Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care General Information General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks Doing Your Own
Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-10
Automatic Transmission
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-14
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-20
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22 Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-23
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-30
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-32
Wiper Blade
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-33
Headlamp Aiming Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36 Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-37
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Electrical System Electrical System
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Wheels and Tires Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-48
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Black plate (7,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-7A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10 ‑ 14 .
B. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System on page 10 ‑ 16 .
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
See Jump Starting on
page 10 ‑ 82 .
D. Battery on page 10 ‑ 27 .
E. Remote Negative ( − ) Terminal
(Out of View). See Jump
Starting on page 10 ‑ 82 .
F. Automatic Transmission
Dipstick (Out of View). See
“ Checking the Fluid Level ”
under Automatic Transmission
Fluid on page 10 ‑ 11 .
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When
to Add Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil on page 10 ‑ 7 .
H. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of
View). See “ Checking Engine
Oil ” under Engine Oil on
page 10 ‑ 7 . I. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of
View). See Cooling System on
page 10 ‑ 16 .
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir.
See Power Steering Fluid on
page 10 ‑ 23 .
K. Brake Master Cylinder
Reservoir. See “ Brake
Fluid ” under Brake Fluid on
page 10 ‑ 26 .
L. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10 ‑ 39 .
M. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “ Adding Washer
Fluid ” under Washer Fluid on
page 10 ‑ 24 .
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information. 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 ”
in this section. .
Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “ Checking
Engine Oil ” and “ When to Add
Engine Oil ” in this section. .
Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System on page 10 ‑ 10 . .
Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “ What to Do with
Used Oil ” in this section.
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 (15,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-15Replacing the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
1. Locate the air cleaner/filter
assembly. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10 ‑ 6 .
2. Loosen the four screws on the
cover of the housing and lift up
the cover. 3. Remove the engine air cleaner/
filter from the housing. Care
should be taken to dislodge as
little dirt as possible.
4. Clean the engine air cleaner/
filter sealing surfaces and the
housing. 5. Inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter.
6. Reinstall the cover and tighten
the screws.
{ WARNINGOperating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you
or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air; it
helps to stop flames if the engine
backfires. Use caution when
working on the engine and do not
drive with the air cleaner/filter off.
Black plate (3,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-3If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 miles since
the last service. Reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10 ‑ 10 .
When the Change Engine Oil Soon
message displays, certain services,
checks, and inspections are
required.
Every Engine Oil Change .
Change engine oil and filter.
See Engine Oil on page 10 ‑ 7 .
An Emission Control Service. .
Engine coolant level check. See
Engine Coolant on page 10 ‑ 16 . .
Engine cooling system
inspection. Visual inspection
of hoses, pipes, fittings, and
clamps and replacement,
if needed. .
Windshield washer fluid level
check. See Washer Fluid on
page 10 ‑ 24 . .
Windshield wiper blade
inspection for wear, cracking,
or contamination and windshield
and wiper blade cleaning,
if contaminated. See Exterior
Care on page 10 ‑ 90 . Worn or
damaged wiper blade
replacement. See Wiper Blade
Replacement on page 10 ‑ 32 ..
Tire inflation pressures check.
See Tire Pressure on
page 10 ‑ 52 . .
Tire wear inspection. See Tire
Inspection on page 10 ‑ 58 . .
Rotate tires if necessary. See
Tire Rotation on page 10 ‑ 59 . .
Fluids visual leak check (or
every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). A leak in any
system must be repaired and
the fluid level checked. .
Engine air cleaner filter
inspection. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 10 ‑ 14 . .
Brake system inspection (or
every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). .
Lubricate the front suspension,
steering linkage, and parking
brake cable guides. Control arm
ball joints are maintenance ‐ free.
Black plate (5,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-5Once a Year .
See Starter Switch Check on
page 10 ‑ 30 ..
See Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control Function
Check on page 10 ‑ 31 ..
See Ignition Transmission Lock
Check on page 10 ‑ 31 ..
See Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check on
page 10 ‑ 32 ..
Accelerator pedal check for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed. .
Underbody flushing service. .
Hood/Decklid/Liftgate/Liftglass
Support Gas Strut Service:
Visually inspect gas strut,
if equipped, for signs of wear,
cracks, or other damage. Check
the hold open ability of the gas
strut. Contact your dealer if
service is required. First Engine Oil Change After
Every 80 000 km/50,000 Miles .
Engine air cleaner filter
replacement. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 10 ‑ 14 ..
Automatic transmission fluid and
filter change (severe service) for
vehicles mainly driven in heavy
city traffic in hot weather, in hilly
or mountainous terrain, when
frequently towing a trailer,
or used for taxi, police,
or delivery service. See
Automatic Transmission Fluid on
page 10 ‑ 11 . .
All ‐ wheel drive only: Transfer
case fluid change (severe
service) for vehicles mainly
driven when frequently towing a
trailer, or used for taxi, police,
or delivery service. Check vent
hose at transfer case for kinks
and proper installation.
Check to be sure vent hose is
unobstructed, clear, and free of
debris. During any maintenance,
if a power washer is used to
clean mud and dirt from the
underbody, care should be taken
to not directly spray the transfer
case output seals. High pressure
water can overcome the seals
and contaminate the transfer
case fluid. Contaminated fluid
will decrease the life of the
transfer case and should be
replaced.
Black plate (6,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
11-6 Service and Maintenance .
Evaporative control system
inspection. Check all fuel and
vapor lines and hoses for proper
hook ‐ up, routing, and condition.
Check that the purge valve,
if the vehicle has one, works
properly. Replace as needed.
An Emission Control Service.
The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board
has determined that the failure
to perform this maintenance item
will not nullify the emission
warranty or limit recall liability
prior to the completion of the
vehicle's useful life. We,
however, urge that all
recommended maintenance
services be performed at the
indicated intervals and the
maintenance be recorded. First Engine Oil Change After
Every 160 000 km/100,000 Miles .
Automatic transmission fluid and
filter change (normal service).
See Automatic Transmission
Fluid on page 10 ‑ 11 . .
All ‐ wheel drive only: Transfer
case fluid change (normal
service). Check vent hose at
transfer case for kinks and
proper installation. Check to be
sure vent hose is unobstructed,
clear, and free of debris. During
any maintenance, if a power
washer is used to clean mud
and dirt from the underbody,
care should be taken to not
directly spray the transfer case
output seals. High pressure
water can overcome the seals
and contaminate the transfer
case fluid. Contaminated fluid
will decrease the life of the
transfer case and should be
replaced. .
Spark plug replacement and
spark plug wires inspection. An
Emission Control Service.
First Engine Oil Change After
Every 240 000 km/150,000 Miles .
Engine cooling system drain,
flush, and refill (or every five
years, whichever occurs first).
See Engine Coolant on
page 10 ‑ 16 . An Emission
Control Service. .
Engine drive belts inspection for
fraying, excessive cracks,
or obvious damage (or every
10 years, whichever occurs
first). Replace, if needed.