# Cadillac 2001 oil consumption **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** cadillac, oil\ **Created:** [September 25, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cadillac-2001-oil-consumption/5134 "2007-09-25T18:05:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![L.R\_Bahor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@L.R\_Bahor](https://community.cartalk.com/u/L.R_Bahor)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cadillac-2001-oil-consumption/5134/1 "2007-09-25T18:05:04Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![markmast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@markmast](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markmast)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cadillac-2001-oil-consumption/5134/2 "2007-09-25T20:07:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cadillac-2001-oil-consumption/5134/3 "2007-09-25T20:08:29Z")
I agree with all of the above. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cadillac-2001-oil-consumption/5134/4 "2007-09-25T20:31:57Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![americar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/americar/32/42_2.png) [@americar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/americar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cadillac-2001-oil-consumption/5134/5 "2007-09-25T21:19:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cadillac-2001-oil-consumption/5134/6 "2007-09-25T22:02:43Z")
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…