How often do you change your oil? Mines at 38%. I know. I've been pretty busy.
I don't even remember the last oil change or how many miles ago it was.

It's got 22k miles on it. 05' Should I consider changing anything else while I'm in for service tomorrow? Cabin filter, brake pads (still on original set). Should I get an alignment?
Should I get an update on the Navi?
Any Suggestions?

How long you do the pads last on these cars? I have started to notice a slight brake squeal at odd speeds. Its started to happen when making left hand turns from around forty. Now its more prominent when ever I'm slowing down for traffic. But only when applying very light brake pressure. Easy to modulate.
Thanks,
L

How often do you change your oil? Mines at 38%. I know. I've been pretty busy.
I don't even remember the last oil change or how many miles ago it was.

It's got 22k miles on it. 05' Should I consider changing anything else while I'm in for service tomorrow? Cabin filter, brake pads (still on original set). Should I get an alignment?
Should I get an update on the Navi?
Any Suggestions?

How long you do the pads last on these cars? I have started to notice a slight brake squeal at odd speeds. Its started to happen when making left hand turns from around forty. Now its more prominent when ever I'm slowing down for traffic. But only when applying very light brake pressure. Easy to modulate.
Thanks,
L

I would recommend changing the oil and filter at 5,500 to 6,000 miles. You will probably need to replace the cabin filter. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have the alignment checked.

Bruce

It's all synthetic oil. Which is suppose to go for a longer period.

Ray has changed the oil and filter on every car we've ever owned every 3,000 mi. He figured that oil and filters were cheap. Now with Lola we have been told not to change the oil until it reads 5% oil life .... how does that equate in mileage? Is that based on the 10,000 recommendation. But, if you think for a minute that he abides by that advice ..... :nono Hey, maybe that's what's wrong with her ... she gets way too much attention! :D

RA

That's all well and good, but could you explain why at 5 or 6 K when it clearly says 10,000 in the book. Is it a personal thing to get cleaner oil in there?
bob

Yes, It's a personal thing. I think Mobil 1 is the best oil in the world and does a great job protecting the engine,but I think the oil change intervals of 10,000 to 15,000 is too long. I have not seen any problems with the longer intervals with the Northstar, but I feel that's a long time for oil to be in use. Once again it's a personal thing. It's like the 150,000 mile coolant and transmission fluid... that's just way too many miles.

Bruce

I also hard trouble adapting to the longer schedule, but I have been assured that 10K miles is OK with Mobil 1. Furthermore, if you want to change your oil on a more frequent schedule you may find that the dealer will charge you for the oil change since it would be before the 10,000 mile 'schedule'.

I got my oil changed today. For free!
30 % percent left on the brake pads. Good stuff.
No need for alignment or anything!
Forgot to ask about the cabin filter, I might just order one online and save some $. I also got a free car wash!

Only disappointment was that as soon as I left the Check engine light came on!
Hopefully, the filter's are just wet from the car wash and the light will go out by-itself.

Oh yeah, Last oil change was in August of 06' it probably needed it bad!

You're also entitled to a free cabin filter. In any event they're very simple to change.

Floyd

Gosh, I can't believe it's been 2 whole weeks since Lola was in her other home ... (the service bay) .... well, guess what? She's in there again tonight ... backed out of the garage today, and guess what .... yep, 2 spots of coolant.... again .... and now a couple of drops of oil. .... took her in ... the tech can't find ANYTHING leaking, so he is putting dye in the motor ... wants us to run it hard (not a problem - going to AZ next week ...) said when we get back he will use a black light and it should show where the leaks are.

Here's the thing .... I've been told that "these" cars are prone to fluid spots if they sit awhile without being driven .... okay, all of my friends back there in the middle of the US ... is this what happens to your X's .... ??? I mean, really, I probably didn't drive her for about a week ... some of you winter your cars for longer ... do you find spots under your car when you move it? :confused

RA

When I had the XLR I had an engine oil leak. It's amazing what they have to go through to fix it!! I understand it's a pretty common happening for the Northstar.

Maybe we should do another poll: Who has had an engine oil leak?

Floyd

When I had the XLR I had an engine oil leak. It's amazing what they have to go through to fix it!! I understand it's a pretty common happening for the Northstar.

Maybe we should do another poll: Who has had an engine oil leak.

Floyd

So, okay, you start the poll and I'll be your first voter ... :seeya

Now, what about the oil leak?? What was it .... and what did they have to do to fix it? Maybe it will be a clue to Lola's problem .... isn't this a shame that we have to be comparing notes to take to our tech's? :bs

I wish I could remember specifically where the leak was--I'll have to find out--I gave all the paperwork to the new owner.

They had the car for three days. They had to drop the whole front under body! I went and saw the carnage! The wheels & suspension were just kinda dangling there--pretty sad sight!!!

I remember it was gasket-related.

Also, the car rarely sat unused for more than two days.

Floyd

Seems along with the radiator-leaking thread it is now necessary to begin another.

Have your engines been messing up your garage floor?

Floyd

I really need to vote 3 times ... :banghead

I had the gasket on the front of the engine replaced at about 15k due to a small leak. The tech used dye and the black light to find it. The repair is really extensive, had to pull the suspension down etc. Took 5 days in the shop. No problem since.
While in the shop got a Hummer H3 from the dealer..

I had the oil leak from the front of the engine repaired.

I had the gasket on the front of the engine replaced at about 15k due to a small leak. The tech used dye and the black light to find it. The repair is really extensive, had to pull the suspension down etc. Took 5 days in the shop. No problem since.
While in the shop got a Hummer H3 from the dealer..

Got Lola back this morning .... the dye is in .... we will take her back in after AZ for the blacklight ....

My dealer uses Enterprise .... I will probably get a VW Bug ... :rolleyes

I had a gas leak in the connector between the two tanks.
I had a coolant leak twice. Replaced the water pump two years ago and multiple hoses this year.
I had a power steering leak which required a new reservoir.

No oil leak yet.

bumbleent

I have a bad habit of using my XLR as my DD. Got rid of my STS so I could drive her every day....wooohooooo!!

Bumbleent, is your car an 04?

I had a gas leak in the connector between the two tanks.
I had a coolant leak twice. Replaced the water pump two years ago and multiple hoses this year.
I had a power steering leak which required a new reservoir.

No oil leak yet.

bumbleent

Yes. Mine is a 2004 purchased new in Feb. of that year. I now have 63,500 miles on it.

bunbleent

xx

I hope your Power Steering reservoir was caught and fixed early and never leaked again. :)

I bought my 08 XLR last Tuesday and love it....!

Good luck.

JP

JP! Congratulations!!! :party

Color? V? Pictures!!!

RA

i just picked up a cpo 04 xlr - are my oil changes free? or services for that matter?

ask your dealer. Maybe.

I purchased a '05 13,000 blue steel XLR in September. The Forum has been a great deal of help to me. When I got the XLR it had only been driven 1,800 miles in the last 18 months. At first not everything would work when the button was pushed. Someone in the Forum said the cars work better when they are driven. I drive it alot and it is a much better car than when I got it. My Cadillac dealer said they will only pay for oil changes at 16% or under.

On a different subject, three months ago while cruising at low speed in the mountains the temp went over 220. When I got back to town I had the radiator fluid changed, it was very dirty. Since then it has never been over 180. How does a 13,000 mile car have diryt radiator fluid?

Thanks for all the help,

gaylonkerr

(Don't beat me up on this- I'm not sure about the XLR's Northstar):

GM used to recommend putting a few of their own "pellets" in the radiator on the Northstar engines. They were mostly some kind of nut shell that was ground down to a fine powder and pelletized. The theory was that the shells would find leaks and plug 'em up.

Maybe that is what was causing the "dirty" look to your fluid?

Came back from the Cadillac dealer today. I noticed a small oil spot in my garage that was bothering me. After an hour, the service guy came out and informed me of a timing cover leak. I googled "oil leak XLR" and was surprised at the number of timing cover leaks that people have experienced. Hopefully, it is a permanent fix. I love my XLR. I hate oil leaks.

Came back from the Cadillac dealer today. I noticed a small oil spot in my garage that was bothering me. After an hour, the service guy came out and informed me of a timing cover leak. I googled "oil leak XLR" and was surprised at the number of timing cover leaks that people have experienced. Hopefully, it is a permanent fix. I love my XLR. I hate oil leaks.
Welcome to the site. Yest there is a weath of information here for you to look over.

OIL LEAK: I don't know of anyone at this point who has had a repeat issue after it was first addressed.

So I Would say it's fixed.

Regards

My 2004 has 80,000 miles on it and is using 1 qt. of oil every 5000. I use Mobil 1, 5W20, and change oil and filter every 10.000. Should I consider a different weight of oil?

bumbleent

My 2004 has 80,000 miles on it and is using 1 qt. of oil every 5000. I use Mobil 1, 5W20, and change oil and filter every 10.000. Should I consider a different weight of oil?

bumbleent
So this isn't a leak but oil comsumption right???

I am wondering if you have had a compression check run on the car.

Regards

Jerry

No, but it's going to the dealer for an oil change Friday. I'll get it done.

Thanks

Bumbleent

No, but it's going to the dealer for an oil change Friday. I'll get it done.

Thanks

Bumbleent
As a suggestion

I would have a service ticket written stating "car is using 1 quart of oil approximately every 5k miles" and let them determine why...within a reasonable cost.

Regards

Im not a cadillac tech but I do know that if you take care of your car it will take care of you. Know mather if it is Mobil1 , its not the milage its your driving habits & the heat that break down the oil, keep an eye on the heat you drive in, I agree 5000 max no matter what the indecator or gm say. I think mobil1 is that great either. If you really want a great oil & someone to stand behind it try AMSOIL, THE BEST & FIRST SYNTHIC motor oil, if not amsoil, ROYAL PURPLE, THESE OILS WILL RUN 10,000 NO PROBLEM.

Had the same oil leak 4 times. GM finally came up with the solution. They integrated a gasket into the oil pan manifold. This seems to have solved the problem. Mine is a 2006 with only 13,000 miles and it leaked 4x. The first leak was at 2,000 miles.

I live in western Az and heat is my problem. I have put 20K + miles on my XLR since March 2009. So I guess you could call it my DD. I drive only 5.5 miles to work and not much more on the way home. (battery ?) I service my X as I do all my other cars/trucks. I go 50% on 'DIC' numbers along with trans and rear end services every year. Brake inspect every 6 months, alignment and coolant every other year. (never see freezing here, 34/36 F) IMHO, 'operation without abuse' and 'reasonable maintence intervals' will give great long life and dependable service from any GM vehicle. I have not lived in an area that 'regularly freezes' so my methods may not work for you.

I have not had any oil leaks. I did have a 'coolant leak question' and it was at the bottle cap. I cannot stand fluid leaks and would be devistated to endure them on a car like this. I not only 'look on the ground' for leaks, but I also 'look under the car' to detect any 'unusual damp areas' that may preclude a drop of anything on the ground. I have my local dealer 'clean the chassis' after all services due to a problem with my ESV. Took the ESV in for service, got home and motor oil was dropping on the drive and garage floor. Car had no prior leaks. Took it back to dealer and TECH told me "it has excess drained oil on the cross member". I watched him 'spray solvent and wipe chassis and crossmember'. I drove around the block and then parked it on the service drive for 30 minutes. Right then I learned to NEVER drive away from a service without MY undercar inspection first. Then drive and park, (at the market ?) BEFORE going home and messing up my place.

After buying my XLR in Oct I took it in for a small oil leak. They said they replaced a seal and it was Ok. After a couple of weeks I started seeing a very small spot on my garage floor so 2 weeks ago I took it back. My factory warranty runs out in June so thought I should get it fixed. They are doing a bottom end reseal which required the engine be removed from the car and then removing the complete bottom end. The first thing that happened when they stared to reseal it was finding out they did not have the parts in stock and now it has been 16 days and they tell me they now have parts and might have it back together by Monda or Tuesday. At least they provided a 2011 CTS to drive and a side my Anti-freeze and Oil will also be replaced in the repair.
Sure glad I bought one still under warranty!!!

I have the oil changed once a year..... regardless of miles (usually about 3000 per year).. It was recommended by the dealer.