CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT 2003 2.G Owners Manual

Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a ®re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake ¯uid, windshield washer and
other ¯uids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the handle located
inside the vehicle to
the lower left of
the steering wheel.
5-10

2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and pull up on
the secondary hood release, located near the
center of the grill.
3. Lift the hood.
5-11

Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the VORTECŸ 6000 H.O. V8 engine you will see the following:
5-12

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-19.
B. Coolant Surge Tank. See
Cooling System on
page 5-30andCoolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
on page 5-27.
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped).
See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-19.
D. Engine Oil Fill. See
Engine Oil on page 5-14.
E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
Engine Oil on page 5-14.
F. Automatic Transmission Dipstick. See
Automatic
Transmission Fluid on page 5-21.
G. Fan. See
Cooling System on page 5-30andEngine
Fan Noise on page 5-36.H. Remote Negative (-) Terminal (GND). See
Jump
Starting on page 5-44.
I. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting on
page 5-44.
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Out of View).
See
Power Steering Fluid on page 5-37.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brakes on page 5-39.
L. Underhood Fuse Block. See ªUnderhood Fuse Blockº
under
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-101.
M. Battery. See
Battery on page 5-43.
N. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
Windshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-38.
5-13

Engine Oil
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message appears on the
instrument cluster, it means you need to check
your engine oil level right away.
For more information, see ªCHECK OIL LEVELº under
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-58.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It's a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.The engine oil dipstick has
a yellow loop handle and
is located in the engine
compartment on the
passenger's side of the
vehicle. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12
for more
information on location.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
5-14

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the cross-hatched area at the tip
of the dipstick, then you'll need to add at least one
quart of oil. But you must use the right kind. This part
explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see
Capacities and Speci®cations on
page 5-110.
Notice:Don't add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating
range, your engine could be damaged.The engine oil ®ll cap is
located on the valve cover
on the passenger's side
of the vehicle. See
Engine
Compartment Overview
on page 5-12
for further
location information.
Be sure to ®ll it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you're through.
5-15

What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Oils recommended for your vehicle can be identi®ed by
looking for the starburst symbol.
This symbol indicates that the oil has been certi®ed by
the American Petroleum Institute (API). Do not use
any oil which does not carry this starburst symbol.
If you choose to perform
the engine oil change
service yourself, be sure
the oil you use 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 certi®ed
for gasoline engines.
You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your
vehicle, as shown in the viscosity chart.
5-16

As in the chart shown previously, SAE 5W-30 is the
only viscosity grade recommended for your vehicle.
You should look for and use only oils which have the
API Starburst symbol and which are also identi®ed
as SAE 5W-30. If you cannot ®nd such SAE 5W-30 oils,
you can use an SAE 10W-30 oil which has the API
Starburst symbol, if it's going to be 0ÉF (-18ÉC)
or above. Do not use other viscosity grade oils, such as
SAE 10W-40 or SAE 20W-50 under any conditions.
Notice:Use only engine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certi®ed For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use the recommended
oil can result in engine damage not covered by
your warranty.
GM Goodwrench
žoil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below-20ÉF (-29ÉC), it is
recommended that you use 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 ®lter. 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 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 ®lter must be changed at least once a year and at
this time the system must be reset. Your dealer has
GM-trained service people who will perform this
work using genuine GM parts and reset the system.
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.
5-17

How to Reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
Message
The GM Oil Life System calculates when to change
your engine oil and ®lter 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 being turned on,
reset the system.
To reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message, see ªGM
Oil Life Systemº under
DIC Operation and Displays
on page 3-47for vehicles equipped with the DIC, or do
the following:
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN with the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three
times within ®ve seconds.
If the OIL LIFE RESET message ¯ashes for 10 seconds,
the system is reset.
If the system does not reset, try the procedure once
again. If it still does not reset, see your dealer for
service.
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 dispose of 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
®lter 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.
5-18

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for location of engine
air cleaner/®lter and
change indicator
(if equipped).
When to Inspect
If your vehicle is equipped with a ®lter change indicator
it lets you know when the ®lter needs to be replaced.
Vehicles with a restriction indicator, inspect the air
cleaner/®lter at every oil change and replace the ®lter
when the indicator tells you to. Vehicles without a
change indicator, inspect the air cleaner/®lter at every
oil change and replace it at the ®rst oil change after
25,000 miles (40 000 km).
How to Inspect
Locate the ®lter change indicator. When the change
indicator turns black or is in the red/orange ªchangeº
zone, replace the ®lter and reset the indicator. To inspect
the air cleaner/®lter, remove the ®lter from the vehicle and
lightly shake ®lter to release loose dust and dirt. If the
®lter remains ªcakedº with dirt, a new ®lter is required.
To inspect and replace the ®lter and reset the indicator
(if equipped), do the following:
The air cleaner/®lter assembly is located on the front
corner of the engine compartment on the passenger's
side of the vehicle.
5-19