# Using oil **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** dts, cadillac, oil\ **Created:** [December 28, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-oil/41386 "2009-12-28T05:31:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Honestabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f475e1/32.png) [@Honestabe](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honestabe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-oil/41386/1 "2009-12-28T05:31:30Z")
My car has started using lots of oil. It never used much oil before and it does not seem to be burning oil. There are no signs of leakage. What could be the problem? ---
**Author:** ![hd72mm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9fc29f/32.png) [@hd72mm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hd72mm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 9:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-oil/41386/2 "2009-12-28T09:46:48Z")
When the motor is cold take off the radiator cap and look for oily water, if so head gasket is leaking. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-oil/41386/3 "2009-12-28T14:03:13Z")
Doesn’t this car have the Northstar engine? If it does, there is a really strong probability that the intake manifold gasket is the problem. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-oil/41386/4 "2009-12-28T14:53:42Z")
“Lots of oil” is rather subjective. How many miles on the car, and how many miles of driving does it take for the engine to lose a quart?