2018 CADILLAC ESCALADE tow

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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264 VEHICLE CARE
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 333
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit your
dealer. You will receive genuine GM
parts and GM-trained and supported
service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of these
marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
{Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, as well as many of its service
parts and fluids, contain and/or
emit chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive
harm. Engine exhaust, many parts
and systems, many fluids, and
some component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these
chemicals. For more information go
to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See Battery - North America 0280 and
Jump Starting - North America 0329
and the back cover.

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1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting - North America 0329.
2. Battery - North America 0280.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0273.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0272.
5. Remote Negative (–) Location (Out of View). See Jump Starting -
North America 0329.
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System 0273.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to
Add Engine Oil” underEngine Oil
0 268.
8. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0268.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid ”under Washer Fluid 0278.
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0279.
11. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0289.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:
.
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 0270.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially prior
to a long trip. The engine oil dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0267 for the
location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may
be hot; it could burn you. Use a
towel or glove to touch the dipstick
handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the oil
level.
Follow these guidelines:
. To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground. Check
the engine oil level after the
engine has been off for at least
two hours. Checking the engine oil
level on steep grades or too soon
after engine shutoff can result in
incorrect readings. Accuracy
improves when checking a cold
engine prior to starting. Remove
the dipstick and check the level.

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.If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is warm,
or at least 30 minutes if the
engine is not warm. Pull out the
dipstick, wipe it with 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
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick and the
engine has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then recheck
the level. See “Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for an explanation of what kind of oil to use.
For engine oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications
0359.
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
0 267 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 0355.
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.

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Warning (Continued)
could be burned. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system, including
the pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and pressure
cap to cool.
If No Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE message,
along with a low coolant condition,
can indicate a serious problem.
If there is an engine overheat warning,
but no steam is seen or heard, the
problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little
too hot when the vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day
. Stops after high-speed driving
. Idles for long periods in traffic
. Tows a trailer; see Trailer Towing
0 255 If the ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE message
appears with no sign of steam, try this
for a minute or so:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral), and let the
engine idle.
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is no longer in the overheat
zone or an overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally
and have the cooling system checked
for proper fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away. If there is still no sign of steam and
the vehicle is equipped with an engine
driven cooling fan, push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is
about twice as fast as normal idle
speed for at least five minutes while
the vehicle is parked. If the warning is
still there, turn off the engine and get
everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for five minutes while parked.
If the warning is still displayed, turn
off the engine until it cools down.
Engine Fan
If the vehicle has electric cooling fans,
the fans may be heard spinning at low
speed during most everyday driving.
The fans may turn off if no cooling is
required. Under heavy vehicle loading,
trailer towing, high outside
temperatures, or operation of the air
conditioning system, the fans may
change to high speed and an increase
in fan noise may be heard. This is
normal and indicates that the cooling
system is functioning properly. The

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When 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.
For the proper type and size, see
Maintenance Replacement Parts 0356.
Front Wiper Blade Replacement
To replace the wiper blade assembly:
1. Pull the windshield wiper assembly away from the
windshield.
2. Lift up on the latch in the middleof the wiper blade where the
wiper arm attaches.
3. With the latch open, pull the wiper blade down toward the
windshield far enough to release
it from the J-hooked end of the
wiper arm.
4. Remove the wiper blade. Allowing the wiper blade arm to
touch the windshield when no
wiper blade is installed could
damage the windshield. Any
damage that occurs would not be

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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1. Bulb Socket
2. Bulb
3. Lamp Assembly
To replace one of these bulbs:1. Push the lamp assembly (3) toward the center of the vehicle.
2. Pull the lamp assembly down to remove.
3. Turn the bulb socket (1) counterclockwise to remove it
from the lamp assembly (3).
4. Pull the bulb (2) straight out of the bulb socket (1).
5. Push the replacement bulb straight into the bulb socket and
turn the bulb socket clockwise to
install it into the lamp assembly.
6. Push the lamp assembly back into position until the release tab
locks into place.
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload
The vehicle has fuses to protect
against an electrical system overload.
Fuses also protect power devices in
the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one of
the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road and
a fuse needs to be replaced, there are
some spare fuses and a fuse puller in
the left instrument panel fuse block.
The same amperage fuse can also be
borrowed. Choose some feature of the
vehicle that is not needed to use and
replace it as soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause the
lamps to go on and off, or in some
cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away if
the lamps go on and off or remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected from
electrical overload, overload due to
heavy snow or ice may cause wiper
linkage damage. Always clear ice and
heavy snow from the windshield
before using the windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by electrical
problems.

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Check that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See“Wheel
Nut Torque ”under Capacities and
Specifications 0359.
{Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any rust
or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, a cloth or a paper towel
can be used; however, use a scraper
or wire brush later to remove all
rust or dirt.
Lightly coat the center of the
wheel hub with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel change or tire
rotation to prevent corrosion or
rust build-up. Do not get grease
on the flat wheel mounting
surface or on the wheel nuts or
bolts.
When It Is Time for New
Tires
Factors, such as maintenance,
temperatures, driving speeds, vehicle
loading, and road conditions affect the
wear rate of the tires.
Treadwear indicators are one way to
tell when it is time for new tires.
Treadwear indicators appear when the
tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in) or
less of tread remaining. Some
commercial truck tires may not have
treadwear indicators. See
Tire Inspection 0312 and Tire
Rotation 0312 for additional
information.
The rubber in tires ages over time.
This also applies to the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple factors including
temperatures, loading conditions, and
inflation pressure maintenance affect
how fast aging takes place. GM
recommends that tires, including the
spare if equipped, be replaced after six
years, regardless of tread wear. The
tire manufacture date is the last four
digits of the DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN) which is molded into
one side of the tire sidewall. The first
two digits represent the week (01-52)
and the last two digits, the year. For
example, the third week of the year
2010 would have a four-digit DOT
date of 0310.
Vehicle Storage
Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park a
vehicle that will be stored for at least
a month in a cool, dry, clean area
away from direct sunlight to slow

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{Warning
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts
can be dangerous. It could affect
the braking and handling of the
vehicle. Tires can lose air, and
cause loss of control, causing a
crash. Always use the correct wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for
replacement.
Caution
The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake
cooling, speedometer or odometer
calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance,
and tire or tire chain clearance to
the body and chassis.
Used Replacement Wheels
{Warning
Replacing a wheel with a used one
is dangerous. How it has been used
or how far it has been driven may
be unknown. It could fail suddenly
and cause a crash. When replacing
wheels, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{Warning
Do not use tire chains. There is not
enough clearance. Tire chains used
on a vehicle without the proper
amount of clearance can cause
damage to the brakes, suspension,
or other vehicle parts. The area
damaged by the tire chains could
cause loss of control and a crash.
Use another type of traction device
only if its manufacturer(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
recommends it for the vehicle's tire
size combination and road
conditions. Follow that
manufacturer's instructions. To
avoid vehicle damage, drive slowly
and readjust or remove the traction
device if it contacts the vehicle. Do
not spin the wheels. If traction
devices are used, install them on
the rear tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while driving, especially if the tires are
maintained properly. If air goes out of
a tire, it is much more likely to leak
out slowly. But if there ever is a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates
a drag that pulls the vehicle toward
that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering