How do you Northstar owners like your Northstars? Would you recommend them?

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

17 city isn't bad at all. I get 13-14 now, but I got 16-17 when I first got it. On the open road, I'll get 23-25 depending on speed. At a steady 80, it's 23MPG; 75MPH, it's about 24MPG and at 70 (and 55MPH) it's 25MPG.

[Mountie]

The #1 issue I noticed on my '93 Northstar, was when I replaced it. ( I bought the STS with a spun rod bearing - Why it spun? I don't know.)
But I noticed the extremities were damaged from heat. Not much room under that hood.
I replaced / restored EVERYTHING.

The car has not had one glitch since I first started it last year.

It gets 15 to 18MPG city, & I drove from Southern California up to San Francisco at 80 MPH, and got 26 MPG on the 360 mile trip.

[JohnnyO]

No major problems with either, other than the '99 burns oil (but no leaks). I'd recommend a 2000-up though, many less reports of oil burning, leaks, and head gasket problems. Not running the coolant too long is critical for head gasket life. I'm not saying it's perfect, but I bet on a lot of engines with HG failure the owner never changed the coolant.

[Frost]

17 mpg city and 25 hwy, so that's about right. 1997 Deville with 100K on it. Very happy so far. When I went with synthetic oil, the consumption stopped dead - don't even need a top-up.

110% recommendation from this end, guys!

[kc3smith]

I just sold a 2003 SLS in favor of the CTS-V. Oil consumption was not a problem, but it was run hard. When purchased, Service Manager told us that the oil consumption problem was the worst on cars that never saw more than 3000 RPM. The carbon would build up and cause the rings to stick. Taking it to redline at least once a day, sold with 78,000 miles, never used more than .5 qt. every 5,000 miles.

Problems that we did have were torque converter failure, $2000.00, and front hydraulic engine mount, $450.00. Overall, not a bad engine.

The coolant change advice that I have seen is valid. Change the coolant every 2-3 years.

[AlBundy]

1996ESC. No problems at all even the oil burning issues. Had it going on a year now, no complaints. Good looking and exciting to drive not to mention the luxuries.

[GreenMachine]

My 98 now that I have new plugs and replaced a wire that was giving my misfires from a carbon track, runs great.

In situations where I catch every light, then get stuck 10 cars back and another only to get stuck at that light too, I can see my MPG drop from the normal 15+ suburban driving (up to 17) to mid to low 14's and in rare occasions 13, that's the stop and go stuff and in the winter that's not uncommon when someone spins out and your stuck there for 20-30mins bring that average down and down. You will get no economy from any car in those situations so why not enjoy a nice warm heated seat, great radio, plenty of room, while you wait for the accident to be cleared and the cars to be unstuck

We all know the highway MPG on this V8's are pretty good, 70-85 both ways on my trip to kentucky were nearly 25mpg and I could've gotten better but its to much fun to not throttle her up to pass the big rigs from time to time

To date the most expensive repair was the water pump, and if I had a better idea of how to change it when it happened I would have saved myself a load of money.

That is followed by a repair to the memory seat module where my father and I were taken for a ride (took the "experts" 4 hours & 85 bucks, something fishy about that one, should have just went to the dealer).

I'm not sure where you got the idea that the Northstar is a high maintenance engine or less reliable than the others.

From any mechanic I talk to they say the northstars will keep running and running even when they are falling apart and 3qts low, heck even has camel mode to get you home

Members of this board are a testament to how long that engine runs, many have gone passed the 150,000 mile mark and other have gone well beyond 200,000.

My 98 is approaching the 100,000mile mark it really hasn't asked for much more than the coolant change (went ahead a did is this summer since 5 years is passed) and oil changes along the way.

[Ranger]

"Members of this board are a testament to how long that engine runs, many have gone passed the 150,000 mile mark and other have gone well beyond 200,000."

I have seen a few over 300K.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Well thanks for all the responces folks! I think we should make this a sticky for all potential Northstar owners to look at!

[Lord Cadillac]

I personally love the Northstar.. It never gave me any problems other than a little oil consumption - no big deal. A quart low at every change. I never had a starter/alternator problem. I feel the Northstar is trouble-free as long as the cooling maintenance has been taken care of. I've mentioned it in other threads - but I owned a 95 ETC with 110,000 miles that ran like BRAND new. And I mean BRAND new. No stutters, hesitations - nothing. Very powerful. It was really amazing. Several years after that, I drove my Brother-in-law's 97 STS with 160,000 miles and it felt exactly the same... How often do you here that?

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

I have a few questions regarding the Northstar:

How many of you have had your headgaskets replaced?
What is the cost to have that job done on a 1993-99 Northstar?

How many of you have that "oil consumption" problem?
Is it a problem?
How many quarts of oil do you have to put in between oil changes?

How many of you have had starter/alternator problems?
What does it cost to replace one of those?

Is the motor as hard to work on as everyone (GM technicians incuded) says?

What other problems are common?

Do the positives outweigh the negatives or is it the other way around?

Would you recommend a Northstar powered Cadillac to someone who is used to relatively trouble free cars?

[6V92TA]

As a new Caddie owner,what's something i should expect outta my Northstar? Right now it idles a bit ruff and when i push gently on the pedal for a slow start,it serges a bit. Is this a fuel filter problem or somethin? Dealer guy said the original motor in the car blew up and another one was dropped in with 77,000 miles on it. Will i expect my "new" motor to jus go crazy soon? One other thing,Yalls know the legendary noise all Chrysler 300Ms from 1997 or so and up including the Concordes and LHS's do when idleing,a smooth kinda metal hissing noise or whatever? My Caddie's doing that noise and a mechanic stated it was either a water pump going bad or an air compressor or pully jus makin noise. Do the 94 Devilles have air shock BTW or that neat Air ride suspension early 90s Lincoln Continentals have?

[Ranger]

Yes, you have air shocks in the rear aka ELC (Eelectronic Level Control).

'94 used green coolant. It needs to be changed every 2 years. Be sure you do it. It is essential for healthy head gaskets.

Roughness might be plugs, wires, FPR leaking, TB and/or EGR valve in need of cleaning.

[6V92TA]

WOOT!! That i will do.ill get everything you listed checked out next week.

[Mountie]

Rough at idle & at slow start, seems like the EGR is in need of cleaning.

Very common in most every vehicle, that it should be a maintenance item.

It should be cleaned when troublshooting.

[codewize]

Ok I searched quick but didn't find anything except thread on how and when to clean a Volant filter.

How do you clean the ERG. Where is it on the DTS and what are the steps?

Thanks