2009 CADILLAC STS fuel additives

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements......5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
the Vehicle.................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-7
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...................................................5-18
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-21
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-23
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-25
Cooling System............................................5-26
Engine Coolant.............................................5-27
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-34
Engine Overheating.......................................5-34Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-36
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-37
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-38
Brakes........................................................5-39
Battery........................................................5-42
Jump Starting...............................................5-42
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-47
Rear Axle.......................................................5-48
Front Axle......................................................5-49
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-50
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-51
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting............5-51
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-51
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-52
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-52
Windshield Replacement.................................5-52
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-52
Tires..............................................................5-54
Winter Tires.................................................5-55
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-56
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-59
Run-Flat Tires (STS-V)..................................5-62
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-64
High-Speed Operation...................................5-65
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-66
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation.....................5-68
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

If the vehicle has the 4.4L V8 engine (VIN Code D), use
premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating
of 91 or higher. For best performance, use premium
unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 93.
In an emergency, you can use regular unleaded gasoline
with an octane rating of 87 or higher. If 87 octane fuel is
used, do not perform any aggressive driving maneuvers
such as wide open throttle applications. You might also
hear audible spark knock during acceleration. Rell the
tank with premium fuel as soon as possible to avoid
damaging the engine. If you are using gasoline rated
at 91 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking,
the engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM specication
D 4814 in the United States or CAN/CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in
Canada. Some gasolines contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend against the use of
gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives on page 5-7
for additional information.
California Fuel
If the vehicle is certied to meet California Emissions
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specications. See the underhood emission
control label. If this fuel is not available in states adopting
California emissions standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal specications, but
emission control system performance might be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle might fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 3-66. If this occurs, return to your
authorized dealer/retailer for diagnosis. If it is determined
that the condition is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs might not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
5-6

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work properly. In most
cases, you should not have to add anything to the fuel.
However, some gasolines contain only the minimum
amount of additive required to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations. To help keep fuel injectors
and intake valves clean, or if the vehicle experiences
problems due to dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline
that is advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
For customers who do not use TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline regularly, one bottle of GM Fuel System
Treatment PLUS, added to the fuel tank at every engine
oil change, can help clean deposits from fuel injectors
and intake valves. GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS is
the only gasoline additive recommended by General
Motors.
Also, your dealer/retailer has additives that will help
correct and prevent most deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines might be available in
your area. We recommend that you use these gasolines,
if they comply with the specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other fuels containing
more than 10% ethanol must not be used in vehicles that
were not designed for those fuels.Notice:This vehicle was not designed for fuel
that contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be covered under the vehicle
warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. We recommend against
the use of such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can
reduce the life of spark plugs and the performance
of the emission control system could be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp might turn on. If this
occurs, return to your dealer/retailer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel might be hard
to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in
the country where you will be driving.
5-7

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-46
Adaptive Cruise Control...................................3-20
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-64
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-113
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-23
Air Conditioning..............................................3-48
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-59
Readiness Light..........................................3-58
Airbag System................................................1-51
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle............................1-64
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-57
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-59
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-64
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-57
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?..................................................1-58
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-56
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-53
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-47
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System.........................4-12
Antenna, Backglass.......................................3-134
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-134Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-4
Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-63
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-110
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-108
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-112
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-109
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-106
Finish Care...............................................5-109
Finish Damage..........................................5-111
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces
.....................................5-107
Interior Cleaning........................................5-105
Leather....................................................5-107
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-111
Speaker Covers.........................................5-108
Tires........................................................5-111
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-111
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-108
Weatherstrips............................................5-108
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-110
Wood Panels............................................5-107
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Ashtray.........................................................3-47
Audio System.................................................3-97
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-131
Backglass Antenna.....................................3-134
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.................................................3-116
Radio Personalization.................................3-126
1

Electrical System (cont.)
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-113
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-23
Check and Service Engine Soon Lamp...........3-66
Coolant......................................................5-27
Coolant Heater............................................2-29
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-65
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-64
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-16
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-36
Oil .............................................................5-18
Oil Life System...........................................5-21
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-36
Overheating................................................5-34
Starting......................................................2-27
Enhanced StabiliTrak
®....................................... 4-6
Entry Lighting.................................................3-41
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-17
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-27
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver..........................3-40
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-23
Finish Damage.............................................5-111
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-13
Flat Tire........................................................5-84
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-94
Flat Tire, Storing...........................................5-102
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-25
Power Steering...........................................5-37
Windshield Washer......................................5-38
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-38
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-70
Forward Collision Alert (FAC) System.................. 3-9
Front Axle......................................................5-49
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-10
Filling the Tank............................................. 5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage .........................................................3-71
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-113
Rear Underseat Fuse Block.........................5-118
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-114
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-113
5