Checking Coolant

The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking the coolant level.

Check to see if coolant is visible in the coolant recovery tank. If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down. 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 recovery tank, but be sure the cooling system is cool before this is done. See Cooling System on page 10‑14 for more information.

The coolant recovery tank cap has this symbol on it.

The coolant recovery tank cap has this symbol on it.

When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at or above the FULL COLD line marked on the recovery tank.

When the engine is hot, the level could be higher than the FULL COLD line. If the coolant is below the FULL COLD line when the engine is hot, there could be a leak in the cooling system.

If the coolant is low, add the coolant or take the vehicle to a dealer for service.

    See also:

    General Information
    For service and parts needs, visit your dealer. You will receive genuine GM parts and GM-trained and supported service people. Genuine GM parts have one of these marks: ...

    Engine Power Messages
    ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED This message displays and a chime sounds when the cooling system temperature gets too hot and the engine further enters the engine coolant protection mode. See Engine Overhea ...

    Transmission Messages
    SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE If the vehicle has four-wheel drive, this message may display if a problem occurs with the four-wheel-drive system. If this message appears, stop as soon as possible and turn of ...