From 1998-2000 2.7L Engines are prone to premature catastrophic engine failure due to a defectively designed Timing Chain Tensioner that Chrysler quietly redesigned. Unfortunately, many consumers have had to pay out of their own pockets for this while Chrysler avoids responsibility.

From 1998-2004 Dodge / Chrysler 2.7L Engines are prone to Oil Sludge often caused by internal coolant leakage that has to do with the design of the Water Pump that allows coolant to enter the Engine over time and cause oil sludge, experts at a well known remanufacturing company say. The second common cause of engine sludge is from poor oil circulation caused by oil passages that are too narrow causing the oil to wear down more rapidly unlike normal engines. Another contributing oil sludge factor is possibly due to an inadequately designed PCV system that can also accelerate engine oil breakdown, which Chrysler later made improvements to for the 2005 model year along with other changes knowledgeable sources state. Although Chrysler is aware and there is nothing consumers could have done to cause this, Chrysler still regularly blames consumers for 2.7L Engine Oil Sludge.

Chrysler is aware of certain problems and vulnerabilities the 2.7L Engine is prone to have and has quietly made various design changes over the years such as redesigning the Timing Chain Tensioner that was prone to premature failure in 2000, to making changes to try and prevent internal coolant leakage over time into the crankcase. For 2005, changes included improvements to the PCV system and for oil circulation, to even later increasing oil capacity by an extra quart in an attempt to make the engine more robust. Unfortunately, even with all of these modifications we have been informed of premature Dodge / Chrysler 2.7L Engine failures in 2006 Dodge, Chrysler vehicle models.

Chrysler refuses to cover prematurely failed engines even when under its own 3 Year / 36,000 mile warranty while blaming consumers for these problems. These problems are so common and so well known that extended warranty companies also decline to cover Chrysler 2.7L engines. In many cases consumers have changed or had their oil changed every 3,000 miles with name brand motor oil. Many consumers have been able to provide proof while Chrysler still refuses to cover failed 2.7L engines under warranty. It is a common misconception that sludge is caused by brand or type of motor oil since all motor oil sold must meet the same basic standards. However, if the oil was changed regularly then Chrysler might say ‘it must be the brand or type of oil you used then’. If you can prove that you used a leading motor oil, ‘where did you have it changed?’. Chrysler might then tell you they are not going to be able to cover it then because you changed your oil yourself or had it changed somewhere else. In fact Federal Law (Magnuson-Moss Act) prohibits an automobile manufacturer to void a warranty or deny warranty claim based on using aftermarket tune up or maintenance parts, such as spark plugs or motor oil for example or 3rd party service, unless provided free of charge. There are other consumers who have followed the intervals recommended by Chrysler in their vehicle’s owners manual that state oil changes up to every 7,500 miles are acceptable in normal conditions where they’ve changed their oil every 5,000-6,000 miles only to be told ‘you didn’t change your motor oil enough and your engine failed due to neglect’. In fact, Chrysler even currently recommends oil change intervals of every 6,000 miles for normal conditions in current owners manuals. When vehicles are purchased used from dealers and used car lots where consumers often believe they have no proof of regular oil changes prior to their ownership, Chrysler typically automatically refuses warranty claims blaming the previous owner. When a consumer has proof or regular 3,000 mile oil changes performed by a dealer we’ve heard of Chrysler going as far as to blame the dealer’s lube technician!

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