1998 GMC Suburban Owner's Manual - Page 229

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. (See "Off-Road Driving" in the Index for information about driving off-road.) 0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, 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: let your engine do someof the slowing down. Shiftto a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill. 0 Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL(N) or with the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes have to will do all the workof slowing down. They could get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor braking even none going down or a hill. You could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear whenyou go downhill. 0 I I If you don't shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down let to your engine assist your brakes a steep on 1 0 I 0 Know how to go uphill. Youmay want to shift down to a lower gear. The lower g e m help cool your engine and transmission, and you can climb the hill better. Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Don't swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let y o u stay i n your own lane. As you go overthetop of a hill, be alert.Therecould be something in your like lane, a 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 t o these and take appropriate action. 0 4-37