2022 CADILLAC CT4 brake fluid

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 119
The windshield is part of the HUD
system. If windshield replacement is
required, seeWindshield Replacement
0 351.
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) indicate the
status of the vehicle or some action
that may be needed to correct a
condition. Multiple messages may
appear one after another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by pressing
the thumbwheel. The messages that
require immediate action cannot be
cleared until that action is performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously; clearing the message does
not correct the problem.
If a SERVICE message appears, see
your dealer. Follow the instructions given in the
messages. The system displays
messages regarding the following
topics:
.Service Messages
.Fluid Levels
.Vehicle Security
.Brakes
.Steering
.Ride Control Systems
.Driver Assistance Systems
.Cruise Control
.Lighting and Bulb Replacement
.Wiper/Washer Systems
.Doors and Windows
.Seat Belts
.Airbag Systems
.Engine and Transmission
.Tire Pressure
.Battery
Engine Power Messages
REDUCED ACCELERATION DRIVE
WITH CARE
This message displays when the
vehicle's propulsion power is reduced.
A reduction in propulsion power can
affect the vehicle's ability to
accelerate. If this message is on, but
there is no observed reduction in
performance, proceed to your
destination. Under certain conditions
the performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven. The
vehicle may be driven while this
message is on, but maximum
acceleration and speed may be
reduced. Anytime this message stays
on, or displays repeatedly, the vehicle
should be taken to your dealer for
service as soon as possible.
Under certain operating conditions,
propulsion will be disabled. Try
restarting after the ignition has been
off for two minutes.

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
DRIVING AND OPERATING 211
Warning (Continued)
serious—or even fatal —collision
if you drive after drinking or taking
drugs.
Do not drive while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs,
or ride with a driver who has been
drinking or is impaired by drugs.
Find alternate transportation home;
or if you are with a group, designate
a driver who will remain sober.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control
a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that
time, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m (66 ft), which
could be a lot of distance in an
emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.Keep enough distance between you
and the vehicle in front of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops or a brake
fault occurs, the brakes may lose
power assist. More effort will be
required to stop the vehicle and it can
take longer to stop.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering
system, do not drive over curbs,
parking barriers, or similar objects
at speeds greater than 3 km/h
(1 mph). Use care when driving over
other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused
by misuse of the vehicle is not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
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.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
DRIVING AND OPERATING 215
Caution (Continued)
drive as long or as fast the first
time the vehicle is driven on the
track or raced.
.The axle lubricant should be
replaced with new lubricant.
.On vehicles without a differential
cooler, additional cooling capacity is
required for continuous competitive
driving. The V-Series Blackwing has
a differential cooler, so no
additional cooling capacity is
necessary.
Engine OilCaution
If the vehicle is used for track
events and competitive driving, the
engine may use more oil than it
would with normal use. Low oil
levels can damage the engine.
Check the oil level often and
maintain the proper level. See
Engine Oil 0331. Check the oil level often during track
events and competitive driving, and
keep the oil level at or near the upper
mark. See
“Checking the Engine Oil" in
Engine Oil 0331.
Fuel
Use premium unleaded gasoline with
a posted octane rating of 93 at a track
event. Unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 91 may be
used, but performance will be
degraded. See Prohibited Fuels 0312.
Automatic or Manual
Transmission Fluid
Have the transmission fluid set to the
track specific oil level prior to track
usage. Transmission fluid should be
changed after every 15 hours of track
usage. Any transmission level set or
change should be performed at the
dealer.
Brakes
Battery Disconnect
Disconnect the battery before
servicing the hydraulic brake system.
It is critical to disconnect the battery before bleeding the system, replacing
the pads, or any other work. The
battery must be disconnected to
prevent the brake master cylinder
from pressurizing the hydraulic
system during its automated self
diagnostic tests that may occur when
a door is opened or the remote key is
present.
{Warning
To avoid personal injury and/or
vehicle damage, always disconnect
the battery before performing
service work on the hydraulic brake
system. Bleeding the brake system
with the battery connected can lead
to excessive pressurization of the
system during automatic diagnostic
tests or diagnosis of a leak or air in
the braking system. A Diagnostic
Trouble Code (DTC) may set and
vehicle speed may be limited.

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
216 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Brake Cooling (V-Series Blackwing)
Prior to any track event, high speed
driving event, or competitive driving,
complete the following:1. Ensure all the brake cooling parts are correctly secured and installed.
2. Inspect and replace any deflectors that have damage.
3. Inspect for blockage in the front brake cooling duct prior to every
event.
If improved brake cooling is desired,
install the ball joint protector front
shields, remove both upper and lower
rear rotor shields, and install the rear
lower control arm cooling deflectors,
per the instructions included with the
brake cooling kit. These parts are for
track use only. After track events
reinstall original front and rear rotor
shields, and remove rear lower control
arm cooling deflectors.
Right Side Front Shown, Left Side Front Similar
1. Front Lower Control Arm Deflector
2. Front Brake Cooling Duct Brake Pad Wear Sensors
If equipped, the brake pad wear
sensors need to be removed from the
brake calipers prior to any track or
racing event. The original sensors can
be reinstalled if significant brake pad
wear is not observed. Refer to
Brake
Pad Life System (If Equipped) 0346.
If the sensors are not reinstalled after
the track event, install brake pad wear
sensor plugs. See your dealer.
The V-Series Blackwing is equipped
with brake pad wear sensors which are
track capable and should not be
disabled for track and racing.
A message will display in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) when the
brake pads show excessive wear.
Brake Fluid
Replace existing brake fluid with a
qualified DOT 4 high performance
brake fluid from a sealed container.
Brake fluid with a dry boiling point
>310 °C (590 °F) is qualified. If high
performance brake fluid is used,
replace it with GM approved brake
fluid before driving on public roads.
If high performance brake fluid is in
the vehicle and the age of the brake

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
DRIVING AND OPERATING 217
fluid is over a month old or unknown,
replace the brake fluid before track
events and competitive driving. Do
not use silicone or DOT 5 brake fluids.
Disconnect the battery before bleeding
the system, replacing the pads, or any
other work. The battery must be
disconnected to prevent the brake
master cylinder from pressurizing the
hydraulic system during its automated
self diagnostic tests that may occur
when a door is opened or the remote
key is present.
Check the fluid level before each
competitive driving event.
Brake System Flushing & Bleeding
The J55 brake system requires specific
processes for bleeding and fluid
flushing. These can be found in the
service manual.
Properly bleeding the brake system is
required for proper operation of the
hydraulic brake system.
Brake Leak Detection
The hydraulic braking system has
advanced diagnostic capability to help
detect hydraulic leaks, trapped air,and other performance issues. These
diagnostics are active when the
hydraulic system is powered. In order
to avoid inadvertently setting a leak
Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC),
disconnect the battery before
servicing the brake system.
If the vehicle sets a DTC related to a
brake system leak, the Brake System
Warning Light will come on and
vehicle speed may be limited to
100 kph (62 mph). Any time a leak
DTC is set, the vehicle should be
inspected carefully for evidence of a
leak and should be repaired
immediately. See your dealer.
Brake Fade Warning Assist
The Brake Fade Warning Assist
system monitors the performance of
the brake system. If the system
detects brake fade, or if the brake
fluid is near the boiling point, the
driver will be alerted.
The Brake Fade Warning Assist
system is designed for use with the
factory-installed brake pads or GM
approved replacement pads. If the
brake pads on the vehicle need to be
replaced, use GM approved brakepads. If this is not done, the brake
fade warning system may not function
properly.
Stage 1 :
The DIC displays a “Reduce
Braking to Avoid Overheating”
message, a chime sounds and brake
pedal effort and travel is increased.
When the message displays, the driver
should back up braking points and
reduce brake usage in order to reduce
brake temperature. This will allow for
continued lapping with no speed
limitations.
Stage 2 : The DIC displays a Brakes
Overheated Service Now message, a
chime sounds, and brake pedal effort
and travel is further increased. This
code indicates that the brake fluid
temperature is excessive and is about
to boil. The system limits vehicle
speed to 100 km/h (62 mph). The
driver should immediately start a cool
down lap if on the track. If this
message displays, the vehicle needs to
be serviced. The brake system needs
to cool down, and the brake fluid
must be immediately flushed with
DOT 4 for street use, or to a qualified

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
218 DRIVING AND OPERATING
DOT 4 race fluid for track use. Boiled
brake fluid is compromised and must
be replaced.
Brake Burnishing
For vehicles equipped with front
Brembo brake systems:
Performance/racing brake pads are
required prior to racing or closed track
driving. Vehicles with option code JE2
have performance brake pads. This
procedure should not be performed on
other models as damage may result.
New brake pads must be burnished
before racing or other competitive
driving.
Caution
Performing the brake burnish
procedure on a base brake system
can result in brake damage.
Caution
The new vehicle break-in period
should be completed before
performing the brake burnish(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
procedure, otherwise damage may
occur to the powertrain/engine. See
New Vehicle Break-In0231.
Caution
Brake fade will occur during this
track burnish procedure and can
cause brake pedal travel and force
to increase. This could extend
stopping distance until the brakes
are fully burnished.
When this procedure is performed as
instructed, it will not damage the
brakes. The brake pads will smoke and
produce an odor. The braking force
and pedal travel may increase. After
the procedure, the brake pads may
appear white at the rotor contact.
Perform this procedure only on dry
pavement, in a safe manner, and in
compliance with all local and state
ordinances/laws regarding motor
vehicle operation. Street High Performance Brake
Burnishing Procedure
This section is for the V-Series
Blackwing with J57 carbon ceramic
brake rotors only.
This procedure should only be run on
a track or other non-public area, and
only on dry pavement.
Caution
Brake fade will occur during this
track burnish procedure and can
cause brake pedal travel and force
to increase. This could extend
stopping distance until the brakes
are fully burnished.
1. From a stop, accelerate as rapidly as possible without activating
traction control to a speed of
100 km/h (60 mph).
2. Using the G-Force Gauge in the HUD display, use enough pedal
force to completely stop the vehicle
in four to five seconds. (~0.7g Decel
level to stop the vehicle in a
straight line). If ABS activates,
braking is too hard.

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
DRIVING AND OPERATING 225
{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.
Caution
Driving through deep puddles or
standing water can cause water to
come in through the engine air
intake and damage the engine.(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
If deep puddles or standing water
cannot be avoided, proceed with
caution and do not exceed 8 km/h
(5 mph). Do not drive through
water that may come close to or
cover the vehicle’s underbody.
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
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. SeeTires0363.
.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, and cooling system.
.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.

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
DRIVING AND OPERATING 243
N :In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle is
already moving, use N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into
a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine running
at high speed may damage the
transmission. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Be sure the engine is not running at
high speed when shifting the
vehicle.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal driving.
If more power is needed for passing,
press the accelerator pedal down.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”underLoss
of Control 0212.
M : This mode can be entered by
moving the shift lever from D (Drive)
to M (Manual Mode). M (Manual
Mode) allows the driver to select gears
appropriate for current driving
conditions. M (Manual Mode) can be
exited by returning the shift lever to D (Drive). See
Manual Mode (Electronic
Shifter) 0249 or
Manual Mode (Mechanical Shifter)
0 248.
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.
While in Sport or Track Mode, the
vehicle monitors driving behavior, and
automatically enables Performance
Shift Features when spirited driving is
detected. These features maintain
lower transmission gears to increase
available engine braking and improve
acceleration response. The vehicle will
exit these features and return to Sport
or Track Mode normal operation after
a short period when no spirited
driving is detected. See Driver Mode
Control 0258.