2008 CADILLAC STS fuel

Fuel Gage
The fuel gage shows
approximately how much
fuel is in the fuel tank.
It works only when
the engine is on.
If the fuel supply gets low, the “FUEL LEVEL LOW”
message will appear on the Driver Information Center
(DIC) and a single chime will sound. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-80for more information.All of the following situations are normal and do not
indicate that anything is wrong with the fuel gage:At the gas station the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
The gage may change when you turn, stop quickly
or accelerate quickly.
It takes a little more or less fuel to ll the tank than
the gage indicated. For example, the gage may
have indicated that the tank was half full, but
it actually took a little more or less than half the
tank’s capacity to ll the tank.
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DIC Buttons (Base Level)
If your vehicle does
not have a Head-Up
Display (HUD), these
are the buttons for
the DIC.
«4ª(Information):Press the top or bottom of this
button to scroll through the available vehicle information
displays which include digital speed display, if your
vehicle has this feature, fuel range, fuel economy,
fuel used, average speed, timer, battery voltage,
tire pressure, and engine oil life, if your vehicle has
this feature.If you have an STS-V, the DIC also has additional
vehicle information displays which include engine boost,
engine oil temperature, oil pressure, and transmission
uid temperature.
See “MPH (km)” later in this section for more information
on the digital speed display.
AB
300 (Trip Information):Press the top of this
button to scroll through the odometer, trip odometer A
and trip odometer B. Press and hold the bottom of
this button to reset each trip odometer back to zero.
4// (Reset):Press this button to reset certain DIC
features and to acknowledge DIC warning messages
and clear them from the DIC display.
EM (English/Metric):Press this button to change
the display from English to metric.
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DIC Buttons (Uplevel)
If your vehicle has
a HUD, these are the
buttons for the DIC.
«4ª(Information):Press the top or bottom of this
button to scroll through the available vehicle information
displays which include digital speed display, if your
vehicle has this feature, fuel range, fuel economy,
fuel used, average speed, timer, battery voltage, tire
pressure, engine oil life, if your vehicle has this feature,
and display units. See “MPH (km)” later in this section
for more information on the digital speed display.
«~ª(Head-Up Display):Press this button to
change the position of the HUD on the windshield.
Press the top part of the button to move the HUD image
up. Press the bottom part of the button to move the
HUD image down.
To adjust the brightness of the HUD image, see
Head-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-43.
For information on adjusting the instrument panel
brightness, seeInstrument Panel Brightness
on page 3-41.
4// (Reset):Press this button to reset certain DIC
features and to acknowledge DIC warning messages
and clear them from the DIC display.
3(Trip Information):Press this button to scroll
through the odometer, trip odometer A and trip
odometer B. To reset each trip odometer, either press
the reset button or press and hold the trip information
button until the trip odometer displayed returns to zero.
3-76

Information Display Menu Items
The following display menu items can be displayed
by pressing the information button.
MPH (km/h)
If your vehicle has this display, it shows the vehicle’s
speed digitally in either miles per hour (mph) or
kilometers per hour (km/h).
MILES RANGE (km RANGE)
This display shows the approximate number of
remaining miles (mi) or kilometers (km) you can drive
without relling the fuel tank. This estimate is based
on the current driving conditions and will change if
the driving conditions change. For example, if you are
driving in traffic making frequent stops, the display
may read one number, but if you enter the freeway,
the number may change even though you still have the
same amount of fuel in the fuel tank. This is because
different driving conditions produce different fuel
economies. Generally, freeway driving produces better
fuel economy than city driving.
Once the range drops below about 40 miles (64 km)
remaining, the display will show LOW RANGE.
If your vehicle is low on fuel, the Fuel Level Low
message will be displayed. See “Fuel Level Low”
underDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-80
for more information.
MPG AVG (L/100 km AVG)
This display shows the approximate average miles per
gallon (mpg) or liters per 100 kilometers (L/100 km).
This number is calculated based on the number of
mpg (L/100 km) recorded since the last time this display
was reset. To reset MPG AVG, press the reset button.
The display will return to zero.
MPG INST (L/100 km INST)
This display shows the current fuel economy. This
number reects only the fuel economy that the vehicle
has right now and will change frequently as driving
conditions change. Unlike average fuel economy,
this display cannot be reset.
GAL FUEL USED (L FUEL USED)
This display shows the number of gallons (gal) or
liters (L) of fuel used since the last reset of this display.
To reset GAL FUEL USED, press the reset button.
The display will return to zero.
AVG MPH (AVG km/h)
This display shows the average speed of the vehicle
in miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (km/h).
This average is calculated based on the various vehicle
speeds recorded since the last reset of this display.
To reset AVG MPH, press the reset button.
The display will return to zero.
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CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the engine oil needs to be
changed. See your dealer/retailer. SeeEngine Oil on
page 5-18andScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4for
more information.
After resetting the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message by clearing it from the display, reset the engine
oil life system separately. For more information on
resetting the engine oil life system, seeEngine Oil Life
System on page 5-21.
CHECK BRAKE FLUID
This message displays if the ignition is on to inform the
driver that the brake uid level is low. Have the brake
system serviced by your dealer/retailer as soon as
possible. SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-64
for more information.
CHECK GAS CAP
This message displays when the fuel cap has not been
fully tightened. Recheck the fuel cap to ensure that it
is on and tightened properly.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
This message displays when the pressure in one or
more of the vehicle’s tires needs to be checked. If a tire
pressure message appears on the DIC, stop as soon
as you can. Have the tire pressures checked and set
to those shown on the Tire Loading Information
label. SeeTires on page 5-57,Loading Your Vehicle on
page 4-26, andInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-66.
The DIC also shows the tire pressure values. See
DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-74. If the tire
pressure is low, the low tire pressure warning light
comes on. SeeTire Pressure Light on page 3-67.
CHECK WASHER FLUID
This symbol appears
with this message.
This message displays when the windshield washer
uid is low. Fill the windshield washer uid reservoir
as soon as possible. SeeWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-40for more information.
3-83

ENGINE POWER REDUCED
This message displays when the engine power is
being reduced to protect the engine from damage.
There could be several malfunctions that might cause
this message. Reduced engine power can affect
the vehicle’s ability to accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no reduction in performance, proceed to
your destination. The performance may be reduced
the next time the vehicle is driven. The vehicle may
be driven at a reduced speed while this message
is on, but acceleration and speed may be reduced.
Anytime this message stays on, take the vehicle to
your dealer/retailer for service as soon as possible.
ENGINE PROTECTION REDUCED
RPM’S (Revolutions Per Minute)
This message displays when your vehicle is in an
overheated engine operating mode. If this message
appears, the vehicle has determined that continued
operation at the existing engine speed may lead
to engine overheating. The vehicle automatically
limits engine RPMs to prevent engine overheating.You may notice the vehicle upshifting early or reduced
speeds while this message is displayed. When the
engine oil returns to a safe operating temperature, this
message clears from the DIC and the vehicle returns
to normal operation. Your vehicle does not require
service when this message is displayed.
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This symbol appears
with this message.
This message displays and a chime sounds if the fuel
level is low. Refuel as soon as possible. SeeFuel Gage
on page 3-73andFuel on page 5-5for more information.
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Before Leaving on a Long Trip
To prepare your vehicle for a long trip, consider having
it serviced by your dealer/retailer before departing.
Things to check on your own include:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Reservoir full? Windows
clean — inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:In good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:All levels checked?
Lamps:Do they all work and are lenses clean?
Tires:Are treads good? Are tires inated to
recommended pressure?
Weather and Maps:Safe to travel? Have
up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention to your surroundings
while driving. If you become tired or sleepy, nd a
safe place to park your vehicle and rest.
Other driving tips include:
Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
Keep interior temperature cool.
Keep your eyes moving — scan the road ahead
and to the sides.
Check the rearview mirror and vehicle instruments
often.
4-20

Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and
it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with the headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all
the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and
repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from
the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel
as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out
of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to free your
vehicle when stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-26.
If your vehicle has a traction system, it can often help to
free a stuck vehicle. Refer to your vehicle’s traction
system in the Index. If the stuck condition is too severe
for the traction system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the rocking method.
{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle can overheat,
causing an engine compartment re or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 35 mph (55 km/h) as
shown on the speedometer.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
seeTire Chains on page 5-82.
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