after 50 years of driving I decided that I would like to own a Cadillac. So I purchased a 2001 Cadillac DHS with 70000 miles on it.
I have driven it about 16000 miles and have discovered that the oil consumption is about 1qt/1000 miles. I went by the Cadillac dealer and one of the service guys said " one of those northstar engines"
I then went to the internet and learned that several people have been having high oil consumption with the 1998 - 2001 cars.
at one time there was a service bulliten that “in essence chemically tried to alter the interior of the engine” (with mixed success) OK, enough background, since the oil change interval is 5000 miles (with a 7qt change), do I 1. Simply go on my merry way adding 1 qt each 1000 miles and skip the oil change, 2. bite the bullet and add oil at 1 qt each 1000 miles and get the oil changed, 3. find an after market fake hood scoop that I could mount on the hood and fill with oil with a valve and hose connected to the engine for continuous refills on the go. This last option takes me full circle, when I was 16 my dad bought me a 1947 studeabaker that used oil. I bought 5 gal cans of reprocessed oil from SEARS and simply added oil as needed…
If it makes you feel any better, you have a lot of company. (including my father in law) The good news is that the engine holds about 7 quarts and it will warn you that it is low on oil before any damage occurs.
I suggest that you carry some oil with you and fill as needed. If the low oil warning message comes up, the engine probably needs two quarts.
I would still change the oil regularly as you would with any engine.
I agree with all of the above.
Some engines will “throw off” the first quart and then burn little more or burn it at a greatly reduced rate. With 7 quarts to play with, you can safely see how long it takes to drop two quarts. Also, try a different brand of oil. It may surprise you. If you are using 5w-30 or 5w-20, try 10w-30 and see how that does…
They may be referring to performing what is called a piston soak. The last step in that procedure is a oil change with synthetic. If you do have it done and it works, keep using synthetic.
Simply add a quart every 1000 miles, keep a spar quart or two in the trunk, get the oil changed on schedule, and tell everyone you knwo so they don’t buy Northstar engines too.
Although a hood scoop would look cool…