Northstar Engines in Buick Lucernes and Oldsmobile Auroras
When General Motors began selling the Buick Lucerne, it acted as a replacement for three vehicles: The Buick Park Avenue (Which had been sold for the previous 10 years with a 3.8L non-supercharged engine and a 3.8L supercharged engine), The Buick LeSabre, and the Oldsmobile Aurora. Of those three vehicles, only one had been equipped with a NorthStar engine: The Oldsmobile Aurora. The 4.0L engine used in the Aurora had several variations, but was used from 1996 to 2003. With a smaller displacement than the standard 4.6L Northstar Engines used in the Cadillac Devilles and Sevilles of the era, it quickly earned the nickname of “Short Star.”
When General Motors axed Oldsmobile, Cadillac regained a monopoly on the Northstar system. In 2006, Buick launched the Lucerne with two engines: a 3.8L (again, a continuation from the Park Avenue it replaced), and a 4.6L NorthStar engine. That’s right: Buick went full size. The 4.6L VIN “Y” engine in the 2006 Buick Lucerne is the same engine that is in the 2006 Cadillac DTS. In 2008, Buick took things a step further by adding the VIN “9″ engine to the lineup. The VIN 9 L37 engine had traditionally been placed in Cadillac vehicles with a goal of providing “hit it and get it” power. It is well known for being a responsive engine.
As always, if you are ever in need of an engine, please feel free to call us at 901-266-9996 or to fill out an engine request.
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Comments
Comment from Matthew
Time July 31, 2009 at 10:44 am
Miguel, some people do it, but they have computer, performance, and reliability problems after the swap. I recommend you stick with what you have.
Comment from Ken Johnson
Time January 29, 2010 at 12:35 pm
I have a 1996 Cadillac Seville sts vin 9 need a replacement engine
Comment from Miguel
Time July 31, 2009 at 4:16 am
CAN I REPLACE A 2000 CADILLAC DTS VIN 9 ENGINE WITH A 2000 CADILLAC DEVILLE VIN Y ENGINE?