octane CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 2008 Owners Manual

Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
Gasoline Octane on page 5-5 . Poor fuel quality causes
the engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You
might notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when
you put the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation on
acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration — these
conditions might go away once the engine is warmed up.
This will be detected by the system and cause the light to
turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
your dealer/retailer can check the vehicle. Your
dealer/retailer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical or electrical
problems that might have developed. Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs Some state/provincial and local governments have or
might begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help your
vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the check
engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced the battery or if the
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This can take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle
still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD
system readiness, your dealer/retailer can prepare the
vehicle for inspection.
3-45

Service ........................................................... .5-3
Accessories and Modications ......................... .5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning .................... .5-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements .... .5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work ........................ .5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle ..................................................... .5-4
Fuel ............................................................... .5-5
Gasoline Octane ........................................... .5-5
Gasoline Specications ................................... .5-5
California Fuel .............................................. .5-5
Additives ...................................................... .5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries .............................. .5-6
Filling the Tank ............................................. .5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container .................... .5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood ................... .5-10
Hood Release ............................................. .5-11
Engine Compartment Overview ...................... .5-12
Engine Oil .................................................. .5-14
Engine Oil Life System ................................. .5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ............................... .5-17
Automatic Transmission Fluid ........................ .5-20
Engine Coolant ............................................ .5-24
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap ................. .5-26
Engine Overheating ...................................... .5-26 Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode ....................................... .5-28
Cooling System ........................................... .5-29
Engine Fan Noise ........................................ .5-33
Power Steering Fluid .................................... .5-34
Windshield Washer Fluid ............................... .5-35
Brakes ....................................................... .5-36
Battery ....................................................... .5-39
Jump Starting .............................................. .5-40
All-Wheel Drive ............................................. .5-45
Rear Axle ...................................................... .5-46
Front
Axle ..................................................... .5-47
Headlamp Aiming .......................................... .5-48
Bulb Replacement ......................................... .5-51
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting ........... .5-51
Back-Up Lamps ........................................... .5-51
License Plate Lamp ..................................... .5-53
Replacement Bulbs ...................................... .5-53
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ............. .5-54
Tires ............................................................. .5-56
Tire Sidewall Labeling .................................. .5-57
Tire Terminology and Denitions .................... .5-59
Ination - Tire Pressure ................................ .5-62
High-Speed Operation .................................. .5-63
Tire Pressure Monitor System ........................ .5-64Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Fuel Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the
proper maintenance of your vehicle. To help keep the
engine clean and maintain optimum vehicle
performance, we recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 91 or higher. You can also use regular
unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but
your vehicle’s acceleration could be slightly reduced,
and you might notice a slight audible knocking
noise, commonly referred to as spark knock. If the
octane is less than 87, you might notice a heavy
knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use a
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you could damage the engine.
If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher
and you hear heavy knocking, the engine needs service. Gasoline Specications At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in Canada. Some gasolines
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
We recommend against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. See Additives on page 5-6 for
additional information.
California Fuel If your vehicle is certied to meet California Emissions
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specications. See the underhood
emission control label. If this fuel is not available
in states adopting California emissions standards, your
vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specications, but emission control system
performance might be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and your vehicle might fail
a smog-check test. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-43 . If this occurs, return to your authorized
dealer/retailer for diagnosis. If it is determined that
the condition is caused by the type of fuel used, repairs
might not be covered by your warranty.
5-5

Additives To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work properly. In most
cases, you should not have to add anything to the fuel.
However, some gasolines contain only the minimum
amount of additive required to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations. To help keep fuel
injectors and intake valves clean, or if your vehicle
experiences problems due to dirty injectors or valves,
look for gasoline that is advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline. Also, your dealer/retailer has
additives that will help correct and prevent most
deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines might be available
in your area. We recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the specications
described earlier. However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than 10% ethanol must
not be used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels. Notice: Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be covered under your
warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. We recommend
against the use of such gasolines. Fuels containing
MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs and the
performance of the emission control system could be
affected. The malfunction indicator lamp might turn on.
If this occurs, return to your dealer/retailer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel might be hard
to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
5-6

This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will nd these limits on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See Loading Your
Vehicle on page 4-35 .
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
are driven off-road in the recommended manner.
See Off-Road Driving on page 4-12 .
use the recommended fuel. See Gasoline Octane
on page 5-5 .
The services in Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4
should be performed when indicated. See Additional
Required Services on page 6-6 and Maintenance
Footnotes on page 6-7 for further information.
{ CAUTION: Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can
be dangerous. In trying to do some jobs, you
can be seriously injured.
CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) Do your own maintenance work only if you
have the required know-how and the proper
tools and equipment for the job. If you have
any doubt, see your dealer/retailer to have a
qualied technician do the work. See Doing
Your Own Service Work on page 5-4 .
Some maintenance services can be complex. So,
unless you are technically qualied and have the
necessary equipment, you should have your
dealer/retailer do these jobs.
When you go to your dealer/retailer for your service
needs, you will know that trained and supported service
technicians will perform the work using genuine parts.
If you want to purchase service information, see Service
Publications Ordering Information on page 7-14 .
Owner Checks and Services on page 6-9 tells you what
should be checked, when to check it, and what you
can easily do to help keep your vehicle in good
condition.
6-3

Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter ......................................... 5-17
Check and Service Engine Soon Light ............ 3-43
Coolant ...................................................... 5-24
Coolant Heater ............................................ 2-28
Coolant Temperature Gage ........................... 3-42
Drive Belt Routing ....................................... 6-16
Engine Compartment Overview ...................... 5-12
Exhaust ..................................................... 2-39
Fan Noise .................................................. 5-33
Oil ............................................................. 5-14
Oil Life System ........................................... 5-16
Overheated Protection Operating Mode ........... 5-28
Overheating ................................................ 5-26
Running While Parked .................................. 2-40
Starting ...................................................... 2-26
Entry Lighting ................................................. 3-22
Event Data Recorders ..................................... 7-16
Exit Lighting ................................................... 3-22
Extender, Safety Belt ....................................... 1-49
Exterior Lamps ............................................... 3-16
FFilter
Engine Air Cleaner ...................................... 5-17
Finish Damage ............................................. 5-105
Flashers, Hazard Warning .................................. 3-6
Flat Tire ........................................................ 5-78 Flat Tire, Changing ......................................... 5-79
Flat Tire, Storing ............................................. 5-94
Fluid ............................................................. 5-20
Power Steering ........................................... 5-34
Windshield Washer ...................................... 5-35
Fog Lamp
Fog ........................................................... 3-21
Fog Lamp Light .............................................. 3-46
Front Axle ...................................................... 5-47
Fuel ............................................................... 5-5
Additives ...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel .............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container .................... 5-10
Filling the Tank ............................................. 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries .............................. 5-6
Gage ......................................................... 3-48
Gasoline Octane ........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications .................................. 5-5
Fuses
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block ............. 5-110
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ......................... 5-108
Instrument Panel Fuse Block ....................... 5-109
Underhood Fuse Block ............................... 5-111
Windshield Wiper ....................................... 5-108
5

GGage
Engine Coolant Temperature ......................... 3-42
Fuel .......................................................... 3-48
Speedometer .............................................. 3-35
Tachometer ................................................. 3-35
Garage Door Opener ....................................... 2-53
Garment Hooks .............................................. 2-61
Gasoline
Octane ........................................................ 5-5
Specications ............................................... 5-5
Glove Box ..................................................... 2-60
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program .................. 7-6
HHazard Warning Flashers ................................... 3-6
Head Restraints ............................................... 1-9
Headlamp
Aiming ....................................................... 5-48
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement ....................................... 5-51
Daytime Running Lamps ............................... 3-20
Exterior Lamps ............................................ 3-16
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting ........... 5-51
High/Low Beam Changer ................................ 3-9
On Reminder .............................................. 3-19 Heated Seats ............................................ 1-4, 1-5
Heated Steering Wheel ..................................... 3-7
Heater ........................................................... 3-26
Highbeam On Light ......................................... 3-47
High-Speed Operation, Tires ............................. 5-63
Highway Hypnosis ........................................... 4-28
Hill and Mountain Roads .................................. 4-29
Hood
Checking Things Under ................................ 5-10
Release ..................................................... 5-11
Horn ............................................................... 3-6
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................... 1-34
I Ignition Positions ............................................. 2-25
Infants and Young Children, Restraints ............... 1-53
Ination - Tire Pressure ................................... 5-62
Instrument Panel
Overview ..................................................... 3-4
Instrument Panel (I/P)
Brightness .................................................. 3-21
Cluster ....................................................... 3-34
6