CLASSIC CORNER

2015 ISSUE 4

PULLING ITS WEIGHT

WHATS THAT SMELL?

+ New GMC Canyon Diesel offers segment-best trailering

If youve called up the heater in your vehicle for the first

time this season and were greeted by a sweet, almost
syrupy odor, theres a good chance there may be a leak
in the heater core, which is typically located inside the
dashboard. The source of the odor is engine coolant,
which is circulated to the radiator-like heater core to
provide heat inside the vehicle. The problem may also
manifest itself as an oily mist blown onto the windshield
or even dampness in the carpet. No matter how its
revealed, get it checked immediately!

TIME FOR A NEW BELT?

1979 GMC CABALLERO DIABLO

As the popularity of trucks and SUVs mushroomed in the
1970s, GMC didnt have any models on the lighter end
of the spectrum and crafted a version of Chevrolets
car-based El Camino as a solution. It was introduced in
1971 as the GMC Sprint, more than a decade after the
El Camino had been on the market. When a new
generation was introduced in 1978, the name was
changed to Caballero, a Spanish word for a knight-like
horseman or gentry. To be honest, it was virtually
identical to the El Camino, except for a slightly revised
grille. The Diablo Package, seen above, added a sporty
flair to the hybrid car/truck that was characteristic of the
times. Few were built, and the remaining examples are
rare sights.

BY THE NUMBERS 79 EDITION

225,000,000 The U.S. population roughly 71
percent of the 2015 population.
Quit ignoring the squealing at start-up or during
acceleration. Your vehicles serpentine belt needs
to be inspected and likely replaced especially
if it has a glazed look and edges are frayed or
cracked. Your ACDelco Professional Service Center
can do the inspection for you and replace the belt,
if necessary.

13,000 The approximate distance in miles between

Saturn and Pioneer II, as it flew by the ringed planet as the
first spacecraft to visit it.
5,193 The distance in miles covered by a man who
roller-skated from Los Angeles to New York City.
$2.90 The federal minimum hourly wage.
43 The number in inches of rain that fell on Alvin, Texas,
the most ever recorded in a 24-hour period in the United
States. It was thanks to Tropical Storm Claudette.

2015 General Motors. All rights reserved. The emblems, logos, vehicle model names and other marks herein are the trademarks of General Motors, its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensors.
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DIESEL

DOWNLOAD

How diesels differ from

gas engines

READY

FOR WINTER

Tips to help ensure your car is

prepped for the cold

PERFECT TIMING IT MAY BE TIME FOR A NEW SERPENTINE BELT

WHATS THAT SMELL? THE SWEET SMELL OF A BROKEN HEATER CORE
CLASSIC CORNER THE DEVILISHLY RARE GMC CABALLERO DIABLO

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DIESEL
DOWNLOAD

READY FOR WINTER

A QUICK LOOK AT
HOW IT WORKS

GMC CANYON DIESEL DOES MORE

NEW DURAMAX ENGINE OPTION INCREASES TOWING CAPABILITY

GMC Canyon, the segments only premium midsize truck,
raises the bar for everything from horsepower and efficiency to
refinement and with its new, available Duramax diesel engine,
it takes midsize truck capability to a higher level, as well.
Offering 369 lb-ft of torque, the new Duramax 2.8L Turbo Diesel
(available in winter 2016) expands the Canyon lineup to give
customers more choices and the capability of exploring more
possibilities on and off the road. It also increases the Canyons
maximum trailering rating from an already segment-best 7,000
pounds to 7,700 pounds.*
A number of additional features help make hauling and trailering
with the diesel-equipped Canyon easier, including a diesel
exhaust brake system that enhances vehicle control and reduces
brake wear on steep grades and an integrated trailer brake
controller that makes the addition of an add-on aftermarket
controller unnecessary.
Duramax-equipped models also feature a Centrifugal Pendulum
Vibration Absorber (CPVA) in the transmissions torque converter,
which contributes to a smoother, quieter driving experience.
Canyon is also the only truck in the segment to offer AutoTrac
automatic four-wheel drive, which allows the driver to select
manual 4WD engagement or automatic engagement.
Additional technologies include available OnStar 4G LTE
connectivity** with Wi-Fi hotspot (includes a 3-month/3GB trial,

whichever comes first), segment-first available driver alert features

such as available Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure
Warning and a standard Rear Vision Camera System.
On the outside, the Canyon is pure GMC, with a commanding
exterior presence that emulates the technology-infused design
aesthetic. Bold front-end styling incorporates standard projectorbeam headlamps and GMCs LED signature lighting. Three body
configurations are offered: an Extended Cab model with a 6'2"
bed, a Crew Cab with a 5'2" bed and a Crew Cab with a 6'2"
bed. With the tailgate down, the longer bed allows 8'-long items
to be hauled within the bed. (Diesel not available on Extended
Cab models.)
From a refinement standpoint, the Canyon features triple-sealed
doors inlaid in the body sides for improved aerodynamic
performance and a quiet interior. For more information,
visit gmc.com.
*The 7,700-lb rating requires Crew Cab 2WD model, Trailering Package and
Duramax 2.8L I-4 Turbo Diesel engine. Before you buy a vehicle or use it for
trailering, carefully review the trailering section of the Owners Manual. The weight
of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you
can tow.
**Requires a compatible mobile device, active OnStar service and data plan. 4G
LTE service available in select markets. Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details
and system limitations.

Diesel engines have been around since the late 1800s,

and credit for their practical development goes to
German inventor Rudolph Diesel. It wasnt until the
1920s that vehicle manufacturers began experimenting
with them in trucks, and by the 1930s, some dieselpowered cars were built.
Despite nearly 100 years of use in motor vehicles, the
operation of a diesel engine and how it differs from a
gasoline engine remains a mystery to many. Heres a
quick rundown on how a diesel engine works:
Like a gas engine, it is a four-stroke internal
combustion engine, drawing air into the cylinder on the
intake stroke, squeezing and mixing it with fuel on the
compression stroke, driving the piston downward on the
power stroke and pushing out exhaust on the
exhaust stroke.
Unlike a gas engine, however, a diesel does not
use a spark plug to ignite the air/fuel mixture, which
triggers the combustion that drives down the piston on
the power stroke.
A diesel engine generates combustion simply by
high pressure, using the heat generated by squeezing
the air/fuel mixture with much greater pressure
(compression) than a gas engine.
There are no spark plugs in a diesel engine, but it
uses glow plugs when the engine is cold to warm up the
cylinders to facilitate combustion.

A chill in the air and a stray snowflake or two let you

know winter is on its way. You may be ready for it, but is
your vehicle? Here are 10 things to have your ACDelco
Professional Service Center inspect, update or replace
before the white stuff really starts to fly and the thermometer
heads south for the season.
1. Battery strength Have it tested to ensure it has the
cranking power to start the engine on the coldest mornings.
2. Antifreeze/coolant capability Have it tested to ensure it
will provide protection in the coldest temperatures.
3. Wiper blades If its been 6 months or more since they
were changed, have new blades installed to provide a
smear-free view when clearing ice, snow and salt spray.
4. Windshield fluid Have the reservoir topped off, so
youre not left high and dry when the winter spray hits.
5. Tire tread depth Have the tires inspected to ensure
theyll provide adequate traction on icy and snowy surfaces
or ask your ACDelco Professional Service Center about
installing snow tires.
6. Belts and hoses A cold, dark winter night is no time
for a snapped serpentine belt or a split coolant hose. Have
them inspected.
7. Filters Ensure you and your vehicle will breathe easier
during winter and have the cabin and engine air filters
inspected and possibly replaced.
8. Suspension Winter driving can be hard on shocks,
struts and other chassis components. Have your vehicles
suspension and brakes inspected to make sure its ready
for the road.

The fuel-efficiency advantage of a diesel comes from

the fuels greater energy density, which is up to 15
percent greater than that ogasoline.

9. Leftover repairs Think for a moment: Did your rearwindow defroster stop working at the end of last winter? If it
or any other issues you neglected during the warmer months
come to mind, have them addressed before the winter
reminds you.

Despite the efficiency advantage, diesel engine

emissions are inherently dirtier than gas engines, but
sophisticated exhaust after-treatment systems are used
by most manufacturers including General Motors to
deliver emissions performance comparable to that of
gas engines.

10. Mileage-based maintenance Consult your Owners

Manual and your ACDelco Professional Service Center.
It may be time for a timing belt change or other mileagerelated service and taking care of it proactively
definitely beats dealing with it unexpectedly on
a sub-zero winter morning.