oil change CADILLAC CTS 2003 1.G Owners Manual

2-105
Battery Voltage/BATTERY VOLTS: If you select this
item, the current battery voltage is displayed. If the
voltage is in the normal range, the display will have OK
after it. For example, the display may read 13.2 Battery
Volts OK.
If there is a problem with the battery charging system,
there are four possible DIC messages that may be
displayed. See ªDriver Information Center (DIC)
Messagesº later in this section for more information.
Engine Oil Life/ENGINE OIL LIFE: If you select
this item, the percentage of remaining oil life is
displayed. If you see 99% Oil Life on the display, that
means that 99% of the current oil life remains.
When the oil life is depleted, the Change Engine Oil
message will appear on the display. You should change
the engine oil as soon as possible within 200 miles. Be
sure to keep a written record of the mileage and date of
the oil change so you will have it for future reference.
When you reset the Change Engine Oil message by
clearing it from the display, you still must reset the
engine oil life monitor separately. For more information
on resetting the engine oil life monitor, see ªOil Life
Monitor, How to Resetº in the Index.The engine oil life monitor does not check the amount
of oil your vehicle has, so you should check the oil level
periodically. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index for more
information.
Transmission Fluid Life/TRANS FLUID LIFE
(Automatic Transmission Only): If you select this
item, the percentage of remaining transmission fluid life
is displayed. If you see 99% Trans Fluid Life on the
display, that means that 99% of the current transmission
fluid life remains.
When the transmission fluid life is depleted, the Change
Transmission Fluid message will appear on the display.
You should change the engine oil as soon as possible
within 200 miles. Be sure to keep a written record of the
mileage and date of the oil change so you will have it
for future reference.
When you reset the Change Transmission Fluid message
by clearing it from the display, you still must reset the
transmission fluid life monitor separately. For more
information on resetting the engine oil life monitor, see
ªTransmission Fluid Life Monitor, How to Resetº in
the Index.

2-108
Battery Voltage Low
This symbol appears
with the Battery Voltage
Low message.
This message will appear when the electrical system
is charging less than 10 volts or if the battery has
been drained.
If this message appears immediately after starting, it is
possible that the generator can still recharge the battery.
The battery should recharge while driving but may take
a few hours to do so. Consider using an auxiliary
charger (be sure to follow the manufacturer's
instructions) to boost the battery after returning home or
to a final destination.
If this message appears while driving or after starting
your vehicle and stays on, have it checked immediately
to determine the cause of this problem.
To help the generator recharge the battery quickly, you
can reduce the load on the electrical system by turning
off the accessories.The normal battery voltage range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts.
You can monitor battery voltage on the DIC by pressing
the INFO button until you find BATTERY VOLTS
(base audio system) or by selecting Battery Voltage
from the Vehicle Info menu (Navigation system).
Change Engine Oil
This symbol appears
with the Change Engine
Oil message.
This message indicates that the life of the engine oil has
expired and it should be changed within 200 miles. See
ªEngine Oilº in the Index for more information.
When you reset the Change Engine Oil message by
clearing it from the display, you still must reset the
engine oil life monitor separately. For more information
on resetting the engine oil life monitor, see ªOil Life
Monitor, How to Resetº in the Index.

5-25
9. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper towel
to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later, if you need to, to get all the rust or
dirt off.
CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could
fall off, causing a serious accident.
10. Place the compact
spare tire on the
wheel
-mounting
surface.

6-13 What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Oils recommended for your vehicle can be identified by
looking for the starburst symbol.
This symbol indicates that the oil has been certified by
the American Petroleum Institute (API). Do not use any
oil which does not carry this starburst symbol.
If you change your own
oil, be sure you use oil
that has the starburst
symbol on the front of the
oil container. If you have
your oil changed for you,
be sure the oil put into
your engine is American
Petroleum Institute certified
for gasoline engines.
You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your
vehicle, as shown in the viscosity chart.
SAE 10W
-30 is best for your vehicle. However, you can
use SAE 5W
-30 if it's going to be colder than 60
F
(16
C) before your next oil change. When it's very cold,
you should use SAE 5W
-30. These numbers on an oil
container show its viscosity, or thickness. Do not use
other viscosity oils, such as SAE 20W
-50.

6-14
NOTICE:
Use only engine oil with the American Petroleum
Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use the
recommended oil can result in engine damage not
covered by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench
oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
If you are in an area where the temperature falls below
-20F (-29C), consider using either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an SAE 0W
-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Don't add anything to your oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol are all you will need for good
performance and engine protection.
When to Change Engine Oil
(GM Oil Life System)
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based
on engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not
on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage
at which an oil change will be indicated can vary
considerably. For the oil life system to work properly,
you must reset the system every time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A Change Engine Oil message in the DIC
will come on. Change your oil as soon as possible
within the next two times you stop for fuel. It is possible
that, if you are driving under the best conditions, the oil
life system may not indicate that an oil change is
necessary for over a year. However, your engine oil and
filter must be changed at least once a year and at this
time the system must be reset. It is also important to
check your oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must change
your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your last oil
change. Remember to reset the oil life system whenever
the oil is changed.

6-15
How to Reset the Change Engine Oil Message and
the Oil Life Indicator
The GM Oil Life System
calculates when to change
your engine oil and filter based on vehicle use. Anytime
your oil is changed, reset the system so it can calculate
when the next oil change is required. If a situation
occurs where you change your oil prior to a Change
Engine Oil message in the DIC being turned on, reset
the system.
After the oil has been changed, the Change Engine
Oil message and the oil life indicator must be reset.
To reset the message and indicator, use one of the
following procedures:Base Audio System
Press the CLR button located to the right of the DIC
display to acknowledge the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
message. This will clear the message from the display
and reset it.
To reset the oil life indicator, use the following steps:
1. Press the up or down arrow on the INFO button
located to the right of the DIC display to access the
DIC menu.
2. Once XXX% ENGINE OIL LIFE menu item is
highlighted, press and hold the CLR button.
The percentage will return to 100, and the oil life
indicator will be reset.
3. Repeat the steps if the percentage does not
return to 100.

6-16
Navigation System
Press the multi
-function button, next to the OK prompt
in the upper right of the display, to acknowledge the
Change Engine Oil message. This will clear the message
from the display and reset it.
To reset the oil life indicator, use the following steps:
1. Turn the system on by pressing the PWR/VOL knob
once. The PWR/VOL knob is located to the lower
left of the DIC display.
2. Press the INFO button located to the left
of the display to access the Vehicle Info
(Information) menu.
3. Turn the TUNE/SEL knob located to the lower right
of the display until Engine Oil Life is highlighted.
Press the knob once to select it.
4. Once XXX% Engine Oil Life is displayed, press the
multi
-function button next to the Reset prompt in the
upper right corner of the display.
The percentage will return to 100, and the oil life
indicator will be reset.
5. Repeat the steps if the percentage does not
return to 100.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Don't let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good hand
cleaner. Wash or properly throw away clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer's
warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
filter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it
in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or
into streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by
taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have
a problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask
your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center
for help.

6-20
Automatic Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only reason for fluid
loss. If a leak occurs, take your vehicle to the dealership
service department and have it repaired as soon as
possible. You may also have your fluid level checked
by your dealer or service center when you have your
oil changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:

In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90F (32C) or higher.

In hilly or mountainous terrain.

When doing frequent trailer towing.

Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON-III, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRON
-III is not covered by your new
vehicle warranty.

6-21
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is
changed. However, the fluid in your manual
transmission doesn't require changing.
How to Check
Because this operation can be difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your Cadillac dealership
service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission. Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot exhaust
system parts, starting a fire. Too little fluid could
cause the transmission to overheat. Be sure to get
an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on a level place and the transmission is
cool enough for you to rest your fingers on the
transmission case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
3. If the fluid level is good, install the plug and be sure
it is fully seated. If the fluid level is low, add more
fluid as described in the next steps.
How to Add Fluid
Here's how to add fluid. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine what kind of fluid to use. See
ªRecommended Fluids and Lubricantsº in the Index.
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add only enough
fluid to bring the fluid level up to the bottom of the
filler plug hole.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the plug is fully seated.

6-25
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX
-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX
-COOL extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how
to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
-COOL coolant will:

Give freezing protection down to
-34F (-37C).

Give boiling protection up to 265F (129C).

Protect against rust and corrosion.

Help keep the proper engine temperature.

Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you use
only DEX
-COOL (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to the
system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the
use of coolant other than DEX
-COOL is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.