ok what dip "stick" designed this?

itschrome · #1 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 11:11 AM

all pun intended who the heck designed the dip stick on the northstar? its freaking brown and impossible to read! my check oil level light came on so naturally i checked my oil level. i spent 30 freakin min looking at the damn thing before i just figured i'd give her a quart since the manual said the warning comes on when your about a quart low. grrr. i really really wish i know who to send an angry email to about this. its so stupip!

**Ranger** · #2 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 11:44 AM

You are not the first to ask that question or be frustrated by it. The check oil level message actually comes on at 2 qts low, just about the time that the oil level drops off the stick. You still have 5.5 qts in the sump so no need to worry.

itschrome · #3 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 02:56 PM

ok next question should i be worried about having 2 q.t loss in roughly only 2k miles of driving? i dont see any leaks nor does it smell like i am burning oil. should i be concerned?

submariner409 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 03:04 PM

One quart of oil in 1,000 miles is right at the edge of the bell curve where Cadillac begins to acknowledge high consumption. The newer TSB's set the "normal" rate at one quart/2,000 miles. Some owners get your rate, most get the 2,000 mile figure, some get over 3,000-3,500 per quart. Read the article in the Cadillac Technical Archive ^^^ up in the black bar titled "Occasional full throttle is good for your engine" or something close........matter of fact, read the entire Archive. It will answer many questions.

Find the metal tip dipstick from a later Northstar and if necessary, during an oil/filter change, do your own calibration.

Do not fill the oil past halfway up the dipstick hashmarks. The MAX or top mark is overfilled. There's a TSB on this, too.

Take a look at your PCV vacuum line, which runs from the rear cam cover to the recess in the intake manifold, behind the p/s pump. Does this line look like it is unnecessarily oil soaked inside ?? There have been reports of an oil baffle in the cam cover coming loose and allowing raw oil to be sucked into the PCV system, increasing oil consumption. The baffle fix is a real headache: the rear cam cover has to come off, and that's no easy job.

itschrome · #5 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 03:29 PM

Damn it man, I'm a network admin not a mechanic!!!

i'll read the article but i am completely disregarding the rest of your non sensual comment.

no really i am confused and angered now, and sadden my my lack of understanding; which angers me!!! but thank you none the less..

submariner409 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 03:36 PM

Huh ???

I answered your consumption question, gave you a simple dipstick fix, advised you on GM's recommended fill levels, and gave you a "heads up" on a possible excessive oil consumption problem.

"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." ......so as far as this member is concerned, from here on you're flying solo.

(You have a 1996 Northstar SLS. You had better become a good mechanic in a hurry or you're NOT going to be a happy camper. These are NOT cars to put gas in and turn the key - not by a long shot.)

itschrome · #7 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 03:43 PM

ok i just read the article. it makes sense now. so i dont need to worry too much for the consumption. and your right i do need to learn, thats why i came here! and you've been a big help so far, sorry i didn't mean to blow up like that. i just get flustered when it come to tech talk. again, sorry...

ps whats WOT mean?

Stoodybayker · #8 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 06:46 PM

Wide Open Throttle

greg-sls · #9 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Damn it man, I'm a network admin not a mechanic!!!

Submariner409 is a long-standing and distinguished member here with decades worth of Cadillac experience and knowledge. I consider him to be a friend who has been extremely helpful to me over my years on this forum. I suggest you make a public apology here.

ejguillot · #10 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg-sls

Submariner409 is a long-standing and distinguished member here with decades worth of Cadillac experience and knowledge. I consider him to be a friend who has been extremely helpful to me over my years on this forum. I suggest you make a public apology here.

Seconded. And to the OP (original poster), do yourself a favor and buy a FSM (factory service manual) so you can start doing your own diagnosis and repairs.

You say you're a network admin? I'm a PC/network/telecom tech myself. You'll find the general troubleshooting/problem solving skills of your job to be adaptable to working on your car with some practice. If you can keep a fairly large network running, you just might have the mental ability and mechanical inclination to keep your car running yourself (instead of paying $$$ to a dealer).

creeker · #11 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itschrome

Damn it man, I'm a network admin not a mechanic!!!

i'll read the article but i am completely disregarding the rest of your non sensual comment.

no really i am confused and angered now, and sadden my my lack of understanding; which angers me!!! but thank you none the less..

"non sensual comment" ? try a porn site for sensual content.

Talamant3z · #12 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 10:06 PM

i like it it works better than others u can see where the oil . i have never had problems with it

**Ranger** · #13 (**permalink**) 06-17-09, 10:34 PM

I thought that the OP's comments in post #5 where tongue in cheek. Guess I was wrong because it seemed to me that he DID apologize publicly in post #7.

itschrome · #14 (**permalink**) 06-18-09, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger

I thought that the OP's comments in post #5 where tongue in cheek. Guess I was wrong because it seemed to me that he DID apologize publicly in post #7.

yeah, i guess my tongue and cheek sarcasm came across as hostile.

and yes i did apologize. sorry guys.

any ways, yeah you would think being a network admin would benefit me in my trouble shooting abilities but no. the only car i have ever worked on was my old K-car and i was building a turbo motor for that. but those were a who lot less complicated than this thing and i really really need to get back into learning to work on cars. i might pick up a manual some time soon. but generally i dont have time right now to be turning a wrench.

TSS · #15 (**permalink**) 06-18-09, 10:24 AM

Trust me, I am not mechanically inclined, but with the help of the folks on this forum, I have saved hundreds of dollars on repairs on our 01 SLS just by being able to tell my mechanic the cause of the problem, without paying him to do diagnostics or troubleshooting. Plus, I can't get BSd when I have done my homework as to the problem, and estimated time to repair. Also, on this forum, I learned how to read codes, WOT, and other maintenance tips to help avoid common problems. My best tip for the non-mechanically inclined, always do a search before asking a question, your very problem may have already been addressed. The regulars here get tired of answering the same questions over and over again.

I have been fairly active on the SRX forum when I had an 06, the Lade forum currently, and less so on this forum. The guys here go out of their way the most to help out. Thanks.