2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV maintenance schedule

Black plate (11,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-11If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
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. Always reset the
engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the system:
1. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING
on the DIC.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET
button on the DIC for more than
five seconds. The oil life will
change to 100%. If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid It is usually not necessary to
check the transmission fluid level.
The only reason for fluid loss is a
transmission leak or overheating
the transmission. If a small leak is
suspected, then use the following
checking procedures to check the
fluid level. However, if there is a
large leak, then it may be necessary
to have the vehicle towed to a
dealer service department and have
it repaired before driving the vehicle
further. Notice: Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission fluid
may damage the vehicle, and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
the automatic transmission fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11 ‑ 7 .
Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
listed in Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11 ‑ 2 . Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11 ‑ 7 .

Black plate (14,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-14 Vehicle Care
5. Safe operating level is within the
HOT cross hatch band on the
dipstick. If the fluid level is not
within the HOT band, and the
transmission temperature is
between 71°C and 93°C (160°F
and 200°F), add or drain fluid as
necessary to bring the level into
the HOT band. If the fluid level
is low, add only enough fluid to
bring the level into the HOT
band. It does not take much
fluid, generally less than 0.5 L
(1 pint). Do not overfill.
6. If the fluid level is in the
acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way, then
flip the handle down to lock the
dipstick in place. Consistency of Readings Always check the fluid level at
least twice using the procedures
described. Consistency (repeatable
readings) is important to maintaining
proper fluid level. If fluid is added,
it may take 15 minutes or longer to
obtain an accurate reading because
of residual fluid draining down
the dipstick tube. If inconsistent
readings persist, check the
transmission breather to be sure
it is clean and not clogged.
If readings are still inconsistent,
contact your dealer.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10 ‑ 6 for the location of the
engine air cleaner/filter. Inspect the air cleaner/filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
and replace it at the first oil
change after each 80 000 km
(50,000 mile) interval. See
Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11 ‑ 2 for more information.
If driving on dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect the filter at each engine oil
change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter To inspect the air cleaner/filter,
remove the engine air cleaner/filter
from the vehicle by following
Steps 1 through 6. When the engine
air cleaner/filter is removed, lightly
shake it to release loose dust and
dirt. If the engine air cleaner/filter
remains covered with dirt, a new
filter is required. Never use
compressed air to clean the filter.

Black plate (26,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-26 Vehicle Care
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 10 ‑ 6 for the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why
the brake fluid level in the reservoir
might go down: .
The brake fluid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes
back up. .
A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system can also cause
a low fluid level. Have the brake
hydraulic system fixed, since a
leak means that sooner or later
the brakes will not work well. Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings
are worn, there will be too much
fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove brake fluid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
{ WARNINGIf too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work
is done on the brake hydraulic
system. See “ Checking Brake
Fluid ” in this section.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light on page 5 ‑ 21 . Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine when to check the
brake fluid. See Scheduled
Maintenance on page 11 ‑ 2 .
Checking Brake Fluid Check brake fluid by looking at the
brake fluid reservoir. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10 ‑ 6 .
The fluid level should be above
MIN. If it is not, have the brake
hydraulic system checked to see if
there is a leak.

Black plate (28,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-28 Vehicle Care Vehicle Storage
{ WARNINGBatteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. See Jump Starting on
page 10 ‑ 82 for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative ( − ) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative ( − ) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger. All-Wheel Drive Transfer Case If the vehicle is equipped with
All-Wheel Drive, be sure to perform
the lubricant checks described in
this section.
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11 ‑ 2 to determine how often to
check the lubricant.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the
vehicle should be on a level
surface. A. Drain Plug
B. Fill Plug
If the level is below the bottom of
the fill plug hole, located on the
transfer case, some lubricant will
need to be added. Add enough
lubricant to raise the level to the
bottom of the fill plug hole. Use
care not to overtighten the plug.

Black plate (32,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-32 Vehicle Care
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{ WARNINGWhen you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move. Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake. .
To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only. .
To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift
to P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is
required. Wiper Blade Replacement Windshield wiper blades should
be inspected for wear or cracking.
See Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11 ‑ 2 .
Replacement blades come in
different types and are removed in
different ways.
Front Wiper Blade
Replacement 1. Pull the windshield wiper arm
connector away from the
windshield.
2. Squeeze the grooved areas on
each side of the blade, and turn
the blade assembly away from
the arm connector.

Black plate (59,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-59Replace the tire if: .
The indicators at three or
more places around the tire
can be seen. .
There is cord or fabric
showing through the tire's
rubber. .
The tread or sidewall is
cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord
or fabric. .
The tire has a bump, bulge,
or split. .
The tire has a puncture, cut,
or other damage that cannot
be repaired well because of
the size or location of the
damage. Tire Rotation Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km (7,500 miles). See
Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11 ‑ 2 .
The purpose of a regular tire
rotation is to achieve a uniform
wear for all tires on the vehicle.
This will ensure that the vehicle
continues to perform most like it
did when the tires were new.
Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate the tires as soon
as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See
When It Is Time for New Tires
on page 10 ‑ 60 and Wheel
Replacement on page 10 ‑ 65 . When rotating the vehicle's tires,
always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Do not include the spare tire in
the tire rotation.
After the tires have been
rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tire
Pressure on page 10 ‑ 52 and
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9 ‑ 24 .

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-1
Service and
Maintenance General Information General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Scheduled Maintenance Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . 11-2
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Maintenance Replacement
Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Maintenance Records Maintenance Records . . . . . . 11-10 General Information Notice: Maintenance
intervals, checks, inspections,
recommended fluids, and
lubricants are necessary to
keep this vehicle in good working
condition. Damage caused by
failure to follow scheduled
maintenance might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
As the vehicle owner, you are
responsible for the scheduled
maintenance in this section. We
recommend having your dealer
perform these services. Proper
vehicle maintenance helps to
keep the vehicle in good working
condition, improves fuel economy,
and reduces vehicle emissions for
better air quality. Because of all the different ways
people use vehicles, maintenance
needs vary. The vehicle might need
more frequent checks and services.
Please read the information under
Scheduled Maintenance. To keep
the vehicle in good condition, see
your dealer.
The maintenance schedule is for
vehicles that: .
Carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9 ‑ 24 . .
Are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits. .
Are driven off-road in the
recommended manner. See
Off-Road Driving on page 9 ‑ 7 . .
Use the recommended fuel. See
Recommended Fuel on
page 9 ‑ 64 .

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
11-2 Service and Maintenance
{ WARNINGPerforming maintenance work can
be dangerous. Some jobs can
cause serious injury. Perform
maintenance work only if you
have the required know-how and
the proper tools and equipment.
If in doubt, see your dealer to
have a qualified technician do the
work. See Doing Your Own
Service Work on page 10 ‑ 4 .
At your dealer, you can be
certain that you will receive the
highest level of service available.
Your dealer has specially trained
service technicians, uses genuine
replacement parts, as well as,
up ‐ to ‐ date tools and equipment
to ensure fast and accurate
diagnostics. The proper replacement parts,
fluids, and lubricants to use are
listed in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11 ‑ 7 and
Maintenance Replacement Parts on
page 11 ‑ 9 . We recommend the use
of genuine parts from your dealer.
Rotation of New Tires
To maintain ride, handling, and
performance of the vehicle, it is
important that the first rotation
service for new tires be performed.
Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km/7,500 miles. See Tire
Rotation on page 10 ‑ 59 .Scheduled
Maintenance When the Change Engine Oil
Soon Message Displays Change engine oil and filter. See
Engine Oil on page 10 ‑ 7 . An
Emission Control Service.
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message displays, service is
required for the vehicle as soon as
possible, within the next 1 000 km/
600 miles. If driving under the best
conditions, the engine oil life system
might not indicate the need for
vehicle service for more than a year.
The engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and
the oil life system must be reset.
Your dealer has trained service
technicians who will perform this
work and reset the system.