engine coolant CADILLAC CTS 2007 1.G Owner's Manual

CAUTION: (Continued)
If you keep driving when the vehicles
engine is overheated, the liquids in it can
catch re. You or others could be badly
burned. Stop your engine if it overheats,
and get out of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 362for
information on driving to a safe place in
an emergency.
Notice:If your engine catches re because
you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle
can be badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. See
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
on page 362for information on driving to a
safe place in an emergency.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An Engine Coolant Hot - Idle Engine warning,
along with low coolant, can indicate a serious
problem.
If you get an Engine Coolant Hot - Idle Engine
warning, but see or hear no steam, the problem
may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
361

If you get the Engine Coolant Hot - Idle Engine
warning with no sign of steam, try this for a minute
or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in
NEUTRAL (N) while stopped. If it is safe to do
so, pull off the road, shift to PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) and let the engine idle.
2. Set the climate controls to the highest heat
setting and fan speed and open the windows,
as necessary.
If you no longer have the Engine Coolant
Hot - Idle Engine warning, you can drive. Just to
be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes. If
the warning does not come back on, you can
drive normally.
If the warning continues and you have not
stopped, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle
right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the
engine for three minutes while you are parked.
If you still have the warning,turn off the engine
and get everyone out of the vehicleuntil it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This operating mode allows your vehicle to be
driven to a safe place in an emergency. Should an
hot engine condition exist, an overheat protection
mode which alternates ring groups of cylinders
helps prevent engine damage. In this mode, there
is a loss in power and engine performance.
Driving extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer
in the overheat protection mode should be
avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool before
attempting any repair. The engine oil will be
severely degraded. Repair the cause of coolant
loss and change the oil. SeeEngine Oil on
page 346.
362

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is
what you will see:
A. Electric Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View)
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the
hood can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. 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.
3.6L V6 Engine shown, 2.8L V6 and 6.0L V8 Engines
similar
363

If the engine is warm or hot, the coolant level
should be at or above the FULL COLD/FROID line
on the side of the coolant surge tank. If the
engine is cold, the coolant level should be near
the FULL COLD/FROID line on the side of
the coolant surge tank. If it is not, you could have
a leak at the pressure cap or in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump, or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other
engine parts, can be very hot. Do not
touch them. If you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run the engine, it could lose all
coolant. That could cause an engine re,
and you could be burned. Get any leak
xed before you drive the vehicle.If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on,
check to see if the electric engine cooling fans
are running. If the engine hot light is on, both fans
should be running. If they are not, your vehicle
needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by your
warranty. SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 362for information on
driving to a safe place in an emergency.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing sooner, at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
364

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see
if coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant
is visible but the coolant level is not at the FULL
COLD/FROID line on the side of the coolant
surge tank, add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at the coolant
surge tank, but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant surge tank pressure cap, is
cool before you do it. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 356for more information.
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system can blow out and burn
you badly. They are under pressure, and if
you turn the coolant surge tank
pressurecap — even a little — they can
come out at high speed. Never turn the
cap when the cooling system, including
the coolant surge tank pressure cap, is
hot. Wait for the cooling system and
coolant surge tank pressure cap to cool if
you ever have to turn the pressure cap.
365

{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for
the proper coolant mixture. With plain
water or the wrong mixture, your engine
could get too hot but you would not get the
overheat warning. Your engine could catch
re and you or others could be burned. Use
a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and
crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts. Use the recommended coolant and
the proper coolant mixture.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on
hot engine parts. Coolant contains
ethylene glycol and it will burn if the
engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add
coolant as follows:
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-quarter turn and then stop.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss
means there is still some pressure left.
366

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. The
upper radiator hose is the top hose coming
out of the radiator, on the passenger’s side of
the vehicle. 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 FULL COLD/FROID line on the
side of the coolant surge tank.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
Recheck the coolant level in the bottle next time
you use your vehicle to insure the system is
full when cold. SeeEngine Coolant on page 356.Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 342for the
location of the power
steering uid reservoir.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power
steering uid unless you suspect there is a leak in
the system or you hear an unusual noise. A
uid loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
368

Adding Washer Fluid
The CHECK WASHER FLUID message will
appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC)
when the uid level is low. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 232for more information.
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it.
Add washer uid
until the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 342
for reservoir location.Notice:When using concentrated washer uid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions
for adding water.
Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer
uid. Water can cause the solution to
freeze and damage your washer uid tank
and other parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as well
as washer uid.
Fill your washer uid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for uid expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage the tank if it is
completely full.
Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in
your windshield washer. It can damage
the vehicle’s winheild washer system and
paint.
370

Scheduled Maintenance (cont’d)
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Inspect brake system.See footnote (a).••
Check engine coolant and windshield washer uid levels and add uid as
needed.••
Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required Services”
in this section.••
Inspect suspension and steering components.See footnote (b).•
Inspect engine cooling system.See footnote (c).•
Inspect wiper blades.See footnote (d).•
Inspect restraint system components.See footnote (e).•
Lubricate body components.See footnote (f).•
Replace passenger compartment air lter.See footnote (g).•
464

(h)Change automatic transmission uid and lter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90°F (32°C)
or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as high performance operation.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the uid and lter do not require
changing.
(i)Drain, ush, and rell cooling system.
This service can be complex; you should have
your dealer perform this service. See Engine
Coolant on page 356 for what to use. Inspect
hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap,
and ller neck. Pressure test the cooling
system and pressure cap.
(j)If using DOT-4 brake uid only: Drain, ush,
and rell brake hydraulic system at a regular
maintenance service (IorII) every two years.
This service can be complex; you should have
your dealer perform this service. See Brakes
on page 371.(k)A uid loss in any vehicle system could
indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired and the uid level checked. Add uid
if needed.
(l)Change uid if the vehicle is used for high
performance operation.
(m)Change uid whenever the vehicle has been
driven for 3,000 miles (5 000 km) with the
transmission temperature at 290°F (143°C) or
higher without using an auxiliary uid cooler.
See Message Center (CTS-V) on page 215 and
Transmission Fluid Hot Message on page 219.
(n)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions,
inspect the lter at each engine oil change.
(p)Visually inspect belt for fraying, excessive
cracks, or obvious damage. Replace belt if
necessary.
468