Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 189
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 194
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . 208
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 210
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 217
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Automatic VehicleHold (AVH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 229
Super Cruise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 252
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Night Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 270
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 271
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 273
Surround Vision Recorder . . . . . . . 274
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Recommended Fuel (2.0L L4 Turbo Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
190 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Recommended Fuel (3.0L TwinTurbo V6 and 4.2L Twin Turbo
V8 Engines) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Recommended Fuel (3.6L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 278
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 280
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 287
Driving Information
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and
can take your focus from the task of
driving. Exercise good judgment and
do not let other activities divert your
attention away from the road. Many
local governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your
eyes on the road, keep your hands on
the steering wheel, and focus your
attention on driving.
. Do not use a phone in demanding
driving situations. Use a
hands-free method to place or
receive necessary phone calls.
. Watch the road. Do not read, take
notes, or look up information on
phones or other electronic devices.
. Designate a front seat passenger
to handle potential distractions. .
Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any
navigation device prior to driving.
. Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to
the floor.
. Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
. Keep pets in an appropriate carrier
or restraint.
. Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
192 DRIVING AND OPERATING
The amount of steering effort required
is less at slower speeds to make the
vehicle more maneuverable and easier
to park. At faster speeds, the steering
effort increases to provide a sport-like
feel to the steering. This provides
maximum control and stability.
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance is
not required.
If power steering assist is lost due to a
system malfunction, the vehicle can
be steered, but may require increased
effort. See your dealer if there is a
problem.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the system
cools down.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.
Take curves at a reasonable speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of the
curve before accelerating gently
into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.
There are some situations when
steering around a problem may be
more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the steering
wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off
the edge of a road onto the shoulder
while driving. Follow these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way,
steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 193
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —too
much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by
taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
. Ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal and steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs. .
Slow down and adjust your driving
according to weather conditions.
Stopping distance can be longer
and vehicle control can be affected
when traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material
on the road. Learn to recognize
warning clues —such as enough
water, ice, or packed snow on the
road to make a mirrored surface
— and slow down when you have
any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking, including
reducing vehicle speed by shifting
to a lower gear. Any sudden
changes could cause the tires to
slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid
only the braking skid.
Track Events and
Competitive Driving
{Danger
High-performance features are
intended for use only on closed
tracks by experienced and qualified
drivers and should not be used on
public roads. High-speed driving,
aggressive cornering, hard braking,
and other high-performance driving
can be dangerous. Improper driver
inputs for the conditions may result
in loss of control of the vehicle,
which could injure or kill you or
others. Always drive safely.
Track events and competitive driving
may affect the vehicle warranty. See
the warranty manual before using the
vehicle for competitive driving.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop
and accelerate. Always drive slower in
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 195
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or
with the ignition off is dangerous.
This can cause overheating of the
brakes and loss of steering assist.
Always have the engine running
and the vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills; something
could be in your lane (e.g., stalled
car, crash).
. Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the
road creates less traction or grip, so
drive carefully. Wet ice can occur at
about 0 °C (32 °F) when freezing rain
begins to fall. Avoid driving on wet ice
or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For slippery road driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0220.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should
be applied sooner than when on
dry pavement. See Antilock Brake
System (ABS) 0217.
See Driver Mode Control 0222. .
Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas. The
surface of a curve or an overpass
can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid
sudden steering maneuvers and
braking while on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. If possible,
use Roadside Service. See Roadside
Service 0405. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
196 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side that
is away from the wind, to
bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate Control
Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0209.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then
shut the engine off and partially close
the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed.
This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels
to free the vehicle when stuck in sand,
mud, ice, or snow. If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0220.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. The vehicle
can overheat, causing an engine
compartment fire or other damage.
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right
to clear the area around the front
wheels. Turn off any traction system.
Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release
the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 215
M :This mode can be entered from
D (Drive) by pulling back on the shift
lever. The M in the shift pattern will
illuminate red, and the D will switch
to white. After releasing the shift
lever, it will return to the center
position. M (Manual Mode) allows
gears appropriate for current driving
conditions to be selected.
To exit M (Manual Mode) and return
to D (Drive), pull back on the shift
lever. The D in the shift pattern will
illuminate in red, and the M will
switch to white. See Manual Mode
0 215.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using
only the accelerator pedal may
damage the transmission. The
repair will not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. If the vehicle is
stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes to
hold the vehicle in place.
Manual Mode
Tap Shift
Caution
Driving with the engine at a high
rpm without upshifting while using
Tap Shift, could damage the vehicle.
Always upshift when necessary
while using Tap Shift.
Vehicles with Tap Shift have controls
on the back of the steering wheel to
manually shift the automatic
transmission. Permanent Tap Shift Mode
To enter Permanent Tap Shift Mode:
1. With the vehicle in D (Drive), pull back on the shift lever to
activate M (Manual Mode). The
M in the shift pattern will
illuminate in red, and the D will
switch to white.
2. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
3. Press the controls on the back of the steering wheel to shift. Use
the left steering wheel control to
downshift, and the right control
to upshift. To shift to the lowest
available gear, press and hold the
left control.
To exit Permanent Tap Shift Mode: 1. To exit M (Manual Mode) and return to D (Drive), pull back on
the shift lever. The D in the shift
pattern will illuminate in red,
and the M will switch to white.
2. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 217
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has an Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced electronic
braking system that helps prevent a
braking skid.
When the vehicle begins to drive
away, ABS checks itself. A momentary
motor or clicking noise may be heard
while this test is going on, and it may
even be noticed that the brake pedal
moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 143. If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to avoid
a sudden obstacle, a computer senses
the wheels are slowing down. If one of
the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure to
each wheel, as required, faster than
any driver could. This can help you
steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the
time needed to get a foot up to the
brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close
to the vehicle in front of you, there
will not be enough time to apply the
brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows
or stops. Always leave enough room
up ahead to stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly and let ABS
work. You may hear the ABS pump or
motor operating and feel the brake
pedal pulsate. This is normal.
When ABS is active, it may be an
indication that road surfaces are
slippery. Braking sooner may be
required for driving conditions.
If equipped with electric brake boost,
the TCS/StabiliTrak/ESC light will
flash when ABS is active.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake at
the same time. In many emergencies,
steering can help more than even the
very best braking.