Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
CLIMATE CONTROLS 153
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic Climate ControlSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Rear Climate Control System . . . . 158
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System
The climate control buttons on the
center stack and on the climate
control display are used to adjust the
heating, cooling, and ventilation.
Center Stack Climate Controls
1. Driver and Passenger Temperature Controls
2. Fan Control 3. Driver and Passenger Heated and
Ventilated Seats (If Equipped)
4. Rear Window Defogger
5. Defrost
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 173
Warning (Continued)
can still wash away the ground
from under your tires. Traction
could be lost, and the vehicle could
roll over. Do not drive through
rushing water.
Caution
Do not drive through standing
water if it is deep enough to cover
the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe. Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,
drive slowly through it. At faster
speeds, water splashes on the ignition
system and the vehicle can stall.
Stalling can also occur if you get the
exhaust pipe under water. While the
exhaust pipe is under water, you will
not be able to start the engine. When
going through water, the brakes get
wet, and it might take longer to stop.
See Driving on Wet Roads 0173.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected on the underbody or chassis,
or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have
the brake linings cleaned and checked.
These substances can cause glazing
and uneven braking. Check the body
structure, steering, suspension,
wheels, tires, and exhaust system for
damage and check the fuel lines and
cooling system for any leakage.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop
and accelerate. Always drive slower in
these types of driving conditions and
avoid driving through large puddles
and deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They
might not work as well in a quick
stop and could cause pulling to one
side. You could lose control of the
vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle
of water or a car/vehicle wash,
lightly apply the brake pedal until
the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very
cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can
build up under the vehicle's tires so
they actually ride on the water. This
can happen if the road is wet enough
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
174 DRIVING AND OPERATING
and you are going fast enough. When
the vehicle is hydroplaning, it has
little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping equipment
in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper tread
depth. See Tires0289.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving on
flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape. .
Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle
on a long downhill slope can cause
brake overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a
loss of braking. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear to let
the engine assist the brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
{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.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
248 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal:.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more often
when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0333. It is
especially important to check the
automatic transmission fluid, engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before and
during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 272.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To tow a trailer
correctly, follow the directions in
this section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity
for your vehicle. Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, dimensions of
the front of the trailer, and how
frequently the vehicle is used to tow a
trailer.
Trailer Weight Ratings
When towing a trailer, the combined
weight of the vehicle, vehicle contents,
trailer, and trailer contents must be
below all of the maximum weight
ratings for the vehicle including:
.
GCWR: Gross Combined Weight
Rating
. GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating
. Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
. Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight
See “Weight-Distributing Hitch
Adjustment ”under Towing Equipment
0 252 to determine if equalizer bars
are required to obtain the maximum
trailer weight rating.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
258 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 267
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 268
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 276
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 277
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 278
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Bulb Replacement
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 281
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 281
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 285
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291 Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 298
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 307
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
264 VEHICLE CARE
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0268.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 264.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil 0264.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0269.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0275.
6. Battery - North America 0276.
7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 269.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting
- North America 0318.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 273.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0282.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0318.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 0266.
. 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 0263 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.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
VEHICLE CARE 269
5. Reverse Steps 1–3 to reinstall thefilter cover housing.
6. If equipped, reset the engine air filter life system after replacing
the engine air filter. See Engine
Air Filter Life System 0267.
{Warning
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. Use caution
when working on the engine. Do
not start the engine or drive the
vehicle with the air cleaner/filter
off, as flames may be present if the
engine backfires.
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which could damage it. Always have
the air cleaner/filter in place when
driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the engine
to maintain the correct working
temperature.
1. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
(Out of View)
2. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can start
up even when the engine is not
running and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts. They
can be very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak; all coolant could leak out.
That could cause an engine fire and
can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The engine cooling system in the
vehicle are filled with DEX-COOL
engine coolant mixture. This coolant
needs to be checked and changed at
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
270 VEHICLE CARE
appropriate levels. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0343 and
Maintenance Schedule 0333.
The following explains the cooling
systems and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating 0272.
What to Use
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts. They
can be very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak; all coolant could leak out.
That could cause an engine fire and
can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down to
−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature. .
Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts.
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard GMW3420 and
clean, drinkable water. Anything
else can cause damage to the
engine cooling system and the
vehicle, which would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
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.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the
coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. If coolant is visible but
the coolant level mark is not at or
above the indicated mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable