
Black plate (4,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7707485) -
2015 - CRC - 10/31/14
iv Introduction
Danger, Warnings, and
Cautions
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
{Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do
Not,” “Do not do this,” or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M: This symbol is shown when
you need to see your owner manual
for additional instructions or
information.
*: This symbol is shown when
you need to see a service manual
for additional instructions or
information. Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:
Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
G:Air Conditioning
Refrigerant Oil
!: Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®(if equipped)
$: Brake System Warning Light
I:Certified Technician
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
H:Flammable
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses

Black plate (26,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7707485) -
2015 - CRC - 10/31/14
5-26 Instruments and Controls
When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute
and then stays on, there may be a
problem with the TPMS. If the
problem is not corrected, the light
will come on at every ignition cycle.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10-48.
Engine Oil Pressure Light
{Caution
Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. Driving with the engine
oil low can also damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Check the oil level as soon as
possible. Add oil if required, but if
the oil level is within the operating
range and the oil pressure is still
low, have the vehicle serviced.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule for changing engine oil.
This light should come on briefly as
the engine is started. If it does not
come on, have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem. See
your dealer.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light is near the fuel gauge and
comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on as a check to show it is
working. For vehicles with a
reconfigurable cluster, this light is in
the display area and may not come
on when the ignition is turned on.
It also comes on when the fuel tank
is low on fuel. The light turns off
when fuel is added. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced.

Black plate (39,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7707485) -
2015 - CRC - 10/31/14
Instruments and Controls 5-39
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil, be
sure to reset the oil life system. See
Engine Oil Life System on
page 10-11,Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5-29, Engine
Oil on page 10-9, and Maintenance
Schedule on page 11-4.
ENGINE OIL HOT, IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine oil temperature is too hot.
Stop and allow the vehicle to idle
until it cools down.
ENGINE OIL LOW —ADD OIL
On some vehicles, this message
displays when the engine oil level
may be too low. Check the oil level
before filling to the recommended
level. If the oil is not low and this message remains on, take the
vehicle to your dealer for service.
See
Engine Oil on page 10-9.
OIL PRESSURE LOW —STOP
ENGINE
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible
and do not operate it until the cause
of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check the oil as soon as
possible and have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's engine power is reduced.
Reduced engine power can affect
the vehicle's ability to accelerate.
If this message is on, but there is no
reduction in performance, proceed
to your destination. The
performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven. The
vehicle may be driven at a reduced speed while this message is on, but
maximum acceleration and speed
may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, the vehicle
should be taken to your dealer for
service as soon as possible.
Fuel System Messages
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays when the
vehicle is low on fuel. Refuel as
soon as possible.
Key and Lock Messages
NO REMOTE DETECTED
This message displays when the
transmitter battery may be weak.
See
“Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-2.

Black plate (66,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7707485) -
2015 - CRC - 10/31/14
9-66 Driving and Operating
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
automatic transmission in P (Park)
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. If the overheat warning
comes on, seeEngine Overheating
on page 10-19.Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if facing
downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes
until the chocks absorb the load. 4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
7. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-4. Things that are
especially important in trailer
operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7707485) -
2015 - CRC - 10/31/14
Vehicle Care 10-9
3.6L V6 Engine Twin Turbo
1. Engine Oil Fill Cap
2. Engine Cover Bolt
3. Engine Cover
To remove:
1. Remove the oil fill cap (1).
2. Remove the engine coverbolt (2).
3. Raise the engine cover (3) to release it from the retainers.
4. Lift and remove the engine cover. 5. Reverse Steps 1–4 to reinstall
the engine cover.
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 10-11.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
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 loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 10-5 for 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 the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7707485) -
2015 - CRC - 10/31/14
10-10 Vehicle Care
2. Pull out the dipstick and wipe itwith a clean 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
LFX 3.6L
LF3 3.6L Twin Turbo
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick, add
1 L (1 qt) of the recommended oil
and then recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section for an explanation of what kind of oil to use. For engine
oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12-2.
{Caution
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 driving
of the vehicle and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10-5 for 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.
See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-13.
Specification
Ask for and use engine oils that
meet the dexos1™ specification.
Engine oils that have been
approved by GM as meeting the
dexos1 specification are marked
with the dexos1 approved logo. See
www.gmdexos.com.

Black plate (12,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7707485) -
2015 - CRC - 10/31/14
10-12 Vehicle Care
Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 1 000 km (600 mi).
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 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. To reset the
system:
1. Using the DIC controls on theright side of the steering wheel,
display REMAINING OIL LIFE
on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5-29. When remaining oil
life is low, the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message
will appear on the display. See
Engine Oil Messages on
page 5-39.
2. Press SEL on the DIC controls and hold SEL down for a few
seconds to clear the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message
and reset the oil life at 100%.
Be careful not to reset the oil life
display accidentally at any time
other than after the oil is changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows:
1. Turn the ignition on with the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message is not on, the
system is reset.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message is off.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat
the procedure.

Black plate (17,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7707485) -
2015 - CRC - 10/31/14
Vehicle Care 10-17
Caution (Continued)
mixture can freeze and crack
engine cooling parts. The repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Use only the
proper mixture of engine coolant
for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-13.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or pouring into sewers,
streams, or bodies of water. Have
the coolant changed by an
authorized service center, familiar
with legal requirements regarding
used coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
The engine coolant surge tank and
CAC bottle are in the engine
compartment on the driver side of
the vehicle. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10-5.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the surge tank and CAC bottle.
If the coolant inside the surge 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 mark pointed to
on the surge tank or at the CAC
bottle COLD FILL mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant.
Be sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done. If no coolant is visible in the coolant
surge tank or CAC bottle, add
coolant as follows:
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.
{Caution
This vehicle has a specific
coolant fill procedure. Failure to
follow this procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and be
severely damaged.