Is it normal for a GXP engine to be noisy? My son has an'04 with about 65,000 miles on it and the engine sounds a bit noisy to me. Not near as quiet as my 2000 SSEi.

Mine is a little louder than I expected as well. I'm continuing to investigate, just to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary. I currently have 53,000km (32,932 miles).

Yes, sounds like crap out front but much better from the back!!

62,000 miles

Same here. It'* a bit noisy up front, especially if you have the hood open while the engine is running. I don't really hear any tapping or anything like that though.

I just turned 8k miles on my GXP, but the engine is very quiet. This is my third Northstar and this is, by far, the quietest engine of the three. I use full synthetic oil and have found that even when it'* really cold, the engine still sounds great. I had an 03 Seville STS that rattled and ticked upon start-up and it was really bad if it was cold out. The GXP'* engine was manufactured with a special coating on the pistons which was designed to keep the engine quiet.

??? I beat my GXP up routinely, yet she purrz. With the hood shut, it'* hard to tell it'* started. With the hood up, she is the quietest engine I have ever owned. So I am confused by some owners saying they have noise. Really, Alot of nitrous has been poured down the throat of the engine and countless WOT'*. She purrz @ nearing 30K.

Yeah sometimes I dont even know its running at idle. But in the morning its a bit louder until temp rises to normal. I have noticed that the engine stays hot longer than any other car i have owned. Maybe the Aluminum?

And thats a good thing here in the NE Vince. You would think it would cool off quicker being aluminum, but it doesn't. I have been out in freezing weather and took an hour to eat in a restaurant and came out to still warm air coming through the vents.