2011 CADILLAC DTS check oil

Black plate (12,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{WARNING:
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.
{WARNING:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like fuel, oil,
coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and other
fluids, 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.
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Black plate (15,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
A.Underhood Fuse Block on page 6‑104.
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting
on page 6‑38.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on
page 6‑32.
D. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine Coolant on page 6‑26.
E. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. See Jump Starting
on page 6‑38.
F. Power Steering Fluid on page 6‑32.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 6‑15.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 6‑15.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” under Brakes on page 6‑33.
J. Automatic Transmission Fluid Cap and Dipstick (Out of View). See Automatic Transmission Fluid
on page 6‑21.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 6‑19.
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 6‑18.
.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 vehicle
must be on level ground. The engine oil dipstick handle
is a yellow loop. See Engine Compartment Overview
on
page 6‑14for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
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Black plate (16,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Obtaining an accurate oil level reading is essential: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 shut off 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 one liter/quart of the recommended oil
and then recheck the level. 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 6‑112. 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 range,
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 6‑14for
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.
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Black plate (18,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
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
with the dexos™ specification and displaying 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.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that can be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Do not let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good hand
cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. 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 or 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.
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 in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) comes on. Change the oil as
soon as possible within the next 600 miles (1 000 km).
It is possible that, if driving under the best conditions,
the oil life system might indicate that an oil change is
not necessary for up to a year. 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 and reset the
system. It is also important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain interval and keep it at the
proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since the last oil
change. Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
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Black plate (21,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transmission Fluid
A good time to check the automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change the fluid and filter at the intervals listed in
Scheduled Maintenance
on page 7‑3, and be sure to
use the transmission fluid listed in Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 7‑9.
How to Check Automatic Transmission
Fluid
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the dealer service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here or you could get a false reading on the dipstick. Notice:
Too much or too little fluid can damage the
transmission. Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Too little
fluid could cause the transmission to overheat. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if checking the
transmission fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if you have been driving:
.When outside temperatures are above
32°C (90°F).
.At high speed for quite a while.
.In heavy traffic —especially in hot weather.
.While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 82°C to 93°C
(180°F to 200°F).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 24 km
(15 miles) when outside temperatures are above 10°C
(50°F). If it is colder than 10°C (50°F), you may have to
drive longer.
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Black plate (26,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in the vehicle for five years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first.
The following explains the cooling system and how to
check and add coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating, see Engine
Overheating on page 6‑29.
What to Use
{WARNING:
Adding only plain water or some other liquid to the
cooling system can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. The vehicle's coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, the engine could
get too hot but you would not get the overheat
warning. The engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL coolant. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant. If using this mixture, nothing else
needs to be added. This mixture:
.Gives freezing protection down to −34°F (−37°C),
outside temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C),
engine temperature.
.Protects against rust and corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine temperature.
Notice: If an improper coolant mixture is used, the
engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core, and
other parts.
Notice: If extra inhibitors and/or additives are used
in the vehicle's cooling system, the vehicle could be
damaged. Use only the proper mixture of the engine
coolant listed in this manual for the cooling system.
See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on
page 7‑9for more information.
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Black plate (27,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking
the coolant level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the coolant recovery
tank. If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is not at or
above the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at the
coolant recovery tank, but be sure the cooling system is
cool before this is done. See Engine Coolant
on
page 6‑26for more information.
How to Add Coolant to the Surge Tank
{WARNING:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough.
Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
Notice: This vehicle has a specific coolant fill
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause the engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
{WARNING:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood can
start up even when the engine is not running and
can cause injury. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
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Black plate (94,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Spare Tire
This vehicle may have a spare tire, which, when new,
was fully inflated. A spare tire may lose air over time, so
check its inflation pressure regularly. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure
on page 6‑57and Loading the Vehicleon
page 5‑18for information regarding proper tire inflation
and loading your vehicle. For instructions on how to
remove, install or store a spare tire, see Removing the
Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire on page 6‑86.
After installing the spare tire on your vehicle, you should
stop as soon as possible and make sure the spare is
correctly inflated. Have the damaged or flat road tire
repaired or replaced as soon as you can and installed
back onto your vehicle. This way, a spare tire will be
available in case you need it again.
Your vehicle may have a different size spare tire than
the road tire originally installed on your vehicle. This
spare tire was developed for use on your vehicle, so it
is all right to drive on it.
If your vehicle has a spare tire that does not match your
vehicle's original road tires and wheels in size and type,
do not include the spare in the tire rotation.
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning
The vehicle's interior will continue to look its best if it is
cleaned often. Although not always visible, dust and dirt
can accumulate on the upholstery. Dirt can damage
carpet, fabric, leather, and plastic surfaces. Regular
vacuuming is recommended to remove particles from
the upholstery. It is important to keep the upholstery
from becoming and remaining heavily soiled. Soils
should be removed as quickly as possible. The
vehicle's interior may experience extremes of heat
that could cause stains to set rapidly.
Lighter colored interiors may require more frequent
cleaning. Use care because newspapers and garments
that transfer color to home furnishings may also transfer
color to the vehicle's interior.
When cleaning the vehicle's interior, only use cleaners
specifically designed for the surfaces being cleaned.
Permanent damage may result from using cleaners
on surfaces for which they were not intended. Use
glass cleaner only on glass. Remove any accidental
over-spray from other surfaces immediately. To prevent
over-spray, apply cleaner directly to the cleaning cloth.
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