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Fingers are crossed with Jesus on the dashboard.
As well you should. However, it's worth pointing out that the vast majority of CTS drivers don't endure the dreaded excessive oil consumption engine grenading issue. Those who do post here.
Keep an eagle eye on your oil level. It's a pain in the [non-permissible content removed] these days, since most engines don't use more than a pint of oil (if that) in 5000 miles. But, we all know that this one can.
Many people on this board in the early days thought that the oil change monitoring system in the car was an oil level monitor. It is not. There are a few on this board who seem to think that an improperly designed engine is cause for recall. That's not how it works. There needs to be a safety issue involved and my guess is that not enough engines (yet) have packed up in a situation that could be considered safety-related. That, or GM has gone to great pains to show otherwise. Go figure.
Check your oil every time you fill up, or once a week in the morning before you start the engine. At the first sign of consumption, sell the car.
That is all.
Good luck.
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/consumer-reports-sees-oil-vanish-test-cars-140000066- .html
I also read that part of this is due to piston rings that are undersized. This individual had the rings replaced at the dealer cost and the engine still seized on them. Others have reported six thousand dollars in repairs from eighteen thousand miles up to eighty thousand. Unless you can afford the cost and don't mind being left stranded-other reviews tesify to computer problems, no starts-and cutting out while in motion-if you can over look these than the cts might work out for you. :lemon:
These posts serve only as a buyer beware. If anyone decides to buy a Cadillac CTS and they do not experiance the problems so many do-then they should post as well. but So far the negative comments outways the positive. :sick:
Glad to hear that your '11 CTS has treated you well so far and that your dealer helped you through those few minor issues. If there's anything you have questions about, or need assistance with, please let us know.
Amber N.
GM Customer Care
The problem I faced was three months into the purchase when driving from 0 -60 km/hour. After driving for a few months I had a pretty good "feel" as to what was normal acceleration and started feeling irregular gear shifts and "stuttering" coming from the engine. A shriek would sometimes be heard when accelerating/sounding like an awful acceleration noise.
Since my Transmission fluid was at 14% and my engine oil was 20% I figured my transmission oil needed changing. The oil percentage was at 95% when I first bought the vehicle and I thought it was going to be a transmission problem. After taking it to Canadian Tire the mechanic told me that the oil level was dangerously low! And that by replacing the oil the issue with acceleration would dissapear. After the service the engine light also dissapeared and would not come back on again.
I'd like to mention that prior to the service the engine light would either turn off and then turn back on, or would randomly flash occasionally.
With the oil and transmission oil fully replaced I drove for another 4-5months only to find the "stuttering" happening again along with the acceleration grinding issue happenign again now that the car is at 24% oil life (96% transmission). After restarting the engine the "check engine oil" message came on. SO it makes me conclude that the Cadillac CTS takes much more oil than expected and the % indicator for oil should NOT ever be trusted. Thankfully I know what the problem is with the onscreen diagnostics message and the engine light coming on (it's off now), and I will replace the oil in the morning, but it's a shocker to me that the on-screen diagnostics are simply not accurate.
Point taken - check your engine oil regularly and change the oil before it reaches 30%.
As I've only driven for the day to experience this issue, I'm hoping there's no permanent damage. Will keep everyone one posted after the service tomorrow.
Fast.
REALLY REALLY FAST !!
REALLY REALLY FAST !!
2007 CTS -NICE veh--Vinyl top, leather seats, pin stripping, alloy wheels gleaming in the Florida sun!!
Man, what a sight!(Better I had been blind.) !475 miles on odometer.
Two weeks later, a scratch appeared fully along the right side. First trip to body shop. $!400.00--ins paid
All was well until June 2011 1330 hrs(1:30 pm). While on a trip to Augusta, Ga, I killed a 200 lb buck with the front of my CTS.( all cosmetic damage and we finished our trip with hood bunged down ) 2nd trip to Body shop. $4400.00---ins paid- no deductable.
Two weeks later, at 31000 mi, threw timing chain. Oil level was aok. First trip to mechanic.
Two days later, call confirmed timing chain. Two days later,call confirmed bent valves.
Four days later, call revealed cracked engine block and that I needed a complete new engine! $9050.00
Thank God we had a 'Bumper to bumper' warranty!!!
It ain't over yet!
Three weeks after getting CTS back, a man backed into the right rear quarter panel in Publix parking lot. 3rd trip to Body Shop. Ins paid $1800.00 --no deductable.
Now, we're happily driving and enjoying our Black Cloud CTS-----THEN----last Tuesday while on I 75 south bound, a miss began. Got off and stopped for a traffic light 250 ft from my destination. Engine died. 2nd trip to Mech. Two days later, Cadillac informed me that I need to overhaul the engine ($6000+) or install another new one.(9000+?!) 73,346 mi on car (42,000 mi on 2nd engine)
Service manager(felt sorry for me) gave me the number for Cadillac Cust Care. Related this story to them and at present, I am waiting for a call back to let me know if they will help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please excuse my pessimism but---------HA HA HA Ha ha
Happy In Florida! (Although I'm not quite sure why..???)
Jwilli51
PS: I have had to put 7 qts of oil in this 36L engine in less than 1500 mi
FYI - actual date of first failure was 8/2010. WOW, I get to buy a new engine every 3 yrs!
We see that you've been through quite an ordeal with your Cadillac. If you would like for us to check on the status of your case with Cadillac Customer Service please send us your VIN. If there is anything else we can help with please let us know.
Amber N.
GM Customer Care
Thank you in advance for your help
Jess
I had the 2006 cts kept it two weeks and turned it back in-engine shaking,check engine light-and number four injector code problem.
What I learned reading in this forum is that all the 3.6 cts engines-even some 2013 models have extensive repairs...it is not just the engine-it's everything and everything is expensive. Read on and hopefuly you have one of the good ones-is there a good one? I traded mine for a chrysler 2007 sebring and no problems-Ill never buy a Gm product again....
Back about 10 years ago, they began cutting corners and as we all know the gov had to bail GM out. The rings and pistons in the v6 engine they used in the CTS we're not engineered correctly allowing excess amounts of oil being burned through the rings and into the cylinders. Most engines experienced running through a quart of oil every 1000 miles or so. If you did not religiously check your oil it was only a matter of time before your engine became useless.
GM said this massive amount of oil consumption was within normal limits. Many people who took road trips of over 5000 fried their engines after checking the oil prior to their trip. They were always told they did not maintain the oil properly.
I would bet 1000s of people had their engines fried and the we're told it was their own fault because they are incapable of checking the oil in their Cadillacs.
This is such a coverup!'
FYI. They replaced the whole top end of my 2008 CTS. And the whole exhaust system as the oil in the exhaust ruined both catalytic converters!! They had my CTS 46 days total!
You need to find a dealer committed to fighting for you.
Your best bet for getting any meaningful action is to report, as individuals, your issue to the NHTSA at www.safercar.gov. They're the only agency authorized to investigate vehicle issues, and to ask for a recall if it's warranted.
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Many of us have posted missives that are anything but complimentary to GM in general and the CTS in particular. I've never seen a post deleted, mine or anyone else's.
Cite examples. What post done by whom when was later deleted?
Data talks. You (well, probably you don't) know what walks.
The NHTSA, is concerned with safety. A blown motor or timing chain is only unsafe on your wallet and GM's rep. Perhaps EPA would be concerned with all the oil floating around the atmosphere.
People who wish to be contacted by email will have their address marked as "public" in their profile, and those will be visible to you. Others who do not wish to have that info available will have it set as "private."
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After that I've made sure to check every 1,000 miles and top off my oil as required. But the problem came back! After another 8 months of constantly topping off my oil, I had misfire codes pop up and I brought it back to my dealer. This time they blamed a faulty ECM, and I payed $500+ for that replacement.
It's now about a year later, and the skips are back. I'm terrified it's going to be one of these two issues again. I can't wrap my head around how an engine can have this many misfire problems and eat THIS MUCH oil. I find it ridiculous that i'm spending so much money on oil only to have the issue keep popping up. No codes have fired off yet, but it's only a matter of time. I've already called GM customer service and I was basically told I was a lost cause because I purchased the car used, not new. So I'm out of luck.
That is all.
after hearing the valve knock and having my engine skip on my commute to work, I purchased (for what feels like the hundredth time) 6 quarts of oil from my local napa. I ended up having to put 2.5 quarts into my engine, the stick was bone dry. KEEP IN MIND I added oil last thursday! 1.5 quarts. It's getting out of control. THIS IS NOT NORMAL, GM.
I think Cadillac has a major problem with oil consumption that should be dealt with. GM seems to be in denial. 20 minutes ago I just finished going over the fluids in my vehicles (2013 Silverado 5.3, 1995 Jeep Wrangler and 2013 CTS Coupe 3.6). The only one that took any oil was the Caddy. At 1,600 miles on the odometer I have put a total of 3 quarts of oil in the CTS since it came off the showroom floor. Yet not one quart in the Silverado in 7,000 mile since it was delivered from the dealer. The Jeep with 135,000 miles on the odometer used 1/2 a quart since its last oil change 4,000 miles ago.
This may be my last GM car with this kind of product quality. The Caddy was a replacement for a 2006 MB C280 which never used a drop of oil between oil changes. Very disappointed in a $50K+ Cadillac.
I have to laugh this is how bright they think we are! I took mine in they said they never heard of that problem ha ha, but leave it with us and we will look into it ha ha, picking it up they told me to bring it back next week because they have a monitor placed on the car to figure out where the oil is going ha ha. They just wanted me to keep paying them to monitor there problem, a real big ha ha. Little did they know I myself have rebuilt 7 or 8 engines and not stupid. I called a week later and said I was bringing in the car for them to check where the oil was going, but I would not be paying for it, it would be on GM's dime. They wouldn't look at it, and what about this monitor that they put on? wouldn't you think that they would want it back big ha ha ha, no where to be found. I couldn't find it, the place I took it to, to change the oil couldn't find it? Can you believe our tax dollars went to these people to bail them out, to give us this. Bull...t and L..s. When I took it for a oil change last week the guy looked at me and said there is something wrong it only shows 5000 km and it has been 2 years since it was here. I replied, yes these cars where not made for driving, they are just made to look at. He looked at me very puzzled.
But as for the oil-I once had a Ford Marquis 1970 (apples to oranges I know but hear me out) and It had very high millage. And the oil light would flicker.
I added then as I always have-lucas oil treatment and I always add motor honey on top of the lucas. I run all my cars with heavy duty oil additives. I've never had any problems. All my engines--I've owned maybe thirty cars have ran like tops--high millage. I Noticed on My cts-it had one hundred fifty thousand miles it was a 2006 three point six-the previous owner had thicker than usual oil in it. I would have went this route-but there are about a dozen other problems that the cts are also known for--I don't have the time to list them all---but maybe try thicker oil-since conventional isn't working(I read it is due to undersize piston rings on top of the overall bad design--but what can you expect it to run like a caddilac?
Oh, and I traded my Caddy in on a 2014 Chevy Malibu. I absolutely love it! Good luck and thanks for listening.
Lori
I'm with you, kayaus2. If you've got one push hard for a fix. Your other (and best) option is to run the front yard away! Bail out! Extend! I can't tell you how much I loved that car, but it hurt me bad. This whole thing about oil consumption (any oil consumption) being acceptable is, frankly, unacceptable. BS! Who expects to have to check their oil every time they get gas??? Hell, to own one of these POS vehicles you would have to have an oil tanker truck following you to keep the damn thing on the road.
Signed,
So Hurt, Never Gonna Get Over It Unless GM Steps Up.
(But, then again, they don't have to. Do they.)
bgaytan;
From this forum and the GMC Acadia forum (Acadia uses same 3.6 liter engine as the CTS), unfortunately GM is of little help unless the engine is still under the powertrain warranty. Since your vehicle is a 2006, I assume it is not under warranty. This engine has significant problems with its timing chains (3 in total), and when you're losing oil it means there is insufficient lubrication of the timing chains and the rest of the engine. As a result the chains tend to stretch leading to major engine damage. If I were you I would top up the oil and trade it in as soon as possible. Good luck.
I have the same problem with my 06- CTS Eating Oil like every 2-months I have to add 2-Quarts