{"id":42,"date":"2026-11-02T17:00:27","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T17:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmogdawg.com\/?page_id=42"},"modified":"2026-11-02T17:00:27","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T17:00:27","slug":"gm-obd-ii-drive-cycle-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thesmogdawg.com\/?page_id=42","title":{"rendered":"GM OBD-II Drive Cycle Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Chevrolet \u00b7 GMC \u00b7 Buick \u00b7 Cadillac<\/p>

GM OBD-II
DRIVE CYCLE GUIDE<\/h1>

A practical GM readiness guide covering common gasoline driving conditions, EVAP and catalyst requirements, and diesel aftertreatment cautions.<\/p><\/div><\/section>\n

Important:<\/strong> Drive cycles vary by model year, engine, transmission, fuel type, software calibration, and the monitor that is incomplete. Use this as practical guidance\u2014not a substitute for the exact service procedure. Obey traffic laws and never watch a scan tool while driving.<\/div><\/section>\n

Drive cycle at a glance<\/p>

01<\/div>

Cold soak<\/h3>

When the monitor requires it<\/p><\/div>

02<\/div>

Warm and idle<\/h3>

Smooth operation<\/p><\/div>

03<\/div>

Cruise<\/h3>

Near 55 mph<\/p><\/div>

04<\/div>

Closed-throttle coast<\/h3>

Only when traffic allows<\/p><\/div>

05<\/div>

Cruise again<\/h3>

Maintain steady speed<\/p><\/div>

06<\/div>

Recheck<\/h3>

Identify the incomplete monitor<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

GM READINESS IS MONITOR-SPECIFIC<\/h2>

Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac vehicles use different enabling conditions across model years and engines. GM service information may call the exact procedure an Inspection\/Maintenance Complete System Set Procedure or provide a separate procedure for the incomplete monitor.<\/p>

A common gasoline starting pattern<\/h2>
  1. Begin after a cold soak when required. Keep the fuel level in the middle range for EVAP testing.<\/li>
  2. Start without pressing the accelerator and allow the engine to idle while it warms normally.<\/li>
  3. Use smooth, moderate acceleration to highway speed.<\/li>
  4. Hold a steady cruise near 55 mph for several minutes.<\/li>
  5. When safe, use a closed-throttle coast-down without braking.<\/li>
  6. Return smoothly to highway speed and complete another steady cruise.<\/li>
  7. Follow with ordinary city driving, complete stops, and idle periods.<\/li>
  8. Recheck the individual monitor without clearing codes.<\/li><\/ol>

    This is a practical starting pattern, not a universal GM specification. Exact speeds, times, temperatures, and accessory settings vary.<\/p>

    EVAP and catalyst considerations<\/h2>

    GM EVAP strategies can depend on fuel level, ambient temperature, cold-soak time, barometric pressure, and key-off time. Catalyst and oxygen-sensor monitors generally need the engine fully warm, stable fuel control, and a steady cruise with no related pending faults.<\/p>

    GM diesel vehicles<\/h2>

    Duramax and other GM diesel procedures may involve DPF, SCR\/NOx, exhaust-gas-sensor, boost, EGR, and regeneration history. Some current GM service bulletins require multiple eight-hour soak periods and scan-tool-guided procedures after codes are cleared. Do not attempt a forced or stationary regeneration without proper equipment, training, and a safe approved location.<\/p>

    When to stop driving and diagnose<\/h2>

    If the same monitor remains incomplete after several correct trips, check pending codes and service data. A monitor cannot complete when a required sensor, thermostat, fuel-control condition, or aftertreatment component is not operating correctly.<\/p><\/div><\/section>\n

    Official references<\/h2>

    GM owner manuals and vehicle guides<\/a><\/p>

    GM diesel I\/M readiness service bulletin example<\/a><\/p>

    California BAR GM vehicle-specific OBD notes<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n

    STILL NOT READY?<\/h2>

    Bring the year, make, model, engine, fuel type, and a list of the incomplete monitors. The Smog Dawg can help you understand what the vehicle is reporting and what should happen next.<\/p>

    Call 559-677-7664<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Chevrolet \u00b7 GMC \u00b7 Buick \u00b7 Cadillac GM OBD-IIDRIVE CYCLE GUIDE A practical GM readiness guide covering common gasoline driving conditions, EVAP and catalyst requirements, and diesel aftertreatment cautions. Important: Drive cycles vary by model year, engine, transmission, fuel type, software calibration, and the monitor that is incomplete. Use this as practical guidance\u2014not a substitute […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-42","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesmogdawg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesmogdawg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesmogdawg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesmogdawg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesmogdawg.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thesmogdawg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54,"href":"https:\/\/thesmogdawg.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42\/revisions\/54"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesmogdawg.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}