2014 Chevrolet Express 3500 Cargo Owner Manual - Page 264

10-14 Vehicle Care A cold fluid level check can be performed after the vehicle has been sitting for eight hours or more with the engine off, but this is used only as a reference. Let the engine run at idle for five minutes if the outside temperature is between 15°C to 32°C (60°F to 90°F). Should the fluid level be low during this cold check, the fluid must be checked warm or hot before adding fluid. If the outside temperature is colder than 15°C (60°F) or hotter than 32°C (90°F), a cold check cannot be performed. A warm fluid level check can be performed by driving the vehicle under lightly loaded conditions and outside temperatures between 10°C to 27°C (50°F to 80°F). The vehicle should be driven for at least 24 km (15 mi) before performing a warm check. Checking the fluid warm or hot will give a more accurate reading of the fluid level than a cold check. Because the vehicle is equipped with a high-efficiency air-to-oil cooler, the transmission fluid temperature may not reach the required hot fluid level checking temperature under normal lightly loaded driving vehicle conditions. Checking the Fluid Level Prepare the vehicle: 1. Park the vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine running. 2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever in P (Park). 3. With a foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through each gear range, pausing for about three seconds in each range. When M is reached, move the selector from M1 through M3. Then, position the shift lever in P (Park). 4. Let the engine run at idle for two minutes or more. Caution (Continued) transmission to overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if checking the transmission fluid. Wait at least 30 minutes with the engine off, before checking the transmission fluid level if the vehicle has been driven: . In hot weather, when outside temperatures are above 32°C (90°F). The vehicle is heavily loaded. At high speed for quite a while in hot weather. In heavy traffic and hot weather. While pulling a trailer. . . . . After driving under these conditions, a hot check can be performed. The fluid should be hot, which is 71°C to 93°C (160°F to 200°F).