The failures of the head gasket in the Northstar engines caused the engines to run very hot and overheat while driving, which in turn, made the problem worse and get worse faster than it normally would have.
150-200K is rather common. Several here alone. They are known for head gasket problem.
The popular 2000 and 2002 Cadillac DeVilles are prime casualties, with the engine tending to overheat due to a leaking head gasket.
There are three ways the head gaskets can fail on a Northstar. 1- exhaust gases blow into the cooling system under load, such as when you climb a hill or pass someone. 2-coolant gets into the cylinders and you leave a trail of white smoke behind you. 3- coolant gets in your oil or vice-versa.
The Northstar never reached the epic levels of popularity of its Ford cousin, thanks largely to its phenomenal repair costs and disposable everything. The Northstar is a fine engine if you find a good one -- but woe to those buyers who don't know to spot a bad one.
All Northstar 4.6 engines will eventually experience the same seal failures and oil leaks. All of these engines will experience lower crankcase seal leaks, oil pan leaks, valve cover leaks, and rear main seal leaks as well as leaks from sensors and filter adapters. The gaskets simply will not last forever.
The thermostat gauges the temperature of the engine to control the flow of coolant into the cylinder block and radiator. A faulty thermostat might not open, meaning coolant won't flow. This in turn will cause the engine to overheat. If the radiator hose is not hot, the thermostat might need to be replaced.
Is it Worth Repairing a Blown Head Gasket? In a word, yes. You cannot ignore a blown head gasket and expect to keep your car running in good condition. If a blown head gasket is not repaired in a timely fashion you risk a cascade effect of damage.
Top Cadillac Models of All Time: 13 Best Used Car Finds
- 1915 Cadillac Type 51. This model introduced both the V8 engine and mass production.
- 1937 Cadillac Phaeton 5859. The 1937 Phaeton 5859 was not built for the masses.
- 1949 Cadillac De Ville. This model started a Cadillac trend.
- 1959 Eldorado Biarritz.
- 1968 De Ville.
- 1975 Coupe DeVille.
- 1982 Eldorado Touring Coupe.
- 1987 Allante.
We offer new/remanufactured Northstar engines for the price of $4,995 USD or $6,700 Canadian dollars (Price in effect as of Dec 1/2019).
The "Northstar" engine they used in these cars is known for burning oil. That suggests that something is wrong deep inside the engine -- most likely bad rings. But if you're burning a quart every 1,000 miles or more, you're probably better off just trying to keep it from getting worse quickly.
Northstar MaintenanceThe engines are factory-equipped with 100,000-mile platinum-tipped spark plugs and five-year/150,000-mile Dex-Cool antifreeze, and use chain-driven cams to eliminate the need to replace timing belts. Except for oil and filter changes, there isn't much to maintain – unless something breaks.
Introduced in 1993 in the Cadillac Allante, Eldorado and Seville STS, the 4.6L 32-valve dual overhead cam all-aluminum V8 engine was a quantum leap forward for U.S. automakers. Initially rated at 295 horsepower, the Northstar V8 has been ranked as one of the "10 Best Engines in North America" by Ward's Auto World.
2005 Cadillac CTS Value - $623-$3,192 | Edmunds.
2005 Cadillac DeVille Value - $767-$3,593 | Edmunds.
Deville runs smoothly now since I fixed couple of things very comfortable the Northstar engine is quiet like brand new. Overall it is a nice car very well trustworthy driving I have 180,000 miles never took in shop but for a recall love exterior paint Silver plus got tinted windows.
Just like Cadillac's regular CTS, the CTS-V has four doors, a comfortable interior, and loads of features. Unlike the CTS, though, the CTS-V has a Corvette-derived supercharged V8 good for 640 horsepower.
The average rating is a 4 out of 5 stars. The Cadillac DTS Reliability Rating is 3.0 out of 5. It ranks 26th out of 32 for all car brands. Learn more about Cadillac DTS Reliability Ratings.
2002 Cadillac DeVille Value - $411-$1,859 | Edmunds.
2006 Cadillac DTS Value - $968-$3,815 | Edmunds.
this is a fantastic, luxury car. gets lots of attention, all the toys, great ride and gets decent fuel mileage. I just bought the car and love it so far. The power is very good and impressed with all that I can get for that amount of money.
This is a starter replacement on a 1995 cadillac sts with northstar engine. The starter on the northstar is located below the intake manifold. To the left you will see the picture of the engine. There are four plastic nuts on the top of the engine cover shown.
2009 Cadillac DTS Value - $1,603-$7,771 | Edmunds.
The average cost for a Cadillac DeVille head gasket replacement is between $1,488 and $1,819. Labor costs are estimated between $1,268 and $1,599 while parts are priced at $220. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your unique location. Related repairs may also be needed.
1997 Cadillac DeVille Value - $121-$737 | Edmunds.
Here are the most common symptoms of a bad water pump in your DeVille:
- Noise. A noisy water pump can indicate that it has a bearing that is going out.
- Leaking Water Pump.
- Low Coolant Level.
- Overheating and/or Steam.
- Dry Rotation.
- Bad/Improper Seal.
- Wrong Coolant.
- Bad Bearings.
Many things could cause an engine to overheat. Signs of a blown head gasket are coolant loss (frequently have to top up the coolant level of the engine without seeing an obvious leak), experiencing over heating or rough engine running or the presence of white sweet smelling steam from the exhaust.
Full-size car at a midsize price, nimble road feel, powerful engine options, available all-wheel drive, optional Bose stereo is one of the best in its class.