Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16417396) - 2023 - CRC - 5/11/22
Driving and Operating 319
Tow/Haul Mode
For instructions on how to enter Tow/Haul
mode, seeDriver Mode Control 0240.
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load.
Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and trailer
combined weight is at least 75% of the
vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR). See “Maximum Trailer Weight”
under Trailer Towing 0309.
Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when towing
a heavy trailer or carrying a large or
heavy load:
.through rolling terrain
.in stop-and-go traffic
.in busy parking lots
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul Mode
when lightly loaded or not towing will not
cause damage; however, it is not
recommended and may result in unpleasant
engine and transmission driving
characteristics and reduced fuel economy.
Integrated Trailer Brake Control System
The vehicle may have an Integrated Trailer
Brake Control (ITBC) system for use with
electric trailer brakes or most electric over
hydraulic trailer brake systems. These
instructions apply to both types of electric
trailer brakes.
This symbol is on the Trailer Brake Control
Panel on vehicles with an ITBC system. The
power output to the trailer brakes is
proportional to the amount of vehicle
braking. This available power output to the
trailer brakes can be adjusted to a wide
range of trailering situations.
The ITBC system is integrated with the
vehicle brakes, Antilock Brake System (ABS),
and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) systems. In trailering conditions that
cause the ABS or StabiliTrak/ESC systems to
activate, power sent to the trailer brakes automatically adjusts to minimize trailer
wheel lock-up. This does not imply that the
trailer has StabiliTrak/ESC.
If the vehicle brakes, ABS, or StabiliTrak/ESC
systems are not functioning properly, the
ITBC system may not function fully or at all.
Make sure all of these systems are fully
operational to allow the ITBC system to
function properly.
The ITBC system is powered through the
vehicle's electrical system. Turning the
ignition off will also turn off the ITBC
system. The ITBC system is fully functional
only when the ignition is in ON/RUN.
{Warning
Connecting a trailer that has an air brake
system may result in reduced or
complete loss of trailer braking, including
increased stopping distance or trailer
instability which could result in serious
injury, death, or property damage. Only
use the ITBC system with electric or
electric over hydraulic trailer brake
systems.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16417396) - 2023 - CRC - 5/11/22
Driving and Operating 321
will come on when either vehicle brakes or
manual trailer brakes are applied and
properly connected.
Trailer Gain Adjustment Procedure
Trailer Gain should be set for a specific
trailering condition and it must be
readjusted anytime vehicle loading, trailer
loading, or road surface conditions change.
{Warning
Trailer brakes that are over-gained or
under-gained may not stop the vehicle
and the trailer as intended and can result
in a crash. Always follow the instructions
to set the Trailer Gain for the proper
trailer stopping performance.
To adjust Trailer Gain for each towing
condition: 1. Drive the vehicle with the trailer attached on a level road surface
representative of the towing condition
and free of traffic at about 32 to
40 km/h (20 to 25 mph) and fully apply
the Manual Trailer Brake apply lever. Adjusting Trailer Gain at speeds lower
than 32 to 40 km/h (20 to 25 mph) may
result in an incorrect gain setting.
2. Adjust the Trailer Gain, using the Trailer Gain adjustment buttons, to just below
the point of trailer wheel lock-up,
indicated by trailer wheel squeal or tire
smoke when a trailer wheel locks.
Trailer wheel lock-up may not occur if
towing a heavily loaded trailer. In this
case, adjust the Trailer Gain to the
highest allowable setting for the towing
condition.
3. Readjust Trailer Gain any time vehicle loading, trailer loading, or road surface
conditions change or if trailer wheel
lock-up is noticed at any time while
towing.
Other ITBC-Related DIC Messages
TRAILER BRAKES CONNECTED: This message
will briefly display when a trailer with
electric brakes is first connected to the
vehicle. This message will automatically turn
off in about 10 seconds. This message can
be acknowledged before it automatically
turns off. CHECK TRAILER WIRING: This message will
display if:
.The ITBC system first determines
connection to a trailer with electric brakes
and then the trailer harness becomes
disconnected from the vehicle.
If the disconnect occurs while the vehicle
is stationary, this message will
automatically turn off in about
30 seconds. This message will also turn
off if it is acknowledged or if the trailer
harness is reconnected.
If the disconnect occurs while the vehicle
is moving, this message will continue
until the vehicle is turned off. This
message will also turn off if it is
acknowledged or if the trailer harness is
reconnected.
.There is an electrical fault in the wiring to
the trailer brakes. This message will
continue as long as there is an electrical
fault in the trailer wiring. This message
will also turn off if it is acknowledged.
To determine whether the electrical fault is
on the vehicle side or trailer side of the
trailer wiring harness connection: 1. Disconnect the trailer wiring harness from the vehicle.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16417396) - 2023 - CRC - 5/9/22
Vehicle Care 335
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 336
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 336
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 339
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 345
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . 345
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356 Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 361
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . 365
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 367
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 372
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 376
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . 377 Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 382
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 384
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 384
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 385
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 398
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . 401
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16417396) - 2023 - CRC - 5/9/22
336 Vehicle Care
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit your
dealer. You will receive genuine GM parts
and GM-trained and supported service
people.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
California Perchlorate Materials
Requirements
Certain types of automotive applications,
such as airbag initiators, seat belt
pretensioners, and lithium batteries
contained in electronic keys, may contain
perchlorate materials. Perchlorate Material–special handling may apply. See
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or making
modifications to the vehicle can affect
vehicle performance and safety, including
such things as airbags, braking, stability,
ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, Driver Assistance
Systems, and electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability control.
These accessories or modifications could
even cause malfunction or damage not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to suspension components caused
by modifying vehicle height outside of
factory settings will not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components resulting
from modifications or the installation or use
of non-GM certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is not
covered under the terms of the vehicle
warranty and may affect remaining
warranty coverage for affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on the
vehicle. See your dealer to accessorize the
vehicle using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 072.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on your
vehicle if you do not have the proper
knowledge, service manual, tools,
or parts. Always follow owner’s manual
procedures and consult the service
manual for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service work, use
the proper service manual. It tells you much
more about how to service the vehicle than
this manual can. To order the proper service
manual, see Publication Ordering
Information 0435.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16417396) - 2023 - CRC - 5/9/22
338 Vehicle Care
To close the hood:1. Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are on properly, and all tools are
removed.
2. Pull the hood down until the strut system is no longer holding up the hood.
3. Allow the hood to fall. Check to make sure the hood is latched completely.
Repeat this process with additional force
if necessary.
{Warning
Do not drive the vehicle if the hood is
not latched completely. The hood could
open fully, block your vision, and cause a
crash. You or others could be injured.
Always close the hood completely before
driving. The Driver Information Center (DIC) will
display a message if the hood is not fully
closed, and the vehicle is moving. Stop and
turn off the vehicle, check the hood for
obstructions, and close the hood again.
Check to see if the message still appears on
the DIC.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16417396) - 2023 - CRC - 5/9/22
340 Vehicle Care
1. Remote Negative (–) Location. SeeJump
Starting - North America 0398.
2. Positive (+) Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North America 0398.
3. Battery - North America 0354.
4. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0361.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil 0342.
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System 0347.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0342.
8. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0347.
9. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0346.
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 353.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” underWasher
Fluid 0351.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16417396) - 2023 - CRC - 5/9/22
Vehicle Care 341
6.2L V8 Supercharged Engine (LT4)
1. Remote Negative (–) Location. See Jump
Starting - North America 0398.
2. Positive (+) Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North America 0398.
3. Battery - North America 0354.
4. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0361. 5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil 0342.
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System 0347.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0342. 8. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure
Cap. See Cooling System 0347.
9. Charge Air Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System0347.
10. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0346.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 349
Check to see if coolant is visible in the
coolant surge tank. If the coolant inside the
coolant surge tank is boiling, wait until it
cools down. The coolant level should be at
or above the indicated mark. If it is not,
there may be a leak in the cooling system.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is
not at or above the indicated mark, see the
following sections on how to add coolant to
the coolant surge tank following.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see
“Cooling System”in the Duramax diesel
supplement for the proper coolant fill
procedure.
{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
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain water or
the wrong mixture, the engine could get
too hot but there would not be an
overheat warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be burned.
{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 cause system
damage. If coolant is not visible in the
surge tank, contact your dealer.
If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add
coolant.
1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling system, including
the coolant surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about one full turn. 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.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture to the full cold mark.