Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
134 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Oil Pressure :Shows the engine oil
pressure in kPa (kilopascals)
or psi (pounds per square inch).
Engine Hours : Shows the total
number of hours the engine has run.
Coolant Temperature : Shows the
temperature of the coolant in either
degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Transmission Fluid Temperature :
Shows the temperature of the
automatic transmission fluid in either
degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Air Filter Life : Shows an estimate of
the engine air filter’s remaining useful
life and the state of the system.
Engine Air Filter Life 95% means 95%
of the current air filter life remains.
Messages will display based on the
engine air filter life and the state of
the system. When the REPLACE AT
NEXT OIL CHANGE message displays,
the engine air filter should be replaced
at the time of the next oil change.
When the REPLACE SOON message
displays, the engine air filter should
be replaced at the earliest
convenience. The Air Filter Life display must be
reset after the engine air filter
replacement. To reset, see
Engine Air
Filter Life System 0371.
Brake Pad Life : This displays an
estimate of the remaining life of the
front and rear brake pads. Messages
will display based on brake pad wear
and the state of the system. Reset the
Brake Pad Life display after replacing
the brake pads. See Brake Pad Life
System 0378.
Tire Pressure : Shows the
approximate pressures of all four tires.
Tire pressure is displayed in either
kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per
square inch (psi). If the pressure is
low, the value for that tire is shown in
amber. See Tire Pressure Monitor
System 0402 and
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation 0403.
Off : Allows for no information to be
displayed in the cluster info display
areas.
Zone 3
Audio Now Playing : Displays the
actively playing audio. Navigation :
Displays a variety of
navigation information.
Audio and Navigation : Displays both
audio and navigation information
together.
Off : Allows for no information to be
displayed in the cluster info display
areas.
Vehicle Information
The following are all possible vehicle
information features.
To access the vehicle information
menu, press
Ton the Multi
Function Controller (MFC) or touch
Tfrom the list of home page icons
displayed on the left side of the
infotainment display.
The Vehicle Information App will
display 3 cards per page.
The currently displayed page of cards
is remembered from the last ignition
cycle.
The menu may contain the following
cards:
.Notifications
.Oil Life
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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VEHICLE CARE 377
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
fans will change to low speed when
additional cooling is no longer
required.
The electric engine cooling fans may
run after the engine has been turned.
off. This is normal and no service is
required.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid needs
to be added, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. Use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing in an area
where the temperature may fall below
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The vehicle has a low washer fluid
message on the DIC that comes on
when the washer fluid is low. The
message is displayed for 15 seconds at
the start of each ignition cycle. When
the WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID
message displays, washer fluid will
need to be added to the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
Open the cap with the washer symbol
on it. Add washer fluid until the tank
is full. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview 0366 for reservoir location.
Caution
.Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can cause
the wiper blades to chatter
or skip.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system and
paint.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid. Water
can cause the solution to freeze
and damage the washer fluid
tank and other parts of the
washer system.
.When using concentrated washer
fluid, follow the manufacturer
instructions for adding water.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very
cold. This allows for fluid
expansion if freezing occurs,
which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or can be
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
378 VEHICLE CARE
heard all the time when the vehicle is
moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will not
work well. That could lead to a
crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the proper sequence to torque
specifications. See
Capacities and
Specifications 0455.
Brake pads should be replaced as
complete sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does
not return to normal height, or if
there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be a sign that brake
service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts
with new, approved replacement parts.
If this is not done, the brakes may not
work properly. The braking
performance expected can change in
many other ways if the wrong
replacement brake parts are installed
or if parts are improperly installed.
Brake Pad Life System
When to Change Brake Pads
If equipped, this system estimates the
remaining life of the front and rear
brake pads. Brake pad life is displayed
in the vehicle information screen, along with a percentage for each axle.
The system must be reset every time
the brake pads are changed.
When the system has determined that
the brake pads need to be replaced, a
message will display, which may
include mileage remaining.
Brake pads should always be replaced
as complete axle sets.
How to Reset the Brake Pad Life
System
The system will automatically detect
when significantly worn brake pads
are replaced. When the ignition is
turned on after new pads and wear
sensors are installed, a message will
display. Follow the prompts to reset
the system.
The brake pad life system can also be
manually reset:
1. Using the vehicle information screen controls on the right side of
the instrument cluster, display
Brake Pad Life on the screen. See
Vehicle Information 0134.
2. Touch RESET on the screen. Select front or rear pads as appropriate.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
VEHICLE CARE 379
3. Select YES on the confirmationmessage. Repeat for pads on the
other axle if they were also
replaced.
How to Disable the Brake Pad
Life System
The brake pad life system can be
turned off. This may be necessary if
aftermarket brake pads without wear
sensors are installed. When the
system is turned off, the front and
rear brake pad life percentages will
not display. However, the built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn can still determine when the
pads should be replaced. See Brakes
0 377.
To turn off the brake pad life system: 1. Using the vehicle information screen controls on the right side of
the instrument cluster, display
Brake Pad Life on the screen. See
Vehicle Information 0134.
2. Select DISABLE.
To turn the brake pad life system back
on, follow the above steps but select
ENABLE in Step 2.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir is
filled with GM approved DOT 4 brake
fluid as indicated on the reservoir cap.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 366 for the location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a level
surface, the brake fluid level should be
between the minimum and maximum
marks on the brake fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
.Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the fluid
level goes back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake hydraulic
system. Have the brake hydraulic
system fixed. With a leak, the
brakes will not work well. Always clean the brake fluid reservoir
cap and the area around the cap
before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid. Adding
fluid does not correct a leak. If fluid is
added when the linings are worn,
there will be too much fluid when
new brake linings are installed. Add or
remove fluid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You or
others could be burned, and the
vehicle could be damaged. Add
brake fluid only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning Light
0 124.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid at
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