engine CADILLAC CT6 2020 Owners Manual
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To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter:
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Screws (6)
2. Bolts (3)
3. Diagonal Brace
1. Remove the three bolts (2) andthe diagonal brace (3).
2. Remove the six screws (1) on top of the engine air cleaner/filter
cover.
3. Lift the engine air cleaner/filter cover open on the hinge.
4. Lift and remove the engine air cleaner/filter. 5. Inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter.
6. Reverse Steps 1–4 to reinstall the engine air cleaner/filter cover
and diagonal brace.
7. If equipped, reset the engine air filter life system after replacing
the engine air filter. See Engine
Air Filter Life System 0281.
4.2L V8 Engine (Driver Side)
1. Diagonal Brace
2. Bolts (3)
3. Screws (4)
1. Remove the three bolts (2) and
the diagonal brace (1).
2. Remove the four screws (3) on top of the engine air cleaner/
filter cover.
3. Lift the engine air cleaner/filter cover open on the hinge.
4. Lift and remove the engine air cleaner/filter.
5. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter.
6. Reverse Steps 1–4 to reinstall the engine air cleaner/filter cover
and diagonal brace.
7. If equipped, reset the engine air filter life system after replacing
the engine air filter. See Engine
Air Filter Life System 0281.
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4.2L V8 Engine (Passenger Side)
1. Screws (4)
2. Bolts (3)
3. Diagonal Brace
1. Remove the three bolts (2) andthe diagonal brace (3).
2. Remove the four screws (1) on top of the engine air cleaner/
filter cover.
3. Lift the engine air cleaner/filter cover open on the hinge.
4. Lift and remove the engine air cleaner/filter.
5. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter. 6. Reverse Steps 1–4 to reinstall the
engine air cleaner/filter cover
and diagonal brace.
7. If equipped, reset the engine air filter life system after replacing
the engine air filter. See Engine
Air Filter Life System 0281.
{Warning
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. Use caution
when working on the engine. Do
not start the engine or drive the
vehicle with the air cleaner/filter
off, as flames may be present if the
engine backfires.
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which could damage it. Always have
the air cleaner/filter in place when
driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the engine
to maintain the correct working
temperature.
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
and Pressure Cap (Under
Cover)
2. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
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4.2L V8 Engine
1. Engine Coolant Surge Tankand Pressure Cap (Under
Cover)
2. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
{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. If the coolant inside the coolant surge
tank is boiling, do not do anything
else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface.
The coolant level should be at the
indicated mark on the middle of the
tank. If it is not, the vehicle may have
a leak at the radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump,
or somewhere else in the cooling
system.
{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.
If there seems to be no leak, with the
engine on, check to see if the electric
cooling fan is running. If the engine is
overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, the vehicle needs
service. Turn off the engine.
Engine Coolant
The engine cooling system in the
vehicle is filled with a DEX-COOL
engine coolant mixture. This coolant
needs to be checked and replaced at
appropriate intervals. See Maintenance
Schedule 0359.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating 0288.
What to Use
{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.
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Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture, nothing
else needs to be added. 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 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.
3.6L V6 and 4.2L V8 Engine Coolant
Surge Tank The coolant surge tank is in the
engine compartment on the passenger
side of the vehicle. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0274.
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. See Engine Overheating
0 288.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
If no problem is found, check to see if
coolant is visible in the coolant surge
tank. If coolant is visible but 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, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap, is
cool before this is done. See Engine
Overheating 0288.
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{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 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.
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Remove the coolant surge tankpressure 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-quarter of a turn. If you hear
a hiss, wait for that to stop. This will allow any pressure still left
to be vented out the
discharge hose.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture to the
indicated level mark.
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 fan.
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
indicated level mark.
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
Steps 1–6.
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If the coolant still is not at the
proper level when the system
cools down again, see your
dealer.
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.
4.2L V8 Engine OnlyCaution
This vehicle has a specific coolant
fill procedure. Failure to follow this
procedure could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely damaged.
See your dealer for assistance.
Because of possible engine failure or
damage if performed without the
proper tools and information, engine
coolant should only be added by a
qualified technician. See your dealer.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators to
warn of the engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature gauge and an engine
coolant temperature warning light on
the instrument cluster. See Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge 0119 and
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Light 0129. 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
Service 0380.
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.
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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.
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
Open the cap with the washer symbol
on it. Add washer fluid until the tank
is full. See
Engine Compartment
Overview 0274 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.
(Continued)
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Antilock Brake System (ABS) and the
Brake Assist system to aid the driver
during various braking situations. See
Antilock Brake System (ABS)0199.
Brake Pad Life System
When to Change Brake Pads
If equipped, this system estimates the
remaining life of the front and rear
brake pads. Brake pad life is displayed
in the Driver Information Center
(DIC), along with a percentage for
each axle. The system must be reset
every time the brake pads are
changed.
When the system has determined that
the brake pads need to be replaced, a
message will display, which may
include mileage remaining.
Brake pads should always be replaced
as complete axle sets.
How to Reset the Brake Pad Life
System
The system will automatically detect
when significantly worn brake pads
are replaced. When the ignition is
turned on after new pads and wear sensors are installed, a message will
display. Follow the prompts to reset
the system.
The brake pad life system can also be
manually reset:
1. Display Brake Pad Life on the DIC. See Driver Information Center
(DIC) 0132.
2. Press and hold SEL. Select front or rear pads as appropriate.
3. Select YES on the confirmation message. Repeat for pads on the
other axle if they were also
replaced.
How to Disable the Brake Pad
Life System
The brake pad life system can be
turned off. This may be necessary if
aftermarket brake pads without wear
sensors are installed. When the
system is turned off, the front and
rear brake pad life percentages will
not display. However, the built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads are worn can still determine when the
pads should be replaced. See
Brakes
0 290.
To turn off the brake pad life system: 1. Display Brake Pad Life on the DIC. See Driver Information Center
(DIC) 0132.
2. Select DISABLE.
To turn the brake pad life system back
on, follow the above steps but select
ENABLE in Step 2.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir is
filled with GM approved DOT 3 brake
fluid as indicated on the reservoir cap.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 274 for the location of the reservoir.
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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 damaged. Add
brake fluid only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning Light
0 125.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid at
the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0359.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3 brake
fluid from a clean, sealed container.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0368.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the paint
finish can be damaged. Immediately
wash off any painted surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove the
cap and do not add fluid.
The battery is in the trunk under the
spare tire. Refer to the replacement
number shown on the original battery
label when a new 12-volt battery is
needed.
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The vehicle has an Absorbed Glass
Mat (AGM) 12-volt battery.
Installation of a standard 12-volt
battery will result in reduced 12-volt
battery life.
When using a 12-volt battery charger
on the 12-volt AGM battery, some
chargers have an AGM battery setting
on the charger. If available, use the
AGM setting on the charger, to limit
charge voltage to 14.8 volts.
Stop/Start System
The vehicle is equipped with a Stop/
Start system to shut off the engine to
help conserve fuel. SeeStop/Start
System 0186.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm.
Batteries also contain other
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer. WASH
HANDS AFTER HANDLING. For
more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See California Proposition 65 Warning
0 271 and the back cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode. You
can be badly hurt if you are not
careful. See Jump Starting - North
America 0343 for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the 12-volt
battery black, negative (−) cable from
the battery to keep the battery from
running down. Extended Storage: Remove the 12-volt
battery black, negative (−) cable from
the battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
Remember to reconnect the battery
when ready to drive the vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle is equipped with
All-Wheel Drive (AWD), this is an
additional system that needs
lubrication.
Transfer Case
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check
the transfer case fluid unless a leak is
suspected or an unusual noise is
heard. A fluid loss could indicate a
problem. Have it inspected and
repaired.