Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14574701) -
2021 - CRC - 2/8/21
292 DRIVING AND OPERATING
the passed vehicle before returning to
the lane. Pass on level roadways.
Avoid passing on hills if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. To move the trailer to
the left, move that hand to the left. To
move the trailer to the right, move
that hand to the right. Always back up
slowly and, if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Turn more slowly and make wider
arcs when towing a trailer to
prevent damage to your vehicle.
Making very sharp turns could
cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when
towing, so the trailer will not go over
soft shoulders, over curbs, or strike
road signs, trees, or other objects.
Always signal turns well in advance.
Do not steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before starting down a long or steep
downhill grade. If the transmission is
not shifted down, the brakes may
overheat and result in reduced braking
efficiency.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes,
engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at lower altitudes.
If the engine is turned off immediately
after towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, the vehicle could show
signs similar to engine overheating. To
avoid this, let the engine run,
preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few
minutes before turning the engine off.
If the overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating 0320.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and trailer
on a level surface when possible.
When parking your vehicle and your
trailer on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn the
wheels into the curb if facing
downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the brake
pedal to allow the chocks to absorb
the load of the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal:
.Start the engine.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14574701) -
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VEHICLE CARE 309
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0315.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 311.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil
0 311.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0316.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0322.
6. Battery - North America 0323.
7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 316.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting -
North America 0364.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0321.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0329.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0364.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14574701) -
2021 - CRC - 2/8/21
310 VEHICLE CARE
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0315.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 311.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil
0 311. 4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View).
See Cooling System 0316.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0322.
6. Battery - North America 0323. 7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 316.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting -
North America 0364.
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316 VEHICLE CARE
Warning (Continued)
fit, form, and function may result in
personal injury or damage to the
vehicle.
4. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter.
5. Reverse Steps 1–3 to reinstall the filter cover housing.
6. If equipped, reset the engine air filter life system after replacing the
engine air filter. See Engine Air
Filter Life System 0314.
{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.
2.0L L4 Engine
1. Electric Engine Cooling Fan (Out
of View) 2. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Electric Engine Cooling Fan (Outof 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.
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VEHICLE CARE 317
{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 is filled with DEX-COOL engine
coolant mixture. This coolant needs to
be checked and changed at
appropriate levels. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0389 and
Maintenance Schedule 0380.
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 0320.
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.
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318 VEHICLE CARE
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 water
and DEX-COOL coolant. Be sure the
cooling system is cool before this is
done. SeeEngine Overheating 0320.
The coolant surge tank is in the
engine compartment on the driver
side of the vehicle. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0308.
How to Add Coolant to the
Surge Tank
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine parts
can burn you. Coolant contains
ethylene glycol and it will burn if
the engine parts are hot enough.
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure cap,
even a little, can cause them to
come out at high speed and you
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.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific
coolant fill procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and could
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
cause system damage. If coolant is
not visible in the surge tank,
contact your dealer.
The coolant surge tank pressure cap
can be removed when the cooling
system, including the surge tank
pressure cap and upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot.
Coolant Fill Instructions (3.6L
Engine Only)
1. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise. If a hiss is heard,
wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14574701) -
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VEHICLE CARE 319
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with theproper mixture to the mark pointed
to on the front of the coolant
surge tank.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the engine
and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot.
Watch out for the engine cooling
fans. By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank may
be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the
coolant surge tank until the level
reaches the mark pointed to on the
front of the coolant surge tank. 5. Replace the pressure cap tightly.
6. Verify coolant level after the engine
is shut off and the coolant is cold.
If necessary, repeat coolant fill
procedure Step 1–6.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap
is properly and tightly secured.
Automatic Coolant Service Fill
Instructions (2.0L Engine Only)
If equipped, this feature assists in
filling and removing air from the
cooling system after service of
components or when coolant is added
after being too low. To activate the fill and air removal
process:1. With a cold system, disconnect the
vent line from the port near the
cap on the surge tank. Add coolant
to the indicated mark on the
surge tank.
2. Reconnect the vent line to the surge tank and replace the cap on
the surge tank.
3. Connect the vehicle to a battery charger.
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320 VEHICLE CARE
4. Put the vehicle in Service Mode.See Ignition Positions 0232.
5. Turn off the air conditioning.
6. Set the parking brake.
7. At the same time, press the accelerator and the brake for
automatic transmission vehicles for
two seconds, then release.
At the end of the cycle, check the
coolant level in the surge tank and
add coolant, if it is low. Turn off the
vehicle, allow the Engine Control
Module (ECM) to go to sleep, about
two minutes, and repeat steps 3-7.
Listen for pump activation and
movement of the control valves while
watching the level of the tank. If the
tank empties, turn the ignition off,
carefully remove the surge tank cap,
refill to the indicated mark and repeat
steps 3-6. The fill and air removal
process will run for approximately
10 minutes.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators to
warn of the engine overheating. There is an engine coolant
temperature gauge on the instrument
cluster. See
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge 0113. The vehicle may also
display a message on the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears, get
service help right away. See Roadside
Service 0401.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is parked
on a level surface. Then check to see if
the engine cooling fan is running.
If the engine is overheating, the fan
should be running. If it is not, do not
continue to run the engine. Have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak in the engine cooling system.
This can cause a loss of all coolant
and can damage the system and
vehicle. Have any leaks fixed
right away.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure cap,
even a little, can cause them to
come out at high speed and you
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
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be 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.