oil GMC SIERRA DENALI 2019 Owner's Manual

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 311
Vehicle Care General Information General Information . . . . . . . . . . 312
California Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements . . . . . 313
Accessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Vehicle Checks Doing Your Own
Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Engine Compartment
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 323
Automatic Transmission
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Engine Air Filter Life
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 326
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 331
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333 Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . 335
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Battery - North America . . . . . . 337
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 342
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 343
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 343
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 344
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 345
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Headlamp Aiming Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Bulb Replacement Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347 Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 349
Electrical System Electrical System Overload . . . 349
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 350
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
(Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Wheels and Tires Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 360
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 3171. Remote Negative ( – ) Location.
See Jump Starting - North
America 0 395 .
2. Positive (+) Terminal (Under
Cover). See Jump Starting -
North America 0 395 .
3. Battery - North America 0 337 .
4. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0 350 .
5. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of
View). See Cooling System
0 327 .
6. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When
to Add Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 321 .
7. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“ Checking Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 321 .
8. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0 327 .
9. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0 326 .
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brake Fluid 0 336 . 11. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “ Adding Washer
Fluid ” under Washer Fluid
0 334 .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 3191. Remote Negative ( – ) Location.
See Jump Starting - North
America 0 395 .
2. Positive (+) Terminal (Under
Cover). See Jump Starting -
North America 0 395 .
3. Battery - North America 0 337 .
4. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0 350 .
5. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of
View). See Cooling System
0 327 .
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“ Checking Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 321 .
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When
to Add Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 321 .
8. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0 327 .
9. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0 326 .
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brake Fluid 0 336 . 11. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “ Adding Washer
Fluid ” under Washer Fluid
0 334 .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 3211. Remote Negative ( – ) Location.
See Jump Starting - North
America 0 395 .
2. Positive (+) Terminal (Under
Cover). See Jump Starting -
North America 0 395 .
3. Battery - North America 0 337 .
4. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0 350 .
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“ Checking Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 321 .
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of
View). See Cooling System
0 327 .
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When
to Add Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 321 .
8. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0 327 .
9. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0 326 .
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brake Fluid 0 336 . 11. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “ Adding Washer
Fluid ” under Washer Fluid
0 334 .
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
Engine Oil For diesel engine vehicles, see
“ Engine Oil ” in the Duramax diesel
supplement.
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“ Selecting the Right Engine Oil ”
in this section.
.
Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “ Checking
Engine Oil ” and “ When to Add
Engine Oil ” in this section. .
Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0 323 .
.
Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “ What to Do with
Used Oil ” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially
prior to a long trip. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 316 for the location.
{ WarningThe engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the
oil level.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
322 Vehicle Care Follow these guidelines:
.
To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground.
Check the engine oil level after
the engine has been off for at
least two hours. Checking the
engine oil level on steep grades
or too soon after engine shutoff
can result in incorrect readings.
Accuracy improves when
checking a cold engine prior to
starting. Remove the dipstick
and check the level.
.
If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is
warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out
the dipstick, wipe it with a clean
paper towel or cloth, then push it
back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and
check the level. When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick and
the engine has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then recheck
the level. See “ Selecting the Right
Engine Oil ” later in this section for
an explanation of what kind of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications 0 430 .
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If the oil level is
(Continued) Caution (Continued) above the operating range (i.e.,
the engine has so much oil that
the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows
the proper operating range), the
engine could be damaged. Drain
the excess oil or limit driving of
the vehicle, and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 316 for the location of the engine
oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0 425 .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 323Specification
Use full synthetic engine oils that
meet the dexos1 specification.
Engine oils that have been
approved by GM as meeting the
dexos1 specification are marked
with the dexos1 approved logo.
CautionFailure to use the recommended
engine oil or equivalent can result
in engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Viscosity Grade
Use SAE 0W-20 viscosity grade
engine oil for the 5.3L and 6.2L
V8 engines. Use SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade
engine oil for the 2.7L L4 and 4.3L
V6 engines. Cold Temperature
Operation: In an area of extreme
cold, where the temperature falls
below − 29 °C ( − 20 °F), use SAE
0W-30 oil in the 2.7L or 4.3L engine.
An oil of this viscosity grade will
provide easier cold starting for the
engine at extremely low
temperatures.
When selecting an oil of the
appropriate viscosity grade, it is
recommended to select an oil of the
correct specification. See
“ Specification ” earlier in this section.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils meeting the
dexos1 specification are all that is
needed for good performance and
engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty. What to Do with Used Oil Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or
properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer's warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your
own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the filter before disposal. Never
dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash or pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or
bodies of water. Recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil.
Engine Oil Life System When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on a combination of factors which

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
324 Vehicle Care include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
On some vehicles, when the system
has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, a CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on to
indicate that an oil change is
necessary. Change the oil as soon
as possible within the next 1 000 km
(600 mi). It is possible that, if driving
under the best conditions, the oil life
system might indicate that an oil
change is not necessary for up to a
year. The engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a year
and, at this time, the system must
be reset. For vehicles without the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message, an oil change is needed
when the REMAINING OIL LIFE
percentage is near 0%. Your dealer
has trained service people who will
perform this work and reset the
system. It is also important to check the oil regularly over the course of
an oil drain interval and keep it at
the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. Always reset the
engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the engine oil life system:
1. Display the oil life percentage
on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Midlevel and Uplevel)
0 160 or Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 159 .
2. Press the thumbwheel on the
steering wheel, or the trip
odometer reset stem if the vehicle does not have DIC
controls, for several seconds.
When the confirmation
message displays, select YES.
The oil life will change
to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows:
1. Display the oil life percentage
on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Midlevel and Uplevel)
0 160 or Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 159 .
2. Fully press the accelerator
pedal slowly three times within
five seconds.
3. If the display changes to 100%,
the system is reset.
If the vehicle has a CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message and it
comes back on when the vehicle is
started and/or the oil life percentage
is near 0%, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat
the procedure.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 325
Automatic Transmission
Fluid When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid It is usually not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level. The only
reason for fluid loss is a
transmission leak or overheated
transmission. This vehicle is not
equipped with a transmission fluid
level dipstick. There is a special
procedure for checking and
changing the transmission fluid in
these vehicles. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at the dealer. Contact the
dealer for additional information or
the procedure can be found in the
service manual. See Publication
Ordering Information 0 442 .
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage
the vehicle, and the damage may
(Continued) Caution (Continued) not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use the correct
automatic transmission fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0 425 .
Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule
0 415 . Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0 425 .
Engine Air Filter Life
System When to Change the Engine
Air Filter
When the “ Replace at Next Oil
Change ” message displays, the
engine air filter should be replaced
at the time of the next engine oil
change. When the “ Replace Engine
Air Filter Now ” message displays,
the engine air filter should be replaced as soon as possible. Reset
the engine air filter life system after
the engine air filter is replaced. See
your dealer for service and to reset
the system.
If equipped, this feature provides an
indication of when to change the
engine air filter. It is based on
driving conditions, which can cause
when to change to vary greatly. It is
possible an air filter change may not
be indicated for up to four years.
How to Reset the Engine Air
Filter Life System To reset:
1. Place the vehicle in P (Park).
2. Display the Air Filter Life on the
DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Midlevel and Uplevel)
0 160 or Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 159 .
3. Press
T to move to the Reset/
Disable display area. Select
Reset then press
V .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
328 Vehicle Care
5.3L V8 Engine (L84) Shown, 5.3L
V8 Engine (L82) and 6.2L
V8 Engine (L87) Similar
1. Engine Electric Cooling
Fans (Out of View)
2. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap
{ Warning
An underhood electric fan can
start up even when the engine is
not running and can cause injury.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan. { WarningDo not touch heater, radiator, a/c
pipes or hoses, or other engine
parts. They can be very hot and
can burn you. Do not run the
engine if there is a leak; all
coolant could leak out. That could
cause an engine fire and can
burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Engine Coolant The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), whichever
occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating 0 331 . What to Use
{ WarningPlain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:
.
Gives freezing protection down
to − 37 °C ( − 34 °F), outside
temperature.
.
Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
.
Protects against rust and
corrosion.
.
Will not damage aluminum parts.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 329.
Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
CautionDo not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard
GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause
damage to the engine cooling
system and the vehicle, which
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, or by pouring
it on the ground, or into sewers,
streams, or bodies of water. Have
the coolant changed by an
authorized service center, familiar
with legal requirements regarding
used coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health. Checking Coolant The coolant surge tank is in the
engine compartment on the driver
side of the vehicle. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0 316 .
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, wait until it cools down. The
coolant level should be at or above the indicated mark. If it is not, there
may be a leak in the cooling
system.
If coolant is visible but the coolant
level is not at or above the indicated
mark, see the following sections on
how to add coolant to the coolant
surge tank following.
Automatic Coolant Service Fill
Instructions (L3B Engine) See 3.0L Duramax Diesel
supplement for the diesel engine
procedure.
If equipped, this feature assists in
filling and removing air from the
cooling system after service of
components or when coolant is
added after being too low.
To activate the fill and air removal
process:
1. With a cold system, add
coolant to the COLD FILL mark
on the surge tank.
2. Replace the cap on the
surge tank.