2023 CADILLAC XT5 service

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
340 Vehicle Care
Caution (Continued)
Do not allow contaminants
to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
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. This vehicle has an airbag
system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
079.
If equipped with remote
vehicle start, open the hood
before performing any service
work to prevent remote
starting the vehicle
accidentally. See Remote
Vehicle Start 019.
Keep a record with all parts
receipts and list the mileage
and the date of any service
work performed.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause
damage to vehicle systems.
Do not allow contaminants
to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
{Warning
For vehicles with auto
engine stop/start, turn the
vehicle off before opening
the hood. If the vehicle is on,
the engine will start when
the hood is opened. You or
others could be injured.
{Warning
Components under the hood
can get hot from running the
engine. To help avoid the
risk of burning unprotected
skin, never touch these
components until they have
cooled, and always use a
glove or towel to avoid
direct skin contact.
Clear any snow from the hood
before opening.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
346 Vehicle Care
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 L4 Engine
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
0 438.
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
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
vehicle, and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess oil.
See Engine Compartment
Overview 0342 for the
location of the engine oil
fill cap.
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 Lubricants 0433.
Specification
Use full synthetic engine oils
that meet the dexos1
specification. Engine oils that
have been approved by GM as
meeting the dexos1

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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348 Vehicle Care
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 at
which 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 ispossible 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 controls on the right side of the
steering wheel, display
REMAINING OIL LIFE on
the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
0139. When remaining oil
life is low, the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the
display.
2. Press SEL on the DIC controls and hold SEL
down for a few seconds to
clear the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message and
reset the oil life at 100%.
Be careful not to reset the
oil life display accidentally
at any time other than
after the oil is changed.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 353
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.
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

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 355
3. Fill the coolant surge tankwith the proper 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.
4. Put the vehicle in Service Mode. See Ignition
Positions 0252.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
356 Vehicle Care
5. Turn off the airconditioning.
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
0 126. 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
Assistance Program 0446.
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.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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358 Vehicle Care
until the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment
Overview0342 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.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.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.
Brakes
Disc brake linings have built-in
wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound
when the brake linings are
worn and new linings are
needed. The sound can come
and go or can be heard all the
time when the vehicle is
moving, except when applying
the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning
sound means that soon the
brakes will not work well.
That could lead to a crash.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
When the brake wear
warning sound is heard,
have the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake linings could
result in costly brake repairs.
Some driving conditions or
climates can cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are
first applied, clearing up
following several applications.
This does not mean something
is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts
are necessary to help prevent
brake pulsation. When tires
are rotated, inspect brake
linings for wear and evenly
tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications. See Capacities
and Specifications 0438.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 359
Brake pads should be replaced
as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake
pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a
rapid increase in pedal travel.
This could be a sign that brake
service may be required.
Replacing Brake System
Parts
Always replace brake system
parts with new, approved
replacement parts. If this is
not done, the brakes may not
work properly. The braking
performance can change in
many ways if the wrong brake
parts are installed or if parts
are improperly installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder
reservoir is filled with GM
approved DOT 4 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap.
See Engine Compartment
Overview0342 for the
location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on
a level surface, the brake fluid
level should be between the
minimum and maximum marks
on the brake fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons
why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir may go down:
.Normal brake lining wear.
When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system. Have the
brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will
not work well.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before
removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a
leak. If fluid is added when the
linings are worn, there will be
too much fluid when new
brake linings are installed. Add
or remove fluid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the
brake hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is
added, it can spill on the
engine and burn, if the
engine is hot enough. You or
others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be (Continued)