information in “Weight of
the Trailer” that appears later in this section.
Trailering is different than just driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering means changes in acceleration,
braking, handling, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment,
and it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety
rules. Many of these are important for your safety
and that of your passengers. So please read
this section carefully before you pull a trailer.
445

Tow/Haul is a feature that assists when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy load. See
Tow/Haul Mode on page 144for more information.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most effective when
the vehicle and trailer combined weight is at
least 75 percent of the vehicle’s Gross Combined
Weight Rating (GCWR). See “Weight of the
Trailer” later in the section. Tow/Haul is most
useful under the following driving conditions:
When pulling a heavy trailer or a large
or heavy load through rolling terrain.
When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load in stop and go traffic.
When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load in busy parking lots where
improved low speed control of the vehicle is
desired.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul when lightly
loaded or with no trailer at all will not cause
damage. However, there is no benet to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the vehicle is
unloaded. Such a selection when unloaded may
result in unpleasant engine and transmissiondriving characteristics and reduced fuel economy.
Tow/Haul is recommended only when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy load.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to
pull a trailer are all important. It can also depend
on any special equipment that you have on
your vehicle, and the amount of tongue weight the
vehicle can carry. See “Weight of the Trailer
Tongue” later in this section for more information.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming
only the driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all
the required trailering equipment. The weight
of additional optional equipment, passengers and
cargo in the tow vehicle must be subtracted
from the maximum trailer weight.
447

Service........................................................ 486
Accessories and Modications................... 486
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 487
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 487
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 488
Fuel............................................................. 488
Gasoline Octane........................................ 489
Gasoline Specications.............................. 489
California Fuel........................................... 489
Additives................................................... 490
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)............................ 491
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 492
Filling the Tank......................................... 493
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 495
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 496
Hood Release........................................... 497
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 498
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine).................... 500
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 503
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
(Gasoline Engines)................................. 505Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 508
Engine Coolant.......................................... 513
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 516
Engine Overheating................................... 516
Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode (V8 Engines Only)........................ 519
Cooling System......................................... 520
Engine Fan Noise..................................... 525
Power Steering Fluid................................. 526
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 527
Brakes...................................................... 528
Battery...................................................... 531
Jump Starting............................................ 532
Rear Axle.................................................... 538
Four-Wheel Drive........................................ 539
Front Axle................................................... 541
Noise Control System................................. 542
Tampering with Noise Control System
Prohibited.............................................. 542
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
483

Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Diesel
Fuel Requirements and Fuel System” in the
DURAMAX
®Diesel Supplement.
For vehicles with gasoline engines, please
read this.
Gasoline
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part
of the proper maintenance of your vehicle. To
help keep the engine clean and maintain optimum
vehicle performance, GM recommends the use
of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identication Number
(VIN) shows the code letter or number that
identies your vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at the
top left of the instrument panel. SeeVehicle
Identication Number (VIN) on page 607.
If your vehicle has the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN
Code 0) or the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code 3),
you can use either regular unleaded gasoline
or ethanol fuel containing up to 85% ethanol (E85);
also seeFuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on page 491.
In all other gasoline engines, use only regular
unleaded gasoline.
488

Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating
is less than 87, you might notice an audible
knocking noise when you drive, commonly referred
to as spark knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible. If
you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher and you hear heavy knocking, the engine
needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). General Motors recommends against the
use of gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives
on page 490for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate on
fuels that meet California specications. See
the underhood emission control label. If this fuel is
not available in states adopting California
emissions standards, your vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp may turn on and your vehicle may
fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 260. If this occurs, return to
your authorized GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is caused by the type
of fuel used, repairs may not be covered by
your warranty.
489

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United
States are now required to contain additives
that will help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing your emission
control system to work properly. In most cases,
you should not have to add anything to your fuel.
However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean,
or if your vehicle experiences problems due to
dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that is
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Also,
your dealer has additives that will help correct
and prevent most deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may
be available in your area. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specications described earlier.However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other fuels
containing more than 10% ethanol must not
be used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not use
fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in the fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage would
not be covered under your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT.
General Motors recommends against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn on. If this
occurs, return to your dealer for service.
490