engine coolant GMC SIERRA CLASSIC 2007 Owner's Manual

If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can
burn you badly, even if you just open the
hood. Stay away from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming from it. Turn
it off and get everyone away from the
vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant
before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when the vehicles
engine is overheated, the liquids in it can
catch re. You or others could be badly
burned. Stop your engine if it overheats,
and get out of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode (V8 Engines Only) on
page 508for information on driving to a
safe place in an emergency.
Notice:If your engine catches re because
you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle
can be badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. See
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
(V8 Engines Only) on page 508for information
on driving to a safe place in an emergency.
506

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
The ENGINE COOLANT HOT message, along
with a low coolant condition, can indicate a serious
problem.
If you get an engine overheat warning, but see or
hear no steam, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too
hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. SeeTowing a Trailer on
page 429.
If you get the ENGINE COOLANT HOT message
with no sign of steam, try this for a minute or so:
1. If your air conditioner is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest
fan speed and open the windows as
necessary.
3. If you are in a traffic jam, shift to
NEUTRAL (N); otherwise, shift to the highest
gear while driving — DRIVE (D) or THIRD (3).If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about 10 minutes. If the warning does not come
back on, you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, park, and
fast idle your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam and your vehicle
is equipped with an engine-driven cooling fan,
push down the accelerator until the engine speed
is about twice as fast as normal idle speed for
at least three minutes while you are parked.
If there is still no sign of steam and your vehicle is
equipped with an electric engine cooling fan, idle
the engine for three minutes while you are parked.
If you still have the warning, turn off the engine
and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down. Also, see “Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode” later in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.
507

Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode (V8 Engines Only)
If an overheated engine condition exists and
the REDUCED ENGINE POWER message
is displayed, an overheat protection mode which
alternates ring groups of cylinders helps
prevent engine damage. In this mode, you will
notice a loss in power and engine performance.
This operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven to a safe place in an emergency. Driving
extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in
the overheat protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated
engine protection operating mode, to avoid
engine damage, allow the engine to cool before
attempting any repair. The engine oil will be
severely degraded. Repair the cause of coolant
loss, change the oil and reset the oil life
system. SeeEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on
page 486.
Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is
what you will see:
A. Coolant Surge Tank
B. Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
C. Engine Cooling Fan
8.1L V8 Engines
508

A. Coolant Surge Tank
B. Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
C. Engine Cooling Fan
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
Check the coolant level after the system cools
down. Some amount of coolant may be lost due to
overheating.
All Other Engines
509

The coolant level should
be at or above the FULL
COLD mark. If it is not,
you may have a leak at
the pressure cap or in
the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator,
water pump, or
somewhere else in the
cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other
engine parts, can be very hot. Do not
touch them. If you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run the engine, it could lose all
coolant. That could cause an engine re,
and you could be burned. Get any leak
xed before you drive the vehicle.If your vehicle has an electric engine cooling
fan, check the coolant temperature gage.
If the coolant temperature is approximately
232°F (111°C), the electric cooling fan should be
running. If it is not, your vehicle needs service.
Turn off the engine.
If your vehicle has an engine-driven cooling fan,
start the engine again and see if the fan speed
increases when idle speed is doubled by pushing
the accelerator pedal down. If it does not, your
vehicle needs service. Turn off the engine.
Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by your
warranty. SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode (V8 Engines Only) on page 508
for information on driving to a safe place in
an emergency.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL®
may cause premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
510

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank for Gasoline Engines
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Cooling
System” in the DURAMAX®Diesel Supplement for
the proper coolant ll procedure.
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see
if coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant
is visible but the coolant level is not at or above
the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture
of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®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. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 502for more information.If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add
coolant as follows:
{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.
511

{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as 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 would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and a proper coolant.
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 mixture.
{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. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
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
about one full turn. If you hear a hiss, wait
for that to stop. A hiss means there is
still some pressure left.
512

2. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly,
and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper
mixture, to the FULL COLD 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 cooling 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 FULL COLD mark.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
513

Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer uid, be sure
to read the manufacturer’s instructions before
use. If you will be operating your vehicle in an area
where the temperature may fall below freezing,
use a uid that has sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Your vehicle has a low washer uid message that
comes on when the washer uid is low. The
message is displayed for 15 seconds at the start
of each ignition cycle. When the CHECK WASHER
FLUID message is displayed, you will need to
add washer uid to the windshield washer
uid reservoir.
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it.
Add washer uid
until the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 480
for reservoir location.Notice:
When using concentrated washer uid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions
for adding water.
Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer
uid. Water can cause the solution to
freeze and damage your washer uid tank
and other parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as well
as washer uid.
Fill your washer uid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage the tank if it
is completely full.
Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in
your windshield washer. It can damage
your washer system and paint.
516

ApplicationCapacities
English Metric
Transfer Case Fluid 2.0 qt 1.9 L
Wheel Nut Torque 140 ft lb
190Y
After rell, the level must be rechecked. Add enough engine coolant so that the uid is within the proper operating
range.
Engine Specications
Engine VIN Code Transmission Spark Plug Gap
VORTEC™ 4.3L V6 XAutomatic
Manual0.060 inches (1.52 mm)
VORTEC™ 4.8L V8 VAutomatic
Manual0.040 inches (1.01 mm)
VORTEC™ 5.3L V8 Flex Fuel Z Automatic 0.040 inches (1.01 mm)
VORTEC™ 5.3L V8 T Automatic 0.040 inches (1.01 mm)
VORTEC™ 5.3L V8 B Automatic 0.040 inches (1.01 mm)
VORTEC™ 6.0L V8 UAutomatic
Manual0.040 inches (1.01 mm)
VORTEC™ 6.0L V8 NAutomatic
Manual0.040 inches (1.01 mm)
VORTEC™ 8.1L V8 GAutomatic
Manual0.060 inches (1.52 mm)
611