williemacc Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Great car, but..... It has about 23 k miles on it. Warranty times out in February. It has about 5k miles on it since a local dealer put pistons and rings in it. The new pistons and rings reduced oil cunsumption from one quart per 1100 miles to about one quart per 2800 miles. HOWEVER, NOW IT HAS AN ENGINE KNOCK WHETHER HOT OR COLD, and it occasionally puts out a smoke cloud from the tailpipes on start up. No, it's not steam as it does it on a hot day with the engine at operating temperature. Also has an engine oil drip. The engine knock is not so loud that it's obvious unless you listen for it, and it came back from the dealer like that. But to me it is a warning of things to come. I'm pretty sure it needs a new engine before the warranty times out. My concern is that this not get strung out with oil cunsumption tests, etc. What is the best way to deal with it? Keep after the dealer that worked on it, or go to GM assistance or what?? Any wisdom or suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 First off, one quart in 2800 miles is good. Secondly, its possible that you have carbon buildup in the heads. Have you done weekly WOT's? Your car is three model years old and you only have 23,000 miles, that is 7,666 a year, very low mileage if you ask me. I dont think you have any claim for a new engine, that is my opinion. Have you had them listen to it? It could be a bad harmonic balancer, it might just be something simple, like a bad tensioner or idler or a LOOSE accessory... Don't assume the worst How do you drive the car? Read this thread see my posts regarding WOT procedures: http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=10580 Try beating on it and see if you noise goes away, these engines were not meant to be babied...Try using 10W30 if you are using 5W30, its too hot for 5W right now, what are they using when they change your oil... Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Fisrt off, 1 qt per 1100 miles is not bad. I am surprised that GM sprang for it. I would never have had them tear into a perfectly good engine for that. What you are expiriencing is the reason why. Secondly, if they worked on it, that should still be covered after the warranty runs out, but be sure to take it back and have it documented that you are still having a problem BEFORE the warranty runs out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fred Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 That's very important.. to have the issue documented before the warranty runs out. MerryChristmas Be a Capitalist or work for one. Work for a Capitalist or be one. MerryChristmas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Nunnally Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 Take it back to the dealer and ask them to diagnose and repair the engine smoke on startup. The sound you describe as knock could be engine knock, or could be piston slap. Noises are very hard to communicate and diagnose over the net. IF it is piston slap, and gets better when the engine is warm, then it is not necessarily a sign of trouble to come. This is not something the northstar is famous for, as compared with the LSx engines, for example. Bruce 2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Follow me on: Twitter Instagram Youtube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dahlhd1 Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Great car, but..... It has about 23 k miles on it. Warranty times out in February. It has about 5k miles on it since a local dealer put pistons and rings in it. The new pistons and rings reduced oil cunsumption from one quart per 1100 miles to about one quart per 2800 miles. HOWEVER, NOW IT HAS AN ENGINE KNOCK WHETHER HOT OR COLD, and it occasionally puts out a smoke cloud from the tailpipes on start up. No, it's not steam as it does it on a hot day with the engine at operating temperature. Also has an engine oil drip. The engine knock is not so loud that it's obvious unless you listen for it, and it came back from the dealer like that. But to me it is a warning of things to come. I'm pretty sure it needs a new engine before the warranty times out. My concern is that this not get strung out with oil cunsumption tests, etc. What is the best way to deal with it? Keep after the dealer that worked on it, or go to GM assistance or what?? Any wisdom or suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick7997 Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Could be a mild piston slap, especially if it goes away when it warms up..... If you really want some reading material, do a yahoo search for GM piston slap.... Some people feel it's an outrageous problem... some consider it a mild nuisance. FWIW, my 99 Tahoe LT (5.7 Vortec)has been doing it a little bit on cold starts since 30,000... it's now sitting on 150,000, with no problems. I confess to Mobil One it's whole life... Piston slap is a whole 'nother conversation though.... and it's really apples to oranges, and I have noticed no piston slap in the Northstar.... Fred & Ranger are right.... get this back to the Dealer and get it documented in writing NOW that you are still having problems.... And if you have any doubts, contact GM NOW and get some paperwork started.... you want to be on record as still having a problem during the warranty period.... I might also try to find all the paperwork going back to the start, and make sure you have that in a safe place... like your lawyer's office.... I kind of agree with Ranger... a quart every thousand is considered "normal"... I'm surprised you got them to do pistons & rings... WOT's usually straighten that right out... I bought my car used, and it had apparently been babied... it was using a quart every 800 miles. With some WOT's, I have that down to 1/2 a quart every 3000.... Please, though, don't take me the wrong way.... I totally share your anxiety, and totally understand. If something is wrong, you gotta address it before the warranty runs out.... I feel you on that... I am not making light of your situation in any way.... good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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