
Black plate (1,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-14
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15 Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-16
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-24
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-26
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-32
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-33
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
High Intensity Discharge(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
License Plate Lamp (Coupe
and Sedan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
License Plate Lamp (Wagon) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block (CTS Coupe and
Sedan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Engine Compartment Fuse Block (CTS V Coupe and
Sedan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Engine Compartment Fuse Block (CTS Wagon) . . . . . . . 10-50
Engine Compartment Fuse Block (CTS V Wagon) . . . . . 10-54

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-7
A. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See Washer Fluidon
page 10‑26.
B. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block (CTS Coupe and Sedan)
on page 10‑42orEngine
Compartment Fuse Block (CTS
V Coupe and Sedan)
on
page 10‑46or Engine
Compartment Fuse Block (CTS
Wagon)
on page 10‑50or
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block (CTS V Wagon)
on
page 10‑54.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting
on
page 10‑112. D. Remote Negative (−) Terminal.
See Jump Starting
on
page 10‑112.
E. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. See Passenger
Compartment Air Filter
on
page 8‑6.
F. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
on
page 10‑19.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Under Engine Cover). See
Power Steering Fluid
on
page 10‑26.
H. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑11. I. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of
View). See Engine Oil
on
page 10‑11.
J. Hydraulic Clutch Reservoir (If Equipped) (Not Shown). See
Hydraulic Clutch on page 10‑15.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir (Out of View). See
Brakes on page 10‑27.
L. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑19.
M. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
on
page 10‑16.

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-9
A. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See Washer Fluidon
page 10‑26.
B. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block (CTS Coupe and Sedan)
on page 10‑42orEngine
Compartment Fuse Block (CTS
V Coupe and Sedan)
on
page 10‑46or Engine
Compartment Fuse Block (CTS
Wagon)
on page 10‑50or
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block (CTS V Wagon)
on
page 10‑54.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting
on
page 10‑112. D. Remote Negative (−) Terminal.
See Jump Starting
on
page 10‑112.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap (Out of View). See Engine Oil
on
page 10‑11.
F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑11.
G. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. See Passenger
Compartment Air Filter
on
page 8‑6.
H. Intercooler System Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
on
page 10‑19.
I. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
on
page 10‑19. J. Hydraulic Clutch Reservoir
(If Equipped) (Not Shown). See
Hydraulic Clutch on page 10‑15.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See Brakes
on
page 10‑27.
L. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑19.
M. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Under Engine Cover). See
Power Steering Fluid
on
page 10‑26.
N. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
on
page 10‑16.

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
10-10 Vehicle Care
Engine Cover
Engine Cover (CTS)
To remove:
1. Remove the oil fill cap (A).
2. Raise the right front corner ofthe engine cover (B) to release it
from the ball stud.
3. Pull the engine cover (B) forward to slide the rear tabs (C) out from
under the retainers. 4. Lift and remove the engine
cover.
5. Reverse Steps 1 through 4 to reinstall engine cover.
Engine Cover (CTS-V)
To remove:
The engine cover consists of two
pieces. Only the larger front piece
needs to be removed to access the
engine oil and power steering
fill caps.
1. Raise the front of the enginecover (A) to release it from the
ball studs (B).
2. Pull the engine cover forward until it is clear of the smaller
piece.
3. Lift and remove the engine cover.
4. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to reinstall engine cover.

Black plate (11,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-11
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and of
the proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil.”
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See“Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil.”
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System on page 10‑14.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do With
Used Oil.”
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. 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 10‑6for the location of the
engine oil dipstick.
1. If the engine has been running
recently, turn off the engine and
allow several minutes for the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Checking your oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading. 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.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick, add at
least one liter/quart of the
recommended oil. See “Selecting
the Right Engine Oil” for an
explanation of what kind of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.

Black plate (12,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
10-12 Vehicle Care
Notice:Do not add too much oil.
Oil levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that you
have an oil level above the
operating reange, i.e. the engine
has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, the engine could
be damaged. You should drain
out the excess oil or limit your
driving of the vehicle and seek a
service professional to remove
the excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6for the location of the
engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade:
.Specification
Use and ask for engine oils with
the dexos™ certification mark.
Oils meeting the requirements of
your vehicle should have the
dexos™ certification mark on the
container. This certification mark
indicates that the oil has been
approved to the dexos™
specification.
Your vehicle was filled at the factory
with dexos™ approved engine oil.
Notice: Use only engine oil that is
approved to the dexos™
specification or an equivalent
engine oil of the appropriate
viscosity grade. Engine oils
approved to the dexos™
specification will show the
dexos™ symbol on the container.
Failure to use the recommended
engine oil or equivalent can result
in engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty. If you are
unsure whether your oil is
approved to the dexos™
specification, ask your service
provider.

Black plate (13,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-13
Use of Substitute Engine Oils if
dexos™is unavailable: In the
event that dexos™ approved
engine oil is not available at an oil
change or for maintaining proper
oil level, you may use substitute
engine oil displaying the API
Starburst symbol and of
SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade. Use
of oils that do not meet the
dexos™ specification, however,
may result in reduced
performance under certain
circumstances.
.Viscosity Grade
SAE 5W-30 is best viscosity
grade for the vehicle. Do not use
other viscosity grade oils such
as SAE 10W‐30, 10W‐40,
or 20W-50.
Cold Temperature Operation: In
an area of extreme cold, where
the temperature falls
below −29°C (−20°F), an
SAE 0W-30 oil should be used.
An oil of this viscosity grade will
provide easier cold starting for
the engine at extremely low
temperatures. When selecting
an oil of the appropriate viscosity
grade, be sure to always select
an oil that meets the required
specification, dexos™. See
“Specification” for more
information.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils that meet the
dexos™ certification mark are all
that is needed for good performance
and engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.

Black plate (14,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
10-14 Vehicle Care
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on engine revolutions and engine
temperature, and not on mileage.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished, it
indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A“Change Engine Oil
Soon” message comes on. See
Engine Oil Messages
on
page 5‑35. Change the oil as soon
as possible within the next 1 000 km
(600 miles). It is possible that,
if driving under the best conditions,
the oil life system might not indicate
that an oil change is necessary for
over a year. However, the engine oil
and filter must be changed at least once a year and at this time the
system must be reset. Your dealer
has trained service people who will
perform this work using genuine
parts and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 miles)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
system:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with
the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds. The system is reset when the
“Change Engine Oil Soon”
message
goes off.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains elements
that can be unhealthy for your skin
and could even cause cancer. Do
not let used oil stay on your skin.
Clean your skin and nails with soap
and water, or a good hand cleaner.
Wash or properly dispose of clothing
or rags. See the manufacturer's
warnings about the use and
disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your
own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the filter before disposal. Never
dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of
water. Recycle it by taking it to a
place that collects used oil.