Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
2022 - CRC - 10/22/21
244 DRIVING AND OPERATING
It will only automatically shift to the
next lower gear if the engine rpm is
much too low.
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature can operate
in All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode. See
Driver Mode Control0248.
Press MODE to activate AWD. AWD is
active in both AWD and Sport Modes.
The AWD system delivers power to all
four wheels and the system adjusts as
needed to improve traction. The AWD Mode will stay selected
until the mode is changed. If the
vehicle is placed in Sport Mode, see
Driver Mode Control
0248.
Sport Mode is canceled with each
ignition cycle. See Driver Mode Control
0 248.
When operated in Tour Mode, the
vehicle will deliver power to the front
wheels only and may provide better
fuel economy.
If Tour Mode is selected see Driver
Mode Control 0248.
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost
Vehicles equipped with electric brake
boost have hydraulic brake circuits
that are electronically controlled when
the brake pedal is applied during
normal operation. The system
performs routine tests and turns off
within a few minutes after the vehicle
is turned off. Noise may be heard
during this time. If the brake pedal is
pressed during the tests or when the electric brake boost system is off, a
noticeable change in pedal force and
travel may be felt. This is normal.
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
helps prevent a braking skid and
maintain steering while braking hard.
ABS performs a system check when
the vehicle is first driven.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
may be heard while this test is going
on, and the brake pedal may move
slightly. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See
Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 118.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
2022 - CRC - 10/22/21
DRIVING AND OPERATING 247
When the vehicle is stopped on a
grade, Hill Start Assist (HSA) prevents
the vehicle from rolling in an
unintended direction during the
transition from brake pedal release to
accelerator pedal apply. The brakes
release when the accelerator pedal is
applied. If the accelerator pedal is not
applied within a few minutes, the
Electric Parking Brake will apply. The
brakes may also release under other
conditions. Do not rely on HSA to
hold the vehicle.
HSA is available when the vehicle is
facing uphill in a forward gear,
or when facing downhill in
R (Reverse). The vehicle must come to
a complete stop on a grade for HSA to
activate.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC).These systems help limit wheel spin
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any of
the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. On an
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle in
AWD or Sport Mode, the system will
operate if it senses that any of the
wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens, TCS
applies the brakes to the spinning
wheels and reduces engine power to
limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the
system senses a discrepancy between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure at any one of the
vehicle's brakes to help steer the
vehicle in the direction which you are
steering.
If cruise control is being used and TCS
or StabiliTrak/ESC begins to limit
wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road conditionsallow. TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC will
automatically turn on when cruise
control is set.
Both systems come on automatically
when the vehicle is started and begins
to move. The systems may be heard or
felt while they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This is
normal and does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary to
turn TCS off if the vehicle gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See
If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0226 and “Turning
the Systems Off and On ”later in this
section.
The indicator light for both systems is
in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
2022 - CRC - 10/22/21
DRIVING AND OPERATING 315
controller as part of the trailer wiring
package. The harness contains the
following circuits:Electric Trailer
Brakes Blue
Battery Feed Red/Black or
Red/Blue
Brake Apply
Signal White/Blue
Ground Black or White
Refer to the aftermarket electric trailer
brake controller owner's manual to
determine wire color coding of the
electric trailer brake controller. The
wire colors on the brake controller
may be different from the vehicle.
It may be necessary to have a
technician connect the 12-volt power
to the engine compartment fuse block.
The electric trailer brake controller
should be installed by your dealer or a
qualified service center.
Trailer Lamps
Always check that all trailer lamps are
working at the beginning of each trip,
and periodically on longer trips.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer
turn signals should illuminate to
indicate the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes, or stopping. When
towing a trailer, the arrows on the
instrument cluster will illuminate
even if the trailer is not properly
connected or the bulbs are
burned out.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) have a Trailer
Sway Control (TSC) feature. Trailer
sway is unintended side-to-side
motion of a trailer while towing. If the
vehicle is towing a trailer and the TSC
detects that sway is increasing, the
vehicle brakes are selectively applied
to help reduce excessive trailer sway.
If equipped with the Integrated Trailer
Brake Control (ITBC) system, and the
trailer has an electric brake system,
StabiliTrak/ESC may also apply the
trailer brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak/ESC warning
light will flash on the instrument
cluster. Reduce vehicle speed by
gradually removing your foot from the
accelerator pedal. If trailer sway
continues, StabiliTrak/ESC can reduce
engine torque to help slow the vehicle.
TSC will not function if StabiliTrak/
ESC is turned off. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0247.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a crash
and in serious injury or death, even
if the vehicle is equipped with TSC.
If the trailer begins to sway, reduce
vehicle speed by gradually removing
your foot from the accelerator. Then
pull over to check the trailer and
vehicle to help correct possible
(Continued)
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
2022 - CRC - 10/22/21
316 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
causes, including an improperly or
overloaded trailer, unrestrained
cargo, improper trailer hitch
configuration, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle or
trailer tires. SeeTowing Equipment
0 312 for trailer ratings and hitch
setup recommendations.
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ from
vehicle tires. Trailer tires are designed
with stiff sidewalls to help prevent
sway and to support heavy loads.
These features can make it difficult to
determine if the trailer tire pressures
are low only based on a visual
inspection.
Always check all trailer tire pressures
before each trip when the tires are
cool. Low trailer tire pressure is a
leading cause of trailer tire blowouts.
Trailer tires deteriorate over time. The
trailer tire sidewall will show the week
and year the tire was manufactured. Many trailer tire manufacturers
recommend replacing tires more than
six years old.
Overloading is another leading cause
of trailer tire blowouts. Never load the
trailer with more weight than the tires
are designed to support. The load
rating is on the trailer tire sidewall.
Always know the maximum speed
rating for the trailer tires before
driving. This may be significantly
lower than the vehicle tire speed
rating. The speed rating may be on
the trailer tire sidewall. If the speed
rating is not shown, the default trailer
tire speed rating is 105 km/h (65 mph).
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. See
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0115.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle systems.
This could affect vehicle operation
and cause a crash. Such devices
may also access information stored
in the vehicle’s systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and would (Continued)
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
2022 - CRC - 10/22/21
318 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 328
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 329
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 337
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 338 Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 340
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . 341
Bulb Replacement
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 341
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 343
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 347
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 360
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361 Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Different Size Tires and
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 368
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 382
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
2022 - CRC - 10/22/21
VEHICLE CARE 335
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highesttemperature and to the highest fan
speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral), and let the engine idle.
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is no longer in the overheated
area or the engine coolant
temperature warning light no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
distance from the vehicle in front.
If the warning does not come back on,
continue to drive normally and have
the cooling system checked for proper
fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while parked.
If the warning is still displayed, turn
off the engine until it cools down.Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an area
where the temperature may fall below
freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The appropriate message will appear
in the Driver Information Center (DIC)
when the fluid level is low.
Open the cap with the washer symbol
on it. Add washer fluid until the tank
is full. See Engine Compartment
Overview 0322 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.
.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.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
2022 - CRC - 10/22/21
380 VEHICLE CARE
4. Good Battery Positive (+)Terminal
The discharged battery positive (+)
terminal and the discharged battery
negative (–) grounding point are on
the driver side of the vehicle.
The good battery negative (–) terminal
and the good battery positive (+)
terminal are on the battery of the
vehicle providing the jump start.
The discharged battery positive (+)
terminal is under a cover. Remove the
cover to expose the terminal.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a
negative ground system.
Caution
If the other vehicle does not have a
12-volt system with a negative
ground, both vehicles can be
damaged. Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump starting.
2. Position the two vehicles so that they are not touching. 3. Set the parking brake firmly and
put the transmission in P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park 0236.
Caution
If any accessories are left on or
plugged in during the jump starting
procedure, they could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Whenever
possible, turn off or unplug all
accessories on either vehicle when
jump starting.
4. Turn the ignition off. Turn off all lights and accessories in both
vehicles, except the hazard warning
flashers if needed.
{Warning
An electric fan can start up even
when the engine is not running and
can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
{Warning
Using a match near a battery can
cause battery gas to explode. People
have been hurt doing this, and
some have been blinded. Use a
flashlight if you need more light.
Battery fluid contains acid that can
burn you. Do not get it on you.
If you accidentally get it in your
eyes or on your skin, flush the place
with water and get medical help
immediately.
{Warning
Fans or other moving engine parts
can injure you badly. Keep your
hands away from moving parts
once the engine is running.
5. Connect one end of the red positive (+) cable to the discharged
battery positive (+) terminal.
6. Connect the other end of the red positive (+) cable to the good
battery positive (+) terminal.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
2022 - CRC - 10/22/21
VEHICLE CARE 387
Caution
Using wax on low gloss black finish
stripes can increase the gloss level
and create a non-uniform finish.
Clean low gloss stripes with soap
and water only.
Air Intakes
Clear debris from the air intakes,
between the hood and windshield,
when washing the vehicle.
Shutter System
The vehicle may have a shutter
system designed to help improve fuel
economy. Keep the shutter systemclear of debris, snow and ice. If the
check engine light is activated, please
check to see if the shutter system is
clear of debris, snow or ice.
Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield
with glass cleaner.
Clean rubber blades using a lint-free
cloth or paper towel soaked with
windshield washer fluid or a mild
detergent. Wash the windshield
thoroughly when cleaning the blades.
Bugs, road grime, sap, and a buildup
of vehicle wash/wax treatments may
cause wiper streaking.
Replace the wiper blades if they are
worn or damaged. Damage can be
caused by extreme dusty conditions,
sand, salt, heat, sun, snow, and ice.
Weatherstrips
Apply weatherstrip lubricant on
weatherstrips to make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or
squeak. Lubricate weatherstrips at
least once a year. Hot, dry climates
may require more frequent
application. Black marks from rubber
material on painted surfaces can be
removed by rubbing with a clean
cloth. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0404.
Tires
Use a stiff brush with tire cleaner to
clean the tires.
Caution
Using petroleum-based tire dressing
products on the vehicle may
damage the paint finish and/or
tires. When applying a tire dressing,
always wipe off any overspray from
all painted surfaces on the vehicle.
Wheels and Wheel Trim
Use a soft, clean cloth with mild soap
and water to clean the wheels. After
rinsing thoroughly with clean water,
dry with a soft, clean towel. A wax
may then be applied.
Caution
Chrome wheels and chrome wheel
trim may be damaged if the vehicle
is not washed after driving on roads
(Continued)