CT5-V 2025 CT5 Blackwings - have your dealer check oil plug on the front of the engine (Service Bulletin attached)

[blackeneth]

I had my 25 checked … and the plug needed to be pushed in.

 

[leres]

I used an endoscope to look at mine which looks fine. My car was built on May 21st, 2025.

 

[williamset]

I used an endoscope to look at mine which looks fine. My car was built on May 21st, 2025.

View attachment 31739

Very interested in how you did this. I was about to ask how hard it is to remove the shear plate mentioned in the tsb. I'm assuming you didn't have to remove anything to get the endoscope in position?

Anyone know how hard it is to remove the shear plate?

 

[CB34]

Very interested in how you did this. I was about to ask how hard it is to remove the shear plate mentioned in the tsb. I'm assuming you didn't have to remove anything to get the endoscope in position?

Anyone know how hard it is to remove the shear plate?

If you want to take a look, you don't even need an endoscope. I was able to see it from up top with the hood open kneeling/crouching down right by the driver side headlight and a flashlight. The plug is around the middle of the motor and slightly towards the driver side. You can see it by looking down in the void right below the air intake on the engine side.

 

[leres]

Very interested in how you did this. I was about to ask how hard it is to remove the shear plate mentioned in the tsb. I'm assuming you didn't have to remove anything to get the endoscope in position?

Before I gave up I had removed the big plastic panel (8-10 flat-head torx fasteners, 4 washer-bolts, and one push pin), and the fasteners from the driver's side plastic panel (3 washer-bolts) but the last panel was pinned so I put everything back together.

Maybe someone with a SI subscription can make a pdf of the removal procedure. (My 3-day expired Saturday...)

For the endoscope, I put a 90 in it a few inches from the camera end and used a grabber to hold and aim it. I put the camera below the lowest belt and kept searching until I found the plug.

If you want to take a look, you don't even need an endoscope. I was able to see it from up top with the hood open kneeling/crouching down right by the driver side headlight and a flashlight. The plug is around the middle of the motor and slightly towards the driver side. You can see it by looking down in the void right below the air intake on the engine side.

I tried this and you're right! But I don't see how you'd get a decent picture from that far away and my eyesight wouldn't really let me see well enough to know if the plug is in far enough of not.

I can easily imagine it will take a tech the hour quoted to remove all of the panels and plates to get the view from below. But if it does need to be pushed in, having everything open would probably be the only way to fix it.

 

[williamset]

I very much appreciate the advice. I was able to view mine with the hood open and had a good degree of confidence the plug was pushed in enough. I went ahead and bought a borescope that connects to my phone just to be sure. I got the photo attached, which seems to confirm I'm in good shape. I have a 2025...

 

[CB34]

I very much appreciate the advice. I was able to view mine with the hood open and had a good degree of confidence the plug was pushed in enough. I went ahead and bought a borescope that connects to my phone just to be sure. I got the photo attached, which seems to confirm I'm in good shape. I have a 2025...

Yup - you're good

 

[Buddy the Car Guy]

After waiting 2.5 years for my 2025 Blackwing, the engine blew up at 134 miles. This was as a result of a Service Bulletin issued by Cadillac concerning the “possibility” that an oil galley plug “may not be properly seated” and to bring the car to a dealer to have it inspected. The car never made it to the dealership as the plug blew out at 134 miles, blew all of the oil out and seized the engine. There was no sense of urgency in the Bulletin or instruction to “park the car immediately”, have it towed to the dealership, etc. As I type this, the dealership is wrapping up the new engine replacement; a repair that will now taint the pedigree of this extremely rare Flagship, ultimate high performance Cadillac that I paid $110,000 for. I requested a Goodwill buy back or replacement vehicle from Cadillac; however, they refused citing North Carolina Lemon Law because this failure "did not meet the criteria” for a Lemon Law buy back.

Just thought you might wish to know about this..,

Buddy Holt
Greenville, NC

 

[CB34]

After waiting 2.5 years for my 2025 Blackwing, the engine blew up at 134 miles. This was as a result of a Service Bulletin issued by Cadillac concerning the “possibility” that an oil galley plug “may not be properly seated” and to bring the car to a dealer to have it inspected. The car never made it to the dealership as the plug blew out at 134 miles, blew all of the oil out and seized the engine. There was no sense of urgency in the Bulletin or instruction to “park the car immediately”, have it towed to the dealership, etc. As I type this, the dealership is wrapping up the new engine replacement; a repair that will now taint the pedigree of this extremely rare Flagship, ultimate high performance Cadillac that I paid $110,000 for. I requested a Goodwill buy back or replacement vehicle from Cadillac; however, they refused citing North Carolina Lemon Law because this failure "did not meet the criteria” for a Lemon Law buy back.

Just though you might wish to know about this..,

Buddy Holt
Greenville, NC

Very sorry to hear this. This bulletin was released back in February and seemed to impact all cars built from August 2024 - January 2025.

When did you take delivery of this car? If it was after February, it absolutely should have showed up when your dealer was doing PDI and they should have addressed it before you touched the steering wheel.

 

[Buddy the Car Guy]

I took delivery on January 13th; however, the car remained in my garage with 4 miles on it until the last week in October. As a collector, I was waiting to see if there was going to be a 2026 5BW produced. I received the notice in March, but since the car wasn't being driven at all, I told the dealership I would bring it in for the inspection when I began to do so. When it was confirmed the the 2025 5BW would NOT be the final year produced, I decided to drive the car and enjoy it. My son was actually on his was to the Cadillac dealership in Raleigh, NC when the plug blew out at 134 miles.

 

[MookdocOE]

I took delivery on January 13th; however, the car remained in my garage with 4 miles on it until the last week in October. As a collector, I was waiting to see if there was going to be a 2026 5BW produced. I received the notice in March, but since the car wasn't being driven at all, I told the dealership I would bring it in for the inspection when I began to do so. When it was confirmed the the 2025 5BW would NOT be the final year produced, I decided to drive the car and enjoy it. My son was actually on his was to the Cadillac dealership in Raleigh, NC when the plug blew out at 134 miles.

Crappy luck my man! Have them put new motor in and enjoy the ride!

 

[jbawden]

If it makes you feel better (or worse) about future value, we surpassed "extremely rare" category sometime after the early edition models were sold in 2022. We're in a still desirable low production status, but with a replacement on the horizon that may have + or - influence on this current generation. Some find the most enjoyment from plowing miles, others do by putting theirs in plastic bubbles with 4 miles. For me, occasional use is what makes me most happy. Get a replacement LT4 and enjoy the car as you see fit (hopefully by seeing at least some annual miles)

 

[Buddy the Car Guy]

If it makes you feel better (or worse) about future value, we surpassed "extremely rare" category sometime after the early edition models were sold in 2022. We're in a still desirable low production status, but with a replacement on the horizon that may have + or - influence on this current generation. Some find the most enjoyment from plowing miles, others do by putting theirs in plastic bubbles with 4 miles. For me, occasional use is what makes me most happy. Get a replacement LT4 and enjoy the car as you see fit (hopefully by seeing at least some annual miles)

Agreed. When I ordered the car in April, 2022 I was under the impression that it was going to be the final ICE, manual transmission Cadillac and perhaps a one year only production run. I live in a “smaller” southern town that only got an annual allocation of one or two. I had the opportunity to either buy an automatic that they had in inventory @MSRP or go to a larger town and buy a 6-speed for $10-15K over. I decided to be patient and yes the market changed (for everything) over time. I’m still happy that I waited for the build, didn’t pay stupid money and own arguably one of the finest sedans to ever come out of Detroit. It’s just regrettable that this engine failure occurred so early. Some armchair quarterbacks may say in hindsight I should have taken the car in for the inspection when I received the Bulletin; however, if I had elected to drive the car back in January, the plug would have blown out three months before the Bulletin was even released. I am disappointed, but will now enjoy driving this beautiful beast

 

[668LT4]

Some armchair quarterbacks may say in hindsight I should have taken the car in for the inspection when I received the Bulletin; however, if I had elected to drive the car back in January, the plug would have blown out three months before the Bulletin was even released. I am disappointed, but will now enjoy driving this beautiful beast

You did nothing wrong. Your dealer, on the other hand, should have inspected the issue before delivering the car. What an incredible shame for an LT4 to die in such a simple fashion.

Maybe the replacement engine, coupled with what you now know, or think, about future Cadillac sedans, will allow you to better enjoy the car you bought. To each his own, and for those who want to cover them and keep them as pristine as possible, OK. But put yourself on your Blackwing's... wheels. That car came off the line same as all the others. And most are out being driven around and having a blast. What a very sad life for the car to never get out and do what it was made to do! At least that is my take. I drive mine every chance I get, and it makes me so happy every time I do.

 

[Buddy the Car Guy]

Very wise words that I will adhere to starting today; just got it back!