2012 Chevrolet Avalanche Owner's Manual - Page 353

Vehicle Care 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. See Engine Oil on page 10‑8. 10-23 Power Steering Fluid How to Check Power Steering Fluid Notice: Extremely small amounts of contamination can cause steering system damage and cause it to not work properly. Do not allow contaminants to contact the fluid side of the reservoir cap/ dipstick or to enter the reservoir. To check the power steering fluid: 1. Turn the key off and let the engine compartment cool down. 2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean. 3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. 4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it. 5. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick. The level should be at the FULL COLD mark. If necessary, add only enough fluid to bring the level up to the mark. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 10‑6 for reservoir location. Engine Fan The vehicle has electric cooling fans. The fans spinning at low speed during most everyday driving might be heard. The fans can turn off if no cooling is required. Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing, and/or high outside temperatures, or if operating the air conditioning system, the fans can change to high speed and an increase in fan noise might be heard. This is normal and indicates that the cooling system is functioning properly. The fans change to low speed when additional cooling is no longer required. When to Check Power Steering Fluid It is not necessary to regularly check power steering fluid unless there is a leak suspected in the system or an unusual noise is heard. A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected and repaired.