check oil GMC TERRAIN 2023 Owners Manual

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
80 Instruments and Controls
Instruments and Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Instrument Cluster (Base and Midlevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Instrument Cluster (Denali Only) . . . . . . . 93
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Engine Oil Temperature Gauge (Denali Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . 97
Voltmeter Gauge (Denali Only) . . . . . . . . . 98
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . 100
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . 102
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 103
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Hill Descent Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Driver Mode Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base and Midlevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel and Denali) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Engine Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Universal Remote System
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Universal Remote System Operation . . . 121

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
106 Instruments and Controls
When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of the tires
are significantly underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC) tire
pressure message may also display. Stop as
soon as possible, and inflate the tires to the
pressure value shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. SeeTire Pressure
0 295.
When the Light Flashes First and Then Is On
Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute and
then stays on, there may be a problem with
the TPMS. If the problem is not corrected,
the light will come on every time the
vehicle is started. See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation 0297.
Engine Oil Pressure Light
Caution
Driving the vehicle with low engine oil
pressure can damage the engine and the
repairs would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
If the engine oil pressure light comes on
while driving:
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
1. Stop in a safe location and turn off
the engine.
2. Check the oil level. See Engine Oil
0 265.
3. Add oil if the oil level is below the normal operating range.
4. Restart the vehicle. If the engine oil pressure light stays on for more
than 10 seconds, turn the vehicle
back off. Do not restart the vehicle.
See your dealer for service.
This light should come on briefly when the
engine starts. When the engine is off and
the vehicle is on, the light should remain
illuminated. If it does not come on under
either condition, contact your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on when the
engine is running, it may not have adequate
oil pressure. The oil level may be low or there may be some other oil system
problem. Turn the engine off when it is safe
to do so and contact your dealer.
Low Fuel Warning Light
Base Level English Shown, Metric Similar
Uplevel
A Low Fuel Warning Light near the fuel
gauge comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on as a check to show it is working.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
110 Instruments and Controls
the oil has just been changed. It cannot be
reset accurately until the next oil change. To
reset, seeEngine Oil Life System 0267.
Oil Pressure : Oil pressure is displayed in
either kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per
square inch (psi).
Tire Pressure : Displays a vehicle with the
approximate pressures of all four tires. Tire
pressure is displayed in either
kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per square
inch (psi). See Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 296 and
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation 0297.
Battery Voltage : Displays the current
battery voltage, if equipped. Battery voltage
changes are normal while driving. See
Charging System Light 0100. If there is a
problem with the battery charging system,
the DIC will display a message.
Coolant Temperature : Displays the coolant
temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) or
degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
TC/Stabilitrak : If equipped, press
Vto turn
on or off Traction Control or StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC). ECO Drive Assist Menu (ECO) Items
Fuel Economy :
The center displays the
approximate instantaneous fuel economy as
a number and bar graph. Displayed above
the bar graph is a running average of fuel
economy for the most recently traveled
selected distance. Displayed below the bar
graph is the best average fuel economy that
has been achieved for the selected distance.
The selected distance is displayed at the top
of the page as “last xxx mi/km.” Press
Vto
select the distance or reset best value.
The display provides information on how
current driving behavior affects the running
average and how well recent driving
compares to the best that has been
achieved for the selected distance.
Economy Trend : Shows history of the
Average Fuel Economy from the last 50 km
(30 mi). Each bar represents about 5 km
(3 mi) of driving. During driving the bars will
shift to always reflect the most recent
distance on the right side. Press and hold
V
to clear the graph or pressVto reset
through the menu.
Midlevel DIC
Info Page Options
The info pages on the DIC can be turned on
or off through the Options menu.
1. Press
oto access the cluster
applications.
2. Press
worxto scroll to the Options
application.
3. Press
Vto enter the Options menu.
4. Scroll to Info Pages and press
p.
5. Press
worxto move through the list
of possible information displays.
6. Press
Vwhile an item is highlighted to
select or deselect that item. When an
item is selected, a checkmark will appear
next to it.
Info Pages
The following is the list of all possible DIC
info page displays. Some may not be
available for your particular vehicle. Some
items may not be turned on by default but
can be turned on through the Options app.
See “Info Page Options” earlier in this
section.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
112 Instruments and Controls
Presspto select the distance or reset best
value. Use
wandxto choose the
distance and press
V. Presswandxto
select “Reset Best Score.” Press
Vto reset
the best average fuel economy. After reset,
the best value displays “-,-”until the
selected distance has been traveled.
The display provides information on how
current driving behavior affects the running
average and how well recent driving
compares to the best that has been
achieved for the selected distance.
Average Speed : Displays the average
vehicle speed of the vehicle in kilometers
per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph).
This average is based on the various vehicle
speeds recorded since the last reset. Press
and hold
Vwhile this display is active to
reset the average speed. Average speed can
also be reset by pressing
pand choosing
reset.
Timer : This display can be used as a timer.
To start the timer, press
Vto open the
menu while this display is active. The
display will show the amount of time that
has passed since the timer was last reset. To
stop the timer, press
Vbriefly while this display is active and the timer is running. To
reset the timer to zero, press and hold
V
while this display is active, or presspand
select reset.
Follow Distance : If equipped, the current
follow time to the vehicle ahead is displayed
as a time value on this page.
Battery Voltage : Displays the current
battery voltage, if equipped. Battery voltage
changes are normal while driving. See
Charging System Light 0100. If there is a
problem with the battery charging system, a
DIC will display a message.
Coolant Temperature : Displays the coolant
temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) or
degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
Economy Trend : Shows history of the
Average Fuel Economy from the last 50 km
(30 mi). Each bar represents about 5 km
(3 mi) of driving. During driving the bars will
shift to always reflect the most recent
distance on the right side. Press and hold
V
to clear the graph or presspto reset
through the menu.
Oil Pressure : Oil pressure is displayed in
either kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per
square inch (psi). Oil pressure can vary with engine speed, outside temperature, and oil
viscosity. On some models, the oil pump will
vary engine oil pressure according to engine
needs. Oil pressure may change quickly as
the engine speed or load varies. This is
normal. If the oil pressure warning light or
Driver Information Center (DIC) message
indicates oil pressure outside the normal
operating range, check the vehicle's oil as
soon as possible.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel and Denali)
The DIC displays are shown in the center of
the instrument cluster in the Info App. See
Instrument Cluster (Base and Midlevel)
088
or
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) 091 or
Instrument Cluster (Denali Only) 093. The
displays show the status of many vehicle
systems.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
Instruments and Controls 115
Timer :This display can be used as a timer.
To start the timer, press
Vto open the
menu while this display is active. Use
w
andxto select Start Timer or Reset. Press
V. To stop the timer, pressVwhile this
display is active. The display will show the
amount of time that has passed since the
timer was last reset.
Follow Distance/Gap Setting : If equipped,
the current follow time to the vehicle ahead
is displayed as a time value on this page.
When Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) has
been engaged, the display switches to the
gap setting page. This page shows the
current gap setting along with the vehicle
ahead indicator.
Driver Assistance : If equipped, shows
information for Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane
Departure Warning (LDW), and Forward
Collision Alert (FCA).
Battery Voltage : Displays the current
battery voltage, if equipped. Battery voltage
changes are normal while driving. See
Charging System Light 0100. If there is a
problem with the battery charging system, a
DIC will display a message. Coolant Temperature :
Displays the coolant
temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) or
degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
Economy Trend : Shows history of the
Average Fuel Economy from the last 50 km
(30 mi). Each bar represents about 5 km
(3 mi) of driving. During driving the bars will
shift to always reflect the most recent
distance on the right side. Press
Vto open
the menu while this display is active to clear
the graph. Select yes or no and press
V.
Oil Pressure : Oil pressure is displayed in
either kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per
square inch (psi). Oil pressure can vary with
engine speed, outside temperature, and oil
viscosity. On some models, the oil pump will
vary engine oil pressure according to engine
needs. Oil pressure may change quickly as
the engine speed or load varies. This is
normal. If the oil pressure warning light or
DIC message indicates oil pressure outside
the normal operating range, check the
vehicle's oil as soon as possible.
Blank Page : Shows no information.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
{Warning
If the HUD image is too bright or too
high in your field of view, it may take
you more time to see things you need to
see when it is dark outside. Be sure to
keep the HUD image dim and placed low
in your field of view.
If equipped with HUD, some information
concerning the operation of the vehicle is
projected onto the screen on top of the
instrument panel. The information is
projected onto the HUD screen on the driver
side of the instrument panel and focused
out toward the front of the vehicle.
Caution
If you try to use the HUD image as a
parking aid, you may misjudge the
distance and damage your vehicle. Do not
use the HUD image as a parking aid.
The HUD information can be displayed in
various languages. The speedometer reading
and other numerical values can be displayed
in either English or metric units.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
254 Driving and Operating
Make wider turns than normal when towing,
so trailer will not go over soft shoulders,
over curbs, or strike road signs, trees,
or other objects. Always signal turns well in
advance. Do not steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before starting down a long or steep
downhill grade. If the transmission is not
shifted down, the brakes may overheat and
result in reduced braking efficiency.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive). Shift the
transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often under heavy
loads and/or hilly conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes, engine
coolant will boil at a lower temperature
than at lower altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the vehicle
could show signs similar to engine
overheating. To avoid this, let the engine
run, preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes
before turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, seeEngine
Overheating 0273.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and trailer on a
level surface when possible.
When parking your vehicle and your trailer
on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn the wheels into
the curb if facing downhill or into traffic
if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the brake pedal to
allow the chocks to absorb the load of
the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
.Start the engine.
.Shift into a gear.
.Release the parking brake. 2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of
the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
The vehicle needs service more often when
used to tow trailers. See Maintenance
Schedule 0328. It is especially important to
check the automatic transmission fluid,
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before and during
each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and bolts on
the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating conditions.
See Engine Overheating 0273.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can damage
the vehicle and result in costly repairs
not covered by the vehicle warranty. To
(Continued)

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
260 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 261
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 262
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 264
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 268
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . 268
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 284
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . 286
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 288
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 293
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 297
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 301
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 303
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 303
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 305
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . 313
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . . 315
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
Vehicle Care 265
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0268.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0265.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0265.
4. Engine Cooling Fan. See Cooling System
0 270.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 275.
6. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0284.
7. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North
America 0313.
8. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0270.
9. Battery - North America 0276.
10. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. See Jump
Starting - North America 0313.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0274.
Engine Oil
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. SeeEngine Oil Life System 0267.
.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 0264 for
the location.
{Warning
The 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. If the
oil is not low and the low oil message
remains on, take the vehicle to your dealer
for service.
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.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
266 Vehicle Care
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 0336.
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 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
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
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 0264 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 0332.
Specification
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. See
www.gmdexos.com.
Caution
Failure 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.
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 dexos
specification are all that is needed for good
performance and engine protection.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
Vehicle Care 267
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 offactors which 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.
When the system has calculated that oil life
has been diminished, it indicates that an oil
change is necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message comes on. 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 may
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. 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. To reset the
system:
1. Display REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC menu. See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base and Midlevel) 0108 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel
and Denali) 0112.
2. Press and hold
Vfor several seconds
while the Oil Life display is active to
reset the Oil Life system.
3. REMAINING OIL LIFE 100% will be displayed when the oil life system is
successfully reset.
The oil life system can also be reset as
follows: 1. Place the ignition in Service Mode. See Ignition Positions 0199.
2. Display REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC menu. See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base and Midlevel) 0108 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel
and Denali) 0112.
3. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times within five seconds.