2011 CADILLAC CTS oil dipstick

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-7
Competitive Driving
Competitive driving may affect the
vehicle warranty. See the warranty
book before using the vehicle for
competitive driving.
Notice:If you use your vehicle
for competitive driving, the
engine may use more oil than it
would with normal use. Low oil
levels can damage the engine. Be
sure to check the oil level often
during competitive driving and
keep the level at or near the
upper mark that shows the proper
operating range on the engine oil
dipstick. For information on how
to add oil, see Engine Oil
on
page 10‑11.
CTS‐V Only: For competitive
driving, it is recommended that the
brake fluid be replaced with a high
performance brake fluid that has a
dry boiling point greater than 279°C
(534°F). After conversion to the high
performance brake fluid, follow the
brake fluid service recommendations outlined by the
fluid manufacturer. Do not use
silicone or DOT‐5 brake fluids.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.

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 (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 (15,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-15
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to the
dealer service department and have
it repaired as soon as possible.
The vehicle is not equipped with a
transmission fluid level dipstick.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, it should be
done at the dealer service
department. Contact your dealer for
additional information or refer to the
procedure in the service manual. To
purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑14.Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed in
Scheduled
Maintenance
on page 11‑3, and be
sure to use the fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑7.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
manual transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to a dealer
for service. Have it repaired as soon
as possible. You may also have the
fluid level checked by your dealer
when the oil is changed. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
on page 11‑7for the
proper fluid to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
It is not necessary to regularly
check clutch fluid unless you
suspect there is a leak in the
system. Adding fluid will not correct
a leak. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What
to Use
The hydraulic clutch fluid reservoir
cap has this symbol on it. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on
page 10‑6for reservoir location.