[Cadillac Bill XT5]

Hello Everyone,

I have a 2019 Cadillac XT5 3.6L. Car has 47,000 miles and I am looking into changing out the differential fluid. Any advice from experience? I am having trouble finding the fluid spec.

Thanks!

Bill

 

[Excalibur]

Welcome to Cadillac Forum!

All fluids and recommended procedures and intervals can be found in your owners manual.

 

[C&C]

Link for Owner's manuals: Manuals and Guides | Vehicle Support | Cadillac

 

[Excalibur]

Didn't have time the other day but do today to check the manual on-line. PPs 333, 339-340 for specs., but nothing is mentioned about changing out the differential fluid as a recommended service even for severe operation...so no fluid is mentioned either.

You can go to advance autoparts to check for you MY and fluid specs...I did this for your MY, see below. I hope this helps.

Advance Autoparts

https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/servicemanuals/cadillac/2019-xt5.pdf

 

[njacobsen]

The 2020 XT5 Owners Manual includes change rear axle fluid for AWD vehicles:

 

[njacobsen]

Specifications for the 2017 Rear Axle probably applicable to the 2019 from the Service Manual:

 

[Excalibur]

The 2019 OM did not mention it, and there was no mention in the notes re: AWD. Wonder why it's in the '20 MY but not in the '19 MY manual.

 

[njacobsen]

The 2019 OM did not mention it, and there was no mention in the notes re: AWD. Wonder why it's in the '20 MY but not in the '19 MY manual.

Very poor quality check on the manual. Does not make sense that it was overlooked. The 2020 refresh caught the oversight.

 

[Cadillac Bill XT5]

Thanks everyone! Very helpful.

 

[DCnative]

Ok Now I am getting confused about the mileage interval for changing the rear axle fluid. I owned a 2017 Premium Luxury AWD. The 2017 says change @ 45k and the 2020 says change @90k. . so what is it for the 2017 AWD?
Here’s Listing from the owners manual;
@ 90 K Change rear axle fluid, if equipped with AWD. (4) 2020 owners manual
@ 45KReplace rear axle fluid. If equipped with positraction rear axle. (6) 2017 owners manual

 

[njacobsen]

The 2020 Maintenance Schedule for Normal operation says to change rear axle fluid at 150,000mi.
For Severe operation change the rear axle fluid at 75,000mi and again at 150,000mi.
The table from the 2020 OM is in Post #5.

I looked in the PDF version of the 2017 OM, and it does not list changing rear axle fluid. Note (6) in the Maintenance Table is for replacement of brake fluid.

The 2017 OM does include changing automatic transmission fluid at 45,000 for Severe Service.

Can you post a picture or a page number of the reference in the 2017 OM for rear axle service?

 

[DCnative]

Hi Njacobsen,

Thanks for bringing it to my attention about the correct maintenance schedule. OK, after further review I have attached the normal maintenance schedule for the 2017 XT5. As noted by Cadillac they recommend to replace rear axle fluid @ 45K. Then as noted by this thread there is no mention of changing rear axle fluid in the 2018/19 owners manual. Then it is listed with the 2020/21/22 owner manuals to replace the rear axle fluid @150K (normal) and @ 75K (severe).

Attached is the 2017 and 2020 XT5 maintenance schedule (highlighted in yellow is the recommended milage to replace rear axle fluid). My service advisor wants me to change @45 K, but I think I will wait as listed in the 2020 OM. Your thoughts are welcomed.

DC

 

[njacobsen]

Thank you for attaching the page from the document for the 2017. What was the full document that page was taken from? The rear axle maintenance refers to footnote (6), but that is not on the page you provided.

The maintenance item wording is not consistent with the later manual, and the online manual for the 2017 XT5 is not consistent with the page posted. Can we look at that document a little closer?

 

[DCnative]

Here's the two manuals (2017 & 2020) that show the footnote about replacing the rear axile fluid. It refers to be careful when power washing underneath the car around the transfer case, front and rear axle . Hope this helps to clarify when to replace the rear axle fluid (mileage interval).

 

[njacobsen]

@ 45KReplace rear axle fluid. If equipped with positraction rear axle. (6) 2017 owners manual

The description for maintenance of the rear axle for the 2017 XT5 looks different than I recall being stated by Cadillac using the term "positraction". Positraction rear ends have commonly been used in rear drive vehicles and need maintenance at shorter intervals because of the friction plates which require a friction modifier additive when changing fluid which was usually recommended at 45K intervals.

Are your maintenance charts from a larger Owners Manual? If not, where did you obtain them, in particular the 2017.

 

[DCnative]

The description for maintenance of the rear axle for the 2017 XT5 looks different than I recall being stated by Cadillac using the term "positraction". Positraction rear ends have commonly been used in rear drive vehicles and need maintenance at shorter intervals because of the friction plates which require a friction modifier additive when changing fluid which was usually recommended at 45K intervals.

Are your maintenance charts from a larger Owners Manual? If not, where did you obtain them, in particular the 2017.

The maintenance schedule is from the large owners manual. Actually to make easy to retrieve I downloaded from the GM owners manual (link
is in this discussion thread).

 

[njacobsen]

The maintenance schedule is from the large owners manual. Actually to make easy to retrieve I downloaded from the GM owners manual (link
is in this discussion thread).

Thank you for pointing that out.

The 2017 Owners Manual is labeled 2nd Print.

The 2018 and 2019 are not labeled 2nd print and also do not have that maintenance reference for the positraction rear axle. The rear axle maintenance appears again in the 2020 Owners Manual as posted previously.

This is rather confusing. I am not aware of a change to the rear differential between 2017 and 2018, or for any later years for that matter.

Appears at this point we do not have a clear maintenance requirement for the 2017 rear axle. It is clearly part of the AWD version of the XT5 as referenced in the 2020 Owners Manual.

Can anyone provide further clarity for the 2017 to 2019 models?

 

[DCnative]

Wow… I got in the weeds to answer my owned question on the rear axle differential fluid exchange for my 2017AWD Premium Luxury XT5.
Ok…going back and forth with the aid of the Acadia forum, the consensus is the Owner Manual writers played it safe to suggest the 45k interval for the 2017 XT5/Acadia year. And as discussed, the interval exchange period disappeared for the 2018/19 models and then recommended fluid replacement 75K severe and 150K normal for 2020+ models.
Just to play it safe I did the exchange @45 (since my powertrain warranty is still in effect). Dealership tech said fluid was ok (not dark) with some metal shavings picked up by the magnetic drain plug.
Bottom line; I would follow the generic web recommendation to change the fluid when you get to 60K (unless you are doing some serious off-road driving).
In reference to the differential clutch fluid, the service tech said you should be good @90K.
I rest my case!

 

[UberCaddy]

The 2017 spec states for "positraction", 2020 states for "AWD"...🤔

 

[DCnative]

Yes, my car has the RPO G99 electronic positration dual clutch axle. I assume all AWD 2017 XT5 came with the RPO G99. In checking the various GPO codes there is G96 which refers positration axle which I will assume did not come with the dual clutch system.
Now for you owners of the 2020 + XT5’s AWD you may not have RPO G99 axle system. I found this thread on CF which discusses the different axle assemblies for the 2020 Prem Lux and Sport AWD. Best to check your RPO codes that came with your vehicle to see what you have and follow the appropriate differential fluid schedule.

Premium Luxury AWD vs Sport AWD systems