engine oil CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT 2002 2.G Owners Manual

2-30
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is located on the driver's side of the engine
compartment, near the power steering fluid reservoir.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110
-volt AC outlet.
CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three
-prong
11 0
-volt AC outlet. If the cord won't reach, use a
heavy
-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away from
moving engine parts. If you don't, it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.

2-102
If the transmission fluid reaches temperatures of
approximately 275
F (135
C) or greater, the message
center will display a TRANS HOT...IDLE ENG warning
message. Pull the vehicle off the roadway when it is safe
to do so. Set the parking brake, place the transmission in
PARK (P) and allow the engine to idle until the
transmission temperature falls below 260
F (127
C).
If the transmission continues to operate above 265
F
(130
C), please contact your nearest dealer.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with the
transmission temperature gage above the
normal operating range, you can damage the
transmission. This could lead to costly repairs
that may not be covered under your warranty.
The following situations can cause the transmission to
operate at higher temperatures:

Towing a trailer

Hot outside air temperatures

Hauling a large or heavy load

Low transmission fluid level

High transmission fluid level

Restricted air flow to the radiator and the
transmission oil cooler.
A temporary solution to hotter transmission operating
temperatures may be to let the transmission cool down.
If the transmission is operated at higher temperatures on
a frequent basis, see ªScheduled Maintenanceº in the
Index for the proper transmission maintenance intervals.

2-106
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may 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 in order to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
SERVICE ENGINE SOON or 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 your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is designed
to evaluate critical emission control systems during
normal driving. This may 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, see your dealer or qualified service center to
prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Gage
United States Canada
The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure in
psi (pounds per square inch) when the engine is running.
Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in kPa (kilopascals).
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings above the
low pressure zone indicate the normal operating range.

2-107
A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or some other problem
causing low oil pressure. Check your oil as soon as
possible. See ªCheck Eng Oil Pressureº and ªEngine
Oilº in the Index.
CAUTION:
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that
it catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Cruise Light
United States Canada
The CRUISE light comes on whenever you set your
cruise control. See ªCruise Controlº in the Index.
Tow/Haul Light
United States Canada
This message is displayed when the tow/haul mode has
been activated.
For more information see, ªTow/Haul Modeº in
the Index.

2-111
TRANS HOT...IDLE ENGINE Message
The transmission over-temperature display is contained
in the message center.
If this warning message is
displayed, pull the vehicle
off the roadway when it is
safe to do so.
Set the parking brake and place the transmission in
PARK (P). Idle the engine until the message center no
longer displays a message. If idling the engine does not
turn the warning message off after 10 to 15 minutes,
contact your nearest dealer or the Cadillac Roadside
Service Center. See ªRoadside Serviceº in the Index.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with the
transmission TRANS HOT...IDLE ENGINE
message displayed, you can damage the
transmission. This could lead to costly repairs
that may not be covered under your warranty.
The following situations can cause the transmission to
operate at higher temperatures:

Towing a trailer

Hot outside air temperatures

Hauling a heavy load

Low transmission fluid level

High transmission fluid level

Restricted air flow to the radiator and the
transmission oil cooler.
A temporary solution to hotter transmission operating
temperatures may be to let the transmission cool down.
If the transmission is operated at higher temperatures on
a frequent basis, see ªScheduled Maintenanceº in the
Index for the proper transmission maintenance intervals.

2-113
CHECK ENG OIL PRESSURE Message
This message is displayed
when the engine oil
pressure is low.
See ªOil Pressure Gageº in the Index for more
information.
CHECK ENG OIL LEVEL Message
This message is displayed
when the engine oil level
is low.
Once oil is added, it may need time to drain and settle in
the engine before this message will turn off. It is best to
let the engine cool down (if it is hot) or warm up (if it is
cold) and cycle the ignition to be sure this message turns
off. Refer to the dipstick for the correct level.
See ªEngine Oilº in the Index on how to check the oil
level and for what type of oil to add.

2-114
CHANGE ENGINE OIL Message
This message is displayed
when the engine oil needs
to be changed. The message
is only displayed for
15 seconds at the start of
each ignition cycle.
When you change the engine oil, be sure to reset the
Engine Oil Life Monitor. See ªEngine Oil, When to
Changeº in the Index.
SECURITY Message
This message is displayed
when the content
theft
-deterrent system has
been activated and also
monitors the Passlock


System.
If the security message is displayed continuously while
driving and stays on, there may be a problem with the
Passlock System. Your vehicle will not be protected by
Passlock, and you should see your dealer.
LOW WASHER FLUID Message
This message is displayed
when the vehicle is low on
windshield washer fluid.
The message is only
displayed for 15 seconds
at the start of each
ignition cycle.
For more information see, ªWindshield Washer Fluidº in
the Index.
SERVICE RIDE CONTROL Message
This message is displayed
when a possible problem
exists with the Road
Sensing Suspension system.

4-37
Here are some things you can check before a trip:

Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?

Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?

Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?

Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?

Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble
-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long
-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?

Weather Forecasts: What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?

Maps: Do you have up
-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as ªhighway hypnosisº?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with the
same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road,
the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind against
the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don't let it happen
to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less
than a second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis?
First, be aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:

Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated,
with a comfortably cool interior.

Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead
and to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.

If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness on
the highway as an emergency.

4-55 Making Turns
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you're turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal. Do this so your trailer won't strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
The arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you're about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you
are seeing your signal when they are not. It's important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are
still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don't shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the
transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear
selection if the transmission shifts too often (e.g., under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions).
You may also want to activate the tow/haul mode if the
transmission shifts too often. See ªTow/Haul Modeº
in the Index.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a
lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If you
turn your engine off immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show
signs similar to engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked (preferably on level
ground) with the automatic transmission in PARK (P)
for a few minutes before turning the engine off. If you
do get the overheat warning, see ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.

4-56 Parking on Hills
CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People can
be injured, and both your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
here's how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don't shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake and shift into PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:

start your engine,

shift into a gear, and

release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for
more on this. Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic transmission fluid
(don't overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling
system and brake system. Each of these is covered in
this manual, and the Index will help you find them
quickly. If you're trailering, it's a good idea to review
these sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.