Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
Driving and Operating 351
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service
more often when used to tow
trailers. See Maintenance
Schedule0454. It is especially
important to check the 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 0381.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly
can damage the vehicle and
result in costly repairs not
covered by the vehicle
warranty. To tow a trailer
correctly, follow the
directions in this section and
see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the
vehicle.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing
capacity for your vehicle. Safe trailering requires
monitoring the weight, speed,
altitude, road grades, outside
temperature, dimensions of
the front of the trailer, and
how frequently the vehicle is
used to tow a trailer.
Trailer Weight Ratings
When towing a trailer, the
combined weight of the
vehicle, vehicle contents,
trailer, and trailer contents
must be below all of the
maximum weight ratings for
the vehicle including:
.Gross Combined Weight
Rating (GCWR)
.Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR)
.Maximum Trailer Weight
Rating
.Maximum Trailer Tongue
Weight Rating
.Gross Axle Weight
Rating-Rear (GAWR-RR)
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
362 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . 363
California PerchlorateMaterials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Engine Oil Life System . . . 373
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Engine Air Cleaner/ Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . 381
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384 Battery - North
America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . 386
Wiper Blade
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Bulb Replacement
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Electrical System
Electrical SystemOverload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . 401 Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . 402
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . 405
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 417
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . 419
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 421
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 421
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . 423
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . 425
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 426
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . 433
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
Vehicle Care 377
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Electric Engine CoolingFan (Out of View)
2. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan
can start up even when the
engine is not running and
can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
{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.
Engine Coolant
The engine cooling system in
the vehicle are filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant
mixture. This coolant needs to
be checked and changed at
appropriate levels. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0458 and
Maintenance Schedule 0454.
The following explains the
cooling systems and how to
check and add coolant when it
is low. If there is a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating 0381.
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.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
378 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 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 the cooling system is cool
before this is done. See
Engine Overheating
0381.
The coolant surge tank is
located in the engine
compartment on the driver
side of the vehicle. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0367.
How to Add Coolant to the
Surge Tank
{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
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
(Continued)
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
Vehicle Care 379
Warning (Continued)
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.
The coolant surge tank
pressure cap can be removed
when the cooling system,
including the surge tank
pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Coolant Fill Instructions
(3.6L Engine Only)
1. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise.
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 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
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
Vehicle Care 381
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
0131. 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 0470.
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.
If No Steam Is Coming
from the Engine
Compartment
If an engine overheat warning
is displayed but no steam can
be seen or heard, the problem
may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get
a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a
hot day.
.Stops after high-speed
driving.
.Idles for long periods in
traffic.
If the overheat warning is
displayed with no sign of
steam: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and
to the highest fan speed.
Open the windows as
necessary.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
382 Vehicle Care
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
0367 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)
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
408 Vehicle Care
UTQGS (Uniform Tire
Quality Grading
Standards)
:A tire
information system that
provides consumers with
ratings for a tire's traction,
temperature, and
treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire
manufacturers using
government testing
procedures. The ratings
are molded into the
sidewall of the tire. See
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading 0421.
Vehicle Capacity Weight
:
The number of designated
seating positions multiplied
by 68 kg (150 lbs) plus the
rated cargo load. See
Vehicle Load Limits 0252. Vehicle Maximum Load on
the Tire
:Load on an
individual tire due to curb
weight, accessory weight,
occupant weight, and cargo
weight.
Vehicle Placard
:A label
permanently attached to a
vehicle showing the
vehicle's capacity weight
and the original equipment
tire size and recommended
inflation pressure. See “Tire
and Loading Information
Label” under Vehicle Load
Limits 0252.
Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct
amount of air pressure to
operate effectively.
{Warning
Neither tire underinflation
nor overinflation is good.
Underinflated tires,
or tires that do not have
enough air, can result in:
.Tire overloading and
overheating, which
could lead to a blowout
.Premature or
irregular wear
.Poor handling
.Reduced fuel economy
for internal combustion
engine vehicles
.Reduced range for
electric vehicles
(Continued)