Cadillac Repair: 1994 Cadillac Seville SLS 4.6 Northstar w/ 78 k miles, cadillac seville sls, 1994 cadillac seville sls

Question
I purchased this car from a insurance auction. It was hit in the passenger side front so it needs a headlight, marker light, hood and maybe a bumper. But I was able to drive it home. I was a little concerned about the temps reaching about 217 and when i turn the car off and turn the key forward it was 226 degrees. Should i be concerned? Now off to the real question! I know these cars can burn a quart of oil every 2000 miles and it was a female owned car which i don't think they knew that. But the problem i'm have is there is a REALLY LOUD noise now coming from the engine that wasen't there after i drove it home but now there after i started the car the next day. My father is a mechanic and has been working on GMs for about 25 years but dosen't have to much experience with Cadillac's hey says : he thinks it spun a bearing due to the car being over revved. On the way home i only got on the car one time to see if it had any power. Could it of easily spun a bearing? I stuck a 2 quarts of cheap oil in there just to move it to a spot where i could do a proper oil change, i thought it could be knocking b/c the oil was extremly low. It seems like this sound started out quiet and now gets louder everytime i start the car. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Answer
Hi Carl,

     The coolant temp for that car is normal. At aprox. 226 the cooling fans will turn on and drop the temps. down.

     As for the noise. Depending on how low the oil was and how hard you accellerated 1 time is all it might take. However...What needs to be done is make sure the oil level is ok. Then remove the serpentine belt and run the engine to see if the noise is still there. If it went away then the alternator and a/c compressor are the likely suspects. Spin them by hand and see which one it might be.

    Cadillac has a special procedure to quiet lifter noises should they loose their prime. I don't have access to that bulletin at home but if you go to the dealer they can print a copy of it for you.

    If the noise is lower in the engine and makes a double knock when the throttle is just opened to aprox. 1500 and allowed to close then that is a rod bearing. If you brake torque the engine in drive to aprox. 1800 rpm and hear a low heavy knock that is main bearings. Eithor one will require the engine to come out of the car before the oil pan can be removed. If however you are a trans mechanic then the engine can be held up with a support bar while the trans is removed. Then the exhaust cross over pipe can be removed and the pan and bearing saddle be removed. There is a bulletin that addresses oil leaks and a copy ok it should be consulted and followed to see if this is something that you want to get involved with.

    If it were me there are really only 2 choices...sell the car as is or install a rebuilt engine because you might replace the bearings and then a head bolt thread might pop the next week and then the engine will need to come out again to have ALL the head bolt threads repaired useing another bulletin.

    Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but lets hope the noise is comming from the alt. or a/c comp. Bill