washer fluid CADILLAC ESCALADE 2021 Owner's Manual

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 105
Windshield Wiper/Washer
Windshield Wiper with Rainsense(AUTO Shown), If Equipped
Windshield Wiper without Rainsense (INT Shown)
With the ignition on or in ACC/
ACCESSORY, move the windshield
wiper lever to select the wiper speed.
HI : Use for fast wipes. LO :
Use for slow wipes.
AUTO : If equipped with Rainsense,
use this setting for intermittent wipes
when Rainsense is disabled,
or Rainsense wipes when Rainsense is
enabled. For intermittent wipes, move
the windshield wiper lever to AUTO,
then turn the band up for more
frequent wipes or down for less
frequent wipes. If Rainsense is turned
on, see “Rainsense ”later in this
section.
INT : If equipped with intermittent
wipers only, move the windshield
wiper lever to INT. Turn the band up
for more frequent wipes or down for
less frequent wipes.
OFF : Use to turn the wipers off.
1X : For a single wipe, briefly move
the wiper lever down. For several
wipes, hold the wiper lever down.
f: Pull the windshield wiper lever
toward you to spray windshield
washer fluid and activate the wipers.
The wipers will continue until the
lever is released or the maximum
wash time is reached. When the
windshield wiper lever is released,
additional wipes may occur depending
on how long the windshield washer

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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106 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
has been activated. SeeWasher Fluid
0 377 for information on filling the
windshield washer fluid reservoir.
{Warning
In freezing weather, do not use the
washer until the windshield is
warmed. Otherwise the washer fluid
can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
{Warning
Before driving the vehicle, always
clear snow and ice from the hood,
windshield, washer nozzles, roof,
and rear of the vehicle, including all
lamps and windows. Reduced
visibility from snow and ice buildup
could lead to a crash.
Clear snow and ice from the wiper
blades and windshield before using
them. If frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them.
Damaged blades should be replaced.
See Wiper Blade Replacement 0382. Heavy snow or ice can overload the
wiper motor. See
Electrical System
Overload 0385.
Night Vision Camera Washer
When it is dark enough for the night
vision system to operate, activate the
front windshield washer five times to
clean the camera sensor.
See Night Vision System 0319 for
information on using the night vision
system.
Wiper Parking
If the ignition is turned off while the
wipers are on LO, HI, or AUTO with
Rainsense turned off, they will
immediately stop.
If the windshield wiper lever is then
moved to OFF before the driver door is
opened or within 10 minutes, the
wipers will restart and move to the
base of the windshield.
If the ignition is turned off while the
wipers are performing wipes due to
windshield washing or Rainsense, the
wipers continue to run until they
reach the base of the windshield.
Rainsense
If equipped with Rainsense and the
feature is turned on, a sensor near the
top center of the windshield detects
the amount of water on the
windshield and controls the frequency
of the windshield wiper based on the
current sensitivity setting.
Keep this area of the windshield clear
of debris to allow for best system
performance.
AUTO : Move the windshield wiper
lever to AUTO. Turn the band on the
wiper lever to adjust the sensitivity.
.Turn the band up for more
sensitivity to moisture.
.Turn the band down for less
sensitivity to moisture.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 107
.Move the windshield wiper lever out
of the AUTO position to deactivate
Rainsense.
To turn the Rainsense feature on or
off, see “Rain Sense Wipers ”under
Vehicle Personalization 0138.
Wiper Arm Assembly Protection
When using an automatic car wash,
move the windshield wiper lever to
OFF. This disables the automatic
Rainsense windshield wipers.
With Rainsense, if the transmission is
in N (Neutral) and the vehicle speed is
very slow, the wipers will
automatically stop at the base of the
windshield.
The wiper operations return to normal
when the transmission is no longer in
N (Neutral) or the vehicle speed has
increased.Rear Window Wiper/
Washer
The rear window wiper/washer
controls are on the end of the
windshield wiper lever.
Turn the controls to adjust the
setting.
OFF : Turns the wiper off.
INT : Turns on the rear wiper with a
delay between wipes.
ON : Turns on the rear wiper.
1:Push the windshield wiper lever
forward to spray washer fluid on the
rear window. The wipers will clear the
rear window and either stop or return
to your preset speed. For more washer
cycles, push and hold the lever. The rear window wiper/washer will
not operate if the liftgate is open or
ajar. If the liftgate is opened while the
rear wiper is on, the wiper returns to
the parked position and stops.
See
“Rear Camera Washer” later in this
section.
Rear Wiper Arm Assembly
Protection
When using an automatic car wash,
move the rear wiper control to OFF to
disable the rear wiper. In some
vehicles, if the transmission is in
N (Neutral) and the vehicle speed is
very slow, the rear wiper will
automatically park under the rear
spoiler.
The wiper operations return to normal
when the transmission is no longer in
N (Neutral) or the vehicle speed has
increased.
Auto Wipe in Reverse Gear
If the rear wiper control is off, the rear
wiper will automatically operate
continuously when the transmission is
in R (Reverse), and the front
windshield wiper is performing low or
high speed wipes. If the rear wiper

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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108 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
control is off, the transmission is in
R (Reverse), and the front windshield
wiper is performing INT wipes, then
the rear wiper automatically performs
INT wipes.
This feature can be turned on or off.
SeeVehicle Personalization 0138.
The windshield washer reservoir is
used for the windshield, rear window,
and rear mirror camera, if equipped.
See Rear Camera Mirror 034. Check
the fluid level in the reservoir if either
washer is not working. See Washer
Fluid 0377.
Rear Camera Washer
If equipped, push the windshield
wiper lever forward to spray washer
fluid on the rear camera lens. The lever returns to its starting position
when released. See
Rear Camera Mirror
0 34.
Activating the Rear Camera Washer
also cleans the rear window.
Compass
The vehicle may have a compass
display on the Instrument Cluster. The
compass receives its heading and
other information from the Global
Positioning System (GPS) antenna,
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), and vehicle speed information.
The compass system is designed to
operate for a certain number of miles
or degrees of turn before needing a
signal from the GPS satellites. When
the compass display shows CAL, drive
the vehicle for a short distance in an
open area where it can receive a GPS
signal. The compass system will
automatically determine when a GPS
signal is restored and provide a
heading again.
Clock
Set the time and date using the
infotainment system. See "Time /
Date" under Settings0203.
Power Outlets
Power Outlets 12-Volt Direct Current
Accessory power outlets can be used
to plug in electrical equipment, such
as a cell phone or MP3 player.
The vehicle has two accessory power
outlets:
.Below the center console in the map
pocket
.Inside the center console (Standard
Floor Console Only)

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138 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action that may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple messages
may appear one after another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by pressing
the thumbwheel. The messages that
require immediate action cannot be
cleared until that action is performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously; clearing the message does
not correct the problem.
If a SERVICE message appears, see
your dealer.
Follow the instructions given in the
messages. The system displays
messages regarding the following
topics:
.Service Messages
.Fluid Levels
.Vehicle Security
.Brakes
.Ride Control Systems
.Driver Assistance Systems
.Cruise Control
.Lighting and Bulb Replacement
.Wiper/Washer Systems
.Doors and Windows
.Seat Belts
.Airbag Systems
.Engine and Transmission
.Tire Pressure
.Battery
Engine Power Messages
REDUCED ACCELERATION DRIVE
WITH CARE
This message displays when the
vehicle's propulsion power is reduced.
A reduction in propulsion power can
affect the vehicle's ability to
accelerate. If this message is on, but
there is no observed reduction in
performance, proceed to your
destination. Under certain conditions
the performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven. The
vehicle may be driven while this
message is on, but maximum
acceleration and speed may be
reduced. Anytime this message stayson, or displays repeatedly, the vehicle
should be taken to your dealer for
service as soon as possible.
Under certain operating conditions,
propulsion will be disabled. Try
restarting after the ignition has been
off for two minutes.
Vehicle Speed Messages
SPEED LIMITED TO XXX
KM/H (MPH)
This message shows that the vehicle
speed has been limited to the speed
displayed. The limited speed is a
protection for various propulsion and
vehicle systems, such as lubrication,
thermal, brakes, suspension, Teen
Driver if equipped, or tires.
Vehicle Personalization
The following are all possible vehicle
personalization features. Depending
on the vehicle, some may not be
available.
For System and Search functions, see
Settings
0203.

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238 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
After driving through a large puddle
of water or a car/vehicle wash,
lightly apply the brake pedal until
the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very
cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can
build up under the vehicle's tires so
they actually ride on the water. This
can happen if the road is wet enough
and you are going fast enough. When
the vehicle is hydroplaning, it has
little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping equipment
in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper tread
depth. SeeTires0393.
.Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving on
flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, and cooling system.
.Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle
on a long downhill slope can cause
brake overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a
loss of braking. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear to let
the engine assist the brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or
with the ignition off is dangerous.
This can cause overheating of the
brakes and loss of steering assist.
Always have the engine running
and the vehicle in gear.
.Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the center line.
.Be alert on top of hills; something
could be in your lane (e.g., stalled
car, crash).

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362 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 371
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 371
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379 Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 380
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 382
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 383
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . 384
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 385
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 385
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 389
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395 All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 402
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 410
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425

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VEHICLE CARE 367
1. Remote Negative (–) Location. SeeJump Starting - North America
0425.
2. Positive (+) Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North America
0 425.
3. Battery - North America 0380.
4. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0386.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0367.
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System 0372.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to
Add Engine Oil” underEngine Oil
0 367.
8. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0372.
9. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0371.
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0379.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” under
Washer Fluid 0377.Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see “Engine
Oil” in the Duramax diesel
supplement.
To ensure proper engine performance
and long life, careful attention must
be paid to engine oil. Following these
simple, but important steps will help
protect your investment:
.Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section.
.Check the engine oil level regularly
and maintain the proper oil level.
See “Checking Engine Oil” and
“When to Add Engine Oil” in this
section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil Life
System 0369.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with Used
Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially prior
to a long trip. The engine oil dipstick
handle is a loop. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0366 for the
location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may
be hot; it could burn you. Use a
towel or glove to touch the dipstick
handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the oil
level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading, park the
vehicle on level ground. Check the
engine oil level after the engine has
been off for at least two hours.
Checking the engine oil level on
steep grades or too soon after
engine shutoff can result in
incorrect readings. Accuracy

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VEHICLE CARE 377
If the vehicle has electric cooling fans,
the fans may be heard spinning at low
speed during most everyday driving.
The fans may turn off if no cooling is
required. Under heavy vehicle loading,
trailer towing, high outside
temperatures, or operation of the air
conditioning system, the fans may
change to high speed and an increase
in fan noise may be heard. This is
normal and indicates that the cooling
system is functioning properly. The
fans will change to low speed when
additional cooling is no longer
required.
The electric engine cooling fans may
run after the engine has been turned.
off. This is normal and no service is
required.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid needs
to be added, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. Use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing in an area
where the temperature may fall below
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The vehicle has a low washer fluid
message on the DIC that comes on
when the washer fluid is low. The
message is displayed for 15 seconds at
the start of each ignition cycle. When
the WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID
message displays, washer fluid will
need to be added to the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
Open the cap with the washer symbol
on it. Add washer fluid until the tank
is full. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview 0366 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.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system and
paint.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid. Water
can cause the solution to freeze
and damage the washer fluid
tank and other parts of the
washer system.
.When using concentrated washer
fluid, follow the manufacturer
instructions for adding water.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very
cold. This allows for fluid
expansion if freezing occurs,
which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or can be

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434 VEHICLE CARE
Do not apply waxes or polishes to
uncoated plastic, vinyl, rubber, decals,
simulated wood, or flat paint as
damage can occur.
Caution
Machine compounding or
aggressive polishing on a basecoat/
clearcoat paint finish may damage
it. Use only non-abrasive waxes and
polishes that are made for a
basecoat/clearcoat paint finish on
the vehicle.
To keep the paint finish looking new,
keep the vehicle garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal
Moldings
Caution
Failure to clean and protect the
bright metal moldings can result in
a hazy white finish or pitting. This
damage would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. The bright metal moldings on the
vehicle are aluminum, chrome or
stainless steel. To prevent damage
always follow these cleaning
instructions:
.Be sure the molding is cool to the
touch before applying any cleaning
solution.
.Use only approved cleaning
solutions for aluminum, chrome or
stainless steel. Some cleaners are
highly acidic or contain alkaline
substances and can damage the
moldings.
.Always dilute a concentrated
cleaner according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
.Do not use cleaners that are not
intended for automotive use.
.Use a nonabrasive wax on the
vehicle after washing to protect and
extend the molding finish.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses,
Emblems, Decals, and Stripes
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a
soft cloth, and a car washing soap to
clean exterior lamps, lenses, emblems, decals, and stripes. Follow instructions
under "Washing the Vehicle"
previously in this section.
Lamp covers are made of plastic, and
some have a UV protective coating. Do
not clean or wipe them when dry.
Do not use any of the following on
lamp covers:
.Abrasive or caustic agents.
.Washer fluids and other cleaning
agents in higher concentrations
than suggested by the manufacturer.
.Solvents, alcohols, fuels, or other
harsh cleaners.
.Ice scrapers or other hard items.
.Aftermarket appearance caps or
covers while the lamps are
illuminated, due to excessive heat
generated.
Caution
Failure to clean lamps properly can
cause damage to the lamp cover
that would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.