1998 GMC Savana Van Owner's Manual - Page 186

If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. 0 A CAUTION: Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down. They could get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor brakingor even none going down a hill. You could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill. a Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also thebrakes, tires, cooling system and transmission. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this: letyour engine do some of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill. 0 /r\ CAUTION: If'you don't shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor brakingor even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to your engine let assist your brakes on a steep downhillslope. 1 to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transmission, andyou can climb thehill better. 0 Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Don't swing wideor cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. As you go over the top a hill, bealert. There could be of something in your lane, likea stalled car or an accident. You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action. 0 0 4-22