Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-64
I have 97 STS, Nortstar with 59k miles. I am very disappointed because I love the car. It is excellent condition. It uses a quart every 1000 miles. The issue is, at 3000 miles the Service Engine light will come on and a skip will develop (rough idle). The skip is from fouled spark plug due to oil.
Has anyone tried any type of oil additive to reduce consumption?
I have a 96 Deville, with 150k miles, the check engine started coming on and the car burns about 2 qts between oil changes. I asked the dealer, dealer stated a oil gasket kits for $1600.00 will do the trick.
I bought my 1997 cadillace sts at 66,000 miles. I notice it ueses a lot of oil. also driver window switch went out. now the check engine light comes on sometimes and goes off.
Robert.
I purschased a 97 STS about a year ago with 150,000 miles. Aside from the oil usuage, the only other problem is that once the engine reaches maximum temperature, the warning light says stop engine, low oil pressure. This message only comes on at idle rpm and goes off when speed increases. Anyone know what might be the problem?
Hello all. I have many years experience working for GM as a service writer and manager. I first found out in 1989 that GM says that burning one quart of oil in 700 miles is acceptable. I don't agree. The cause is the valve seals they use. I had a 1987 monte carlo ss that used a quart ofoil in 750 miles that's how I founf this info out. The fix is GM has two valve seals you can use one seats around the valve and the other goes on top like a mushroom cap and it will help immensly with oil usage. The problem you are writing about (if this is a northstar engine} is the heads and engine block are aluminum the head bolts are steel, this creates a natural reaction between the two metals that actually causes the head bolts to start pulling out of the block thus causing the heads to and block to start separating making the head gaskets almost useless. The oil then thins out due the increased temperature causing the low oil pressure, the separating of the heads doesn't help very much either. There is a kit available from cadillac to fix the head bolt problem the kit costs around 900-1100 dollars and you need a mchine shop to do the work unless your very familiar with engines. I would suggest if you do this work that you have them use the double valve seals and replace the starter while the engine is apart because it goes under the untake manifold. I should probably add that the oil consumption problem is from day one, the head bolt problem usually occurs betwwen 80,000 and 110,000 miles. I reccomend that anyone with a northstar with 80k or more miles get this checked the repair usually runs around 1500.00-2200.00 depending on whats needed, but the northstar engine is 10,000.00 for a new complete engine and this doesn't include the installation of it. Good Luck to you with your car hope this helps if I can help with anything more feel free to email me at MUDDA@optonline.net and Ill see what I can do for you.
Hey, I love all three of my Cadillacs: 87 Fleetwood 97 De ville 97 STS. The 97s all are getting a new Northstar engine,and both had been OVERHEATING. The STS has over 130,000k, and I have replaced the waterpump ETC. Then I gave up, and told the dealer to fix it. I got the STS with 125,000k and it does burn Oil
So you are not alone.
I bought a 1997 Cadillac SLS new, have had oil consumption problems between oil changes every 3,000 miles have had to change my A/C compressor and accumilator, warped disk on the front and the drivers side electric window control and now I'm haveing problems with starting it starts evently and will miss almost constantly once started and warms up it starts great, but still miss's have changed the plugs and plug wires and still have the same problem the mechanics haven't a clue what the problem is other than that I love this car, but after reading all these comments I'm getting hesitant about buying another GM product this car now has 100,300 miles and looks like the day I bought it, if anone has an answer to this problem please let me know before I spend some big bucks leonard.adkins@knox.army.mil.
I am 60 years an avid General Motors owner every since 1965, in earlier years it was Chevys now it is Cadillac DeVille, I have had about 6 of these the last being a 1997 Cadillac Deville v8 with a Northstar Engine, it currently has 145,000 miles on it and heats up in summer badly and uses oil about 1 qt every 700 to 800 miles. I watch the information panel and it gives the engine temperature. I changed the thermostat, no help, I even put on a brand new radiator thinking it was clogged, a little help, but still running some hot, but lowered the temperature with radiator change about 5 degrees on a routine basis, averages around 200 degrees and 205 routinely, then all at once goes to 215 or even 220 on a uphill grade even a 1/2 mile grade ups temperature noticeably. I need advice on this. Also this DeVille Northstar uses a quart of oil prob every 700 to 800 miles I was wondering if it is doable to replace the valve seals while still in the car to try to lower oil consumption. I also hear of one guy who said they have a double seal to put on it to slow down theoil getting through the valve guides. Some say it isn't doable any help here please?
A few months ago my 98 Eldorado sprung a head gasket leak to number 7 cylinder causing an over heat condition that engaged the famous N* over-heat condition operating mode. I obeyed and took the car in for repairs. The engine had to be removed and all head bolt holes tapped and sleeved because the threads came out with the bolts (disposable engine, GM?). Honing on the cylinder walls looked factory fresh (136k miles), so we buttoned her back up, I paid my 4k$ bill and went home. My oil consumption went from a quart or so every 3k miles to one per 400! Anybody else have that happen to them? My best guess is that a leaky valve seal cracked during the rebuild so is now using oil as an alternate fuel (smokes if I just let it sit and idle or if cold and I punch it). Well to answer the last question.. yes, the valve seals can be replaced without pulling the engine, I just wish I'd had it done together with the gasket repair.
I love the car so I'm keeping it, but just went back to foreign for the new one. The head bolts thing and some interior issues have soured me on GM.
I am having the same problem with my 1997 caddy, is it OK to overfill the oil to go more than 500 miles without adding oil?
I brought a 97 cadillac sts 95000 miles on it. the car burns 2 quarts of between oil change.
"I purschased a 97 STS about a year ago with 150,000 miles. Aside from the oil usuage, the only other problem is that once the engine reaches maximum temperature, the warning light says stop engine, low oil pressure. This message only comes on at idle rpm and goes off when speed increases. Anyone know what might be the problem?"
It sounds like the classic symptom of worn-out main bearings in the engine. At low engine RPM's, there is enough gap between the crankshaft journal and the main bearing that the oil gallery can't maintain oil pressure. When the engine speed increases, the faster rotation of the oil pump can keep up the pressure despite leakage around the worn bearings.
Now, it is also possible that it is simply a case that your oil sending unit could be clogged. Before doing anything radical like junking the car or paying big money for a new engine, just replace the oil sending unit and see what happens. If that doesn't help, just try going to a heavier viscosity oil. You might even consider adding some of that super-gooey "motor honey" to increase viscosity of the oil. You don't really have anything to lose on a 150,000 mile car that is 10 years old and has worn out bearings, anyway.
Depending on your mechanical skills, changing bearings on an engine isn't the end of the world, but it requires engine removal. Bearings themselves are cheap, just a few dollars per set, but it's the labor to remove and tear apart the engine that costs money.
I have owned 3 cadillacs from 94 to 97.I'm on my third in a year and just when I thought everything was cool I start leaking gas somewhere close to the seam of the neck what could cause this?it seems with such a prestigous vehicle you should not have to read about all these oil coolant and fuel problems
I've had my 96' STS for 2 years now and love it.. Uses 1 1/2 quarts of oil between changes.. Runs great, everything works and I drive it like I stole it.. The best running N*'s will be the ones that get driven hard! You can't baby these motors.. Get on that thing and clean it out once a week! It's a high performance, race oriented motor.. low tension oil rings and 4 valve heads will promote oil usage and driving it like your grandma will only contribute to fouled plugs and poor performance.. Let all that oil and carbon build up and that leads to detonation which leads to broken rings/pistons among other ugly scenarios!
Just bought a 97 sls. love the car.but...lose oil a little.i"ve read these comments and now i"m worried my motor is soon to blow up.i"m a 26 year old guy and I drive like it so far the n* has been solid, but now i"m nervous. do those "heal a seal"concoctions really work?