Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
362 Driving and Operating
transmission in P (Park) for a
few minutes before turning
the engine off. If the overheat
warning comes on, see Engine
Overheating0391.
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.
.Shift into the
desired gear.
.Release the parking
brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service
more often when used to tow
trailers. See Maintenance
Schedule 0469. It is especially
important to check the
automatic transmission fluid,
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system, and brake
system before and during
each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts
and bolts on the trailer hitch
are tight.
Engine Cooling when
Trailer Towing
The cooling system may
temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions.
See Engine Overheating 0391.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/4/22
378 Vehicle Care
1. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See Washer
Fluid 0393.
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0386.
3. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0384.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0386.
5. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0378.
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0378.
7. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See
Jump Starting - North
America 0447.
8. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0398.
9. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See
Jump Starting - North
America 0447. 10. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block. See Engine
Compartment Fuse Block
0407.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life,
careful attention must be paid
to engine oil. Following these
simple, but important steps
will help protect your
investment:
.Use engine oil approved to
the proper specification and
of the proper viscosity
grade. See “Selecting the
Right Engine Oil” in this
section.
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See
“Checking Engine Oil” and
“When to Add Engine Oil” in
this section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine
Oil Life System 0381.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do
with Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level
regularly, every 650 km
(400 mi), especially prior to a
long trip. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment
Overview0373 for the
location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick
handle may be hot; it could
burn you. Use a towel or
glove to touch the dipstick
handle.
If a low oil Driver Information
Center (DIC) message displays,
check the oil level.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/4/22
Vehicle Care 379
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading,
park the vehicle on level
ground. Check the engine oil
level after the engine has
been off for at least two
hours. Checking the engine
oil level on steep grades or
too soon after engine
shutoff can result in
incorrect readings. Accuracy
improves when checking a
cold engine prior to starting.
Remove the dipstick and
check the level.
.If unable to wait two hours,
the engine must be off for at
least 15 minutes if the
engine is warm, or at least
30 minutes if the engine is
not warm. Pull out the
dipstick, wipe it with a clean
paper towel or cloth, then
push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the
tip down, and check the
level.
When to Add Engine Oil
2.0L and 2.7L L4 Engines
3.6L V6 Engine
If the oil is below the
cross-hatched area at the tip
of the dipstick and the engine
has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then
recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right Engine
Oil” later in this section for an
explanation of what kind of oil to use. For engine oil
crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications
0
480.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are
harmful to the engine. If the
oil level is above the
operating range (i.e., the
engine has so much oil that
the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that
shows the proper operating
range), the engine could be
damaged. Drain the excess
oil or limit driving of the
vehicle, and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess oil.
See Engine Compartment
Overview 0373 for the
location of the engine oil
fill cap.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/4/22
380 Vehicle Care
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper
operating range. Push the
dipstick all the way back in
when finished.
Selecting the Right
Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper
oil specification and viscosity
grade. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants0474.
Specification
Use full synthetic engine oils
that meet the dexos1
specification. Engine oils that
have been approved by
GM as meeting the dexos1
specification are marked with
the dexos1 approved logo. See
www.gmdexos.com.
Caution
Failure to use the
recommended engine oil or
equivalent can result in
engine damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Viscosity Grade
For the LSY 2.0L L4 turbo
engine, use SAE 0W-20
viscosity grade engine oil.
For the L3B 2.7L L4 turbo and
LF4 3.6L V6 twin turbo
engines, use SAE 5W-30
viscosity grade engine oil. Cold
Temperature Operation: In an
area of extreme cold, where
the temperature falls below
−29 °C (−20 °F), an SAE 0W-30
oil may be used. An oil of this
viscosity grade will provide
easier cold starting for the
engine at extremely low
temperatures.
When selecting an oil of the
appropriate viscosity grade, it
is recommended to select an oil of the correct specification.
See
“Specification” earlier in
this section.
Engine Oil Additives/
Engine Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil.
The recommended oils
meeting the dexos1
specification are all that is
needed for good performance
and engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are
not recommended and could
cause engine damage not
covered by the vehicle
warranty.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains
certain elements that can be
unhealthy for your skin and
could even cause cancer. Do
not let used oil stay on your
skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hand cleaner.
Wash or properly dispose of
clothing or rags containing
used engine oil. See the
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/4/22
Vehicle Care 381
manufacturer's warnings
about the use and disposal of
oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change
your own oil, be sure to drain
all the oil from the filter before
disposal. Never dispose of oil
by putting it in the trash or
pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or
bodies of water. Recycle it by
taking it to a place that
collects used oil.
Engine Oil Life
System
When to Change
Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer
system that indicates when to
change the engine oil and
filter. This is based on a
combination of factors which
include engine revolutions,
engine temperature, and miles
driven. Based on driving
conditions, the mileage atwhich an oil change is
indicated can vary
considerably. For the oil life
system to work properly, the
system must be reset every
time the oil is changed.
When the system has
calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it indicates that an
oil change is necessary.
A CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message comes on.
Change the oil as soon as
possible within the next
1 000 km (600 mi). It is
possible that, if driving under
the best conditions, the oil life
system might indicate that an
oil change is not necessary for
up to a year. The engine oil
and filter must be changed at
least once a year and at this
time the system must be
reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will
perform this work and reset
the system. It is also important
to check the oil regularly over
the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the
proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km
(3,000 mi) since the last oil
change. Remember to reset
the oil life system whenever
the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine
Oil Life System
Reset the system whenever
the engine oil is changed so
that the system can calculate
the next engine oil change. To
reset the system:
1. Using the DIC buttons, display REMAINING OIL
LIFE on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0129 or
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Uplevel) 0132.
2. Press and hold the thumbwheel on the
steering wheel. When the
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/4/22
382 Vehicle Care
confirmation message
displays, select YES. The
oil life will change to 100%.
Be careful not to reset the
oil life display accidentally
at any time other than
after the oil is changed.
It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The oil life system can also be
reset as follows: 1. Using the DIC buttons, display REMAINING OIL
LIFE on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0129 or
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Uplevel) 0132.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three
times within five seconds.
If the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message is not
on, the system is reset.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message is off. If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message comes back
on when the vehicle is started,
the engine oil life system has
not been reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic
Transmission Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the
only reason for fluid loss. If a
leak occurs, take the vehicle to
your dealer and have it
repaired as soon as possible.
The vehicle is not equipped
with a transmission fluid level
dipstick. There is a special
procedure for checking and
changing the transmission
fluid. Because this procedure
is difficult, this should be done
at the dealer. Contact your
dealer for additional
information.
Caution
Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission fluid
may damage the vehicle, and
the damage may not be
covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use the
correct automatic
transmission fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
0474.
Change the fluid and filter at
the intervals listed in
Maintenance Schedule 0469,
and be sure to use the fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0474.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check
the manual transmission fluid
level. A transmission fluid leak
is the only reason for fluid
loss. If a leak occurs, take the
vehicle to your dealer and
have it repaired as soon as
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/4/22
Vehicle Care 383
possible. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants0474
for the proper fluid to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
For vehicles with a manual
transmission, it is not
necessary to regularly check
brake/clutch fluid unless there
is a leak suspected. Adding
fluid will not correct a leak.
A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have
the system inspected and
repaired.
When to Check and What
to Use
The brake/hydraulic clutch
fluid reservoir cap has this
symbol on it. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0373
for reservoir location. The common hydraulic clutch
and brake master cylinder fluid
reservoir is filled with brake
fluid as indicated on the
reservoir cap. See Brake Fluid
0
398 for brake fluid to use.
How to Check and Add
Fluid
Visually check the brake/
clutch fluid reservoir to make
sure the fluid level is at the
MIN (minimum) line on the side
of the reservoir. The brake/
hydraulic clutch fluid system
should be closed and sealed.
Do not remove the cap to
check the fluid level or to
top-off the fluid level. Remove
the cap only when necessary
to add the proper fluid until
the level reaches the MIN line.
Engine Air Filter Life
System
This feature provides the
engine air filter’s remaining life
and best timing for a change.
The timing to change an engine air filter depends on
driving and environmental
conditions.
When to Change the
Engine Air Filter
When the Driver Information
Center (DIC) displays a
message to replace the engine
air filter at the next oil change,
follow this timing.
When the DIC displays a
message to replace the engine
air filter soon, replace the
engine air filter at the earliest
convenience.
The system must be reset
after the engine air filter is
changed.
If the DIC displays a message
to check the engine air filter
system, see your dealer.
How to Reset the Engine
Air Filter Life System
To reset:
1. Place the vehicle in P (Park).
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/4/22
388 Vehicle Care
.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 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.
It is normal to see coolant
moving in the upper coolant
hose return line when the
engine is running. It is also
normal to see bubbles
entering the surge tank
through the small hose.
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 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.