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Black plate (11,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{WARNING:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
the vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel vapor. You can be
badly burned and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:
.Dispense fuel only into approved containers.
.Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed, or on
any surface other than the ground.(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
.Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the inside
of the fill opening before operating the nozzle.
Contact should be maintained until the filling is
complete.
.Do not smoke while pumping fuel.
.Do not use a cellular phone while
pumping fuel.
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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 (13,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Hood Release
To lift the hood:
1. Pull the hood releaselever with this symbol
on it. It is located on
the lower left side of
the instrument panel.
2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and find thesecondary hood release lever, located near the
center of the hood. Move the release lever up and
to the right to raise the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are on
properly. Then pull the hood down and close it firmly.
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Black plate (14,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood, here is what you will see:
4.6L L37 Engine shown, 4.6L LD8 Engine similar
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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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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 (17,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
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.
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 the best viscosity grade for the vehicle.
Do not use other viscosity 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.
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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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