2005 CADILLAC STS checking oil

CHECK BRAKE FLUID
This message will display if the ignition is on to inform
the driver that the brake uid level is low. Have the
brake system serviced by your GM dealer as soon as
possible. SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-64
for more information.
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
This message will display when there is a low level of
engine coolant. Have the cooling system serviced
by your GM dealer as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-22for more information.
CHECK GAS CAP
When this message displays, the gas cap has not been
fully tightened. You should recheck the gas cap to
ensure that it is on and tightened properly.
CHECK OIL LEVEL
This message will display when the oil level is low.
SeeEngine Oil on page 5-15for more information on
checking your engine oil.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
This symbol appears
with the CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE message.
If your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitor,
this message will display when one or more of the
vehicle’s tires are low or high. SeeDIC Controls and
Displays on page 3-74for information on checking your
vehicle’s tire pressures.
3-81

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...........................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-15
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-20
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-21
Engine Coolant.............................................5-22
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-24
Engine Overheating.......................................5-24
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-26
Cooling System............................................5-27Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-31
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-32
Brakes........................................................5-34
Battery........................................................5-37
Jump Starting...............................................5-38
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-42
Rear Axle.......................................................5-44
Front Axle......................................................5-45
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-46
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-48
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting............5-48
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-49
Front Turn Signal Lamps...............................5-49
Sidemarker Lamps........................................5-50
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-50
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-51
Windshield Replacement.................................5-51
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-51
Tires..............................................................5-53
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................5-54
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-58
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-60
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-62
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed, or
on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the lling is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and
other uids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
5-10

Your vehicle may be equipped with front compartment
underhood sight shields, which surround the vehicle’s
engine cover. These sight shields will need to be
removed in order to access some of the underhood
components in your vehicle.
To remove the sight shields, turn the fasteners on each
shield to the left until they pop out. Then remove the
fasteners and lift the shields up and away from the
shock towers that support them.
After you have removed the sight shields (if equipped)
on the 3.6L V6 engine, here is what you will see:
A. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-96.
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-32.
C. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-37.D. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. SeePassenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 3-58.
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-31.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
G. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-34.
I. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on page 5-24
andCooling System on page 5-27.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20.
5-13

After you have removed the sight shields (if equipped)
on the 4.6L V8 engine, here is what you will see:
A. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-96.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-37.
C. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. SeePassenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 3-58.
D. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-32.
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-31.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
G. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-34.
I. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on page 5-24
andCooling System on page 5-27.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20.If your vehicle is equipped with front compartment
underhood sight shields, before closing the hood be sure
to replace the sight shields. To replace the shields,
locate the ribs on the underside of each shield and guide
the ribs on to the supporting shock towers. Then
insert the fasteners into the top of the shield and push
the fasteners back into place.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and check the level.
5-15