Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
VEHICLE CARE 373
{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, radiator, a/c
pipes or 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 cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine coolant.
This coolant is designed to remain in
the vehicle for 5 years or 240 000 km
(150,000 mi), whichever occurs first.The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating
0375.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain
water or the wrong mixture, the
engine could get too hot but there
would not be an overheat warning.
The engine could catch fire and you
or others could be burned.
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, or by pouring it
on the ground, or 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 coolant surge tank is in the
engine compartment on the driver
side of the vehicle. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0366.
The vehicle must be on a level surface
when checking the coolant level.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
VEHICLE CARE 433
Caution (Continued)
safety precautions, and appropriate
disposal of any vehicle care
product.
Caution
Avoid using high-pressure washes
closer than 30 cm (12 in) to the
surface of the vehicle. Use of power
washers exceeding 8 274 kPa
(1,200 psi) can result in damage or
removal of paint and decals.
If using an automatic car wash, follow
the car wash instructions. The
windshield wiper and rear window
wiper, if equipped, must be off.
Remove any accessories that may be
damaged or interfere with the car
wash equipment.
Rinse the vehicle well, before washing
and after, to remove all cleaning
agents completely. If they are allowed
to dry on the surface, they could stain. Dry the finish with a soft, clean
chamois or an all-cotton towel to
avoid surface scratches and water
spotting.
Cleaning Underhood Components
Caution
Do not power wash any component
under the hood that has this
e
symbol.
This could cause damage that
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Solvents or aggressive cleaners may
harm underhood components. The
usages of these chemicals should be
avoided.
Recommend water only.
A pressure washer may be used, but
care must be utilized. The following
criteria must be followed:
.Water pressure must be kept below
14,000 KPa (2,000 PSI).
.Water temperature must be below
80 °C (180 °F).
.Spray nozzle with a 40 degree wide
angle spray pattern or wider must
be used.
.Nozzle must be kept at least 30 cm
(1 ft) away from all surfaces.
Finish Care
Application of aftermarket clearcoat
sealant/wax materials is not
recommended. If painted surfaces are
damaged, see your dealer to have the
damage assessed and repaired. Foreign
materials such as calcium chloride
and other salts, ice melting agents,
road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial
chimneys, etc., can damage the
vehicle's finish if they remain on
painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as
soon as possible. If necessary, use
non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove
foreign matter.
Occasional hand waxing or mild
polishing should be done to remove
residue from the paint finish. See your
dealer for approved cleaning products.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
436 VEHICLE CARE
Caution (Continued)
that have been sprayed with
magnesium chloride or calcium
chloride. These are used on roads
for conditions such as dust and ice.
Always wash the chrome with soap
and water after exposure.
Caution
To avoid surface damage on wheels
and wheel trim, do not use strong
soaps, chemicals, abrasive polishes,
cleaners, or brushes. Use only GM
approved cleaners. Do not drive the
vehicle through an automatic car
wash that uses silicon carbide tire/
wheel cleaning brushes. Damage
could occur and the repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Brake System
Visually inspect brake lines and hoses
for proper hook-up, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake
pads for wear and rotors for surfacecondition. Inspect drum brake linings/
shoes for wear or cracks. Inspect all
other brake parts.
Steering, Suspension, and
Chassis Components
Visually inspect steering, suspension,
and chassis components for damaged,
loose, or missing parts or signs of
wear at least once a year.
Inspect power steering for proper
attachment, connections, binding,
leaks, cracks, chafing, etc.
Visually check constant velocity joint
boots and axle seals for leaks.
At least every other oil change
lubricate the outer tie rod ends.
Control arm ball joints are
maintenance-free.
Caution
Lubrication of applicable steering/
suspension points should not be
done unless the temperature is
−12 °C (10 °F) or higher, or damage
could result.
For a heavy-duty Suburban, see the
Suburban Heavy-Duty Package
supplement.
Body Component Lubrication
Lubricate all key lock cylinders, hood
hinges, liftgate hinges, steel fuel door
hinge and power assist step hinges,
unless the components are plastic.
Applying silicone grease on
weatherstrips with a clean cloth will
make them last longer, seal better,
and not stick or squeak.
Underbody Maintenance
Caution
Avoid pressure washing the vehicle
frame. Use of high-pressure washers
can result in removal of corrosion
protection and possible vehicle
damage.
At least twice a year, spring and fall,
use plain water to flush any corrosive
materials from the underbody. Take
care to thoroughly clean any areas
where mud and other debris can
collect. If equipped with power assist
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
482 INDEX
Door (cont'd)Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . . . . 457
Driver Teen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . 298
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Driver Mode Control Light . . . . . . . . . 128
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 238
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Dynamic Fuel Management . . . . . . . . 250E
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . 124
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . 360
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . 385
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 389
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Emergency
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . 366
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . 117
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 457
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369 Engine (cont'd)
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . 371
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 469
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . 151
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . 156
F
Fan Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . 153
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 440
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
INDEX 483
FluidAutomatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 370
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Four-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Four Corner Air Suspension Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Four Corner Air Suspension System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . .256, 380
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 467
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Front Seats Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Dynamic Management . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Economy, Driving for Better . . . . . 230
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327 Fuel (cont'd)
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 130
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Top Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
Fuses Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . 385
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 389
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Gauges Engine Coolant Temperature . . . . 117
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Transmission Temperature . . . . . . 118 Gauges (cont'd)
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Warning Lights and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . . . . 441
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Global Positioning System (GPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461
Guidance
Problems with the Route . . . . . . . . . 190
H
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . 153
HD Radio Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Head-up Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
HeadlampsAiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
INDEX 485
Lights (cont'd)Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Automatic Vehicle Hold . . . . . . . . . . 125
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Four Corner Air Suspension . . . . . 128
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . 151
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Service Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Lights (cont'd)
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Lock Steering Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Locks
Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) . . . . . . . . . 84
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
M
Magnetic Ride Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 453 Maintenance and Care
Additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 448
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442 Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . 122
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Map Data Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Massage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Media
Avoiding Untrusted Devices . . . . . 169
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Messages Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Vehicle Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Mirror Rear Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Automatic Dimming Rearview . . . . 34
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Tilt in Reverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33