Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

[Bubba1235]

A buddy just bought a used Chrysler Pacifica with the 3.5 L engine. (Used with 22K miles on it.)


Anyhow he has put less than a thousand miles on it and when he checked it was a quart low on motor oil. (He changed the oil the day he bought it.) An inspection showed no leaks so he took it to the chrysler dealer and was told this is "normal" for that engine? Are you kidding me? When I have an engine using that much oil it's time to get rid of it or rebuild it! Surely this can't be right is it? Is the dealer BSing him or what?

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

If it isn't leaking it, and its not in the cooling system, I would think the exhaust would be visible with that much oil being burnt. Wouldn't be long before the catylitic converter to get plugged up. I would top it off, and monitor it again. Maybe he didn't get the right amount of oil put in it when he changed it last. I had a 3.5 in an Intrepid and it never used that much oil. It didn't use any in 5K miles using synthetic. Good luck.....SS

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

My wife has a 3.5 HO in her Charger. Not a hiccup yet and it has 50 - 60k. Been a great motor. Not losing/burning oil.....

 

[Maclin]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

What kind of oil do you use? I have 105k on one in a 2006 Pacifica. It will go thru a about half a quart maybe at 3000 mile changes. One time recently I tried to stretch it to 6000 miles and it was more than a quart low then, I was pretty embarassed.

The wife took it in one time at 85k miles (we got it at 60k) or so and they talked her into some (Valvoline) max life synthetic, I am almost certain it did not use oil before then. It has received that each change since then but I am about to go back to "regular" next time just to see what happens.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

Have that engine in my wife's 06 300 Touring & love it. (over 100K) Keep in mind that the engine takes 6 quarts of oil and maybe they only put 5 in when they changed the oil, Not knowing any different.

LK

 

[86 century]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

Had one in an 07 nitro ran great had good power.
Then one day out of the blue 500 miles from needing an oil change with 25000 on the clock has no oil showing on the stick.
No sign of a leak or blackened exhaust.

Needless to say it was gone before the warranty was up that thing was gone.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

LK,

I always look under the hood and check the dipstick after an oil change, usually the next day before starting it up. Got the car from my Dad, he had it from 30k or so until 60k. He and my brother and I talk about cars all the time so I am sure he would have mentioned oil usage.

This time right at 3k oil change time it was halfway in the range, definitely had used some. No leaks, runs great. I am only suspecting that the change in oil formulation is a factor.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

Talked with one of the local Chrysler mechanics (local dealership) and he said they have seen several "oil burning 3.5 L's" but Chrysler says that a quart in 1000 miles is within their specifications and they won't repair / replace the engine if it's no worse than that.

It's pretty dis-heartening that Chrysler would say a low mileage engine using 1 qt of oil in 1000 miles is within their spec, or "normal",,, it's setting up the owner for a blown engine. How many people check their oil every 1000 miles, and if they do, what if they forget? Owner neglect...

I had an old Civic with 330K miles that used oil like the Bubba's buddy's Pacifica, valve seals shot as far as I could determine. It ran great, but I had to check the oil and top it off once a week. I forgot to check the oil one week when I was really busy and driving a lot. Guess what happened...........

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

Well just an interesting thing. Talked with one of the local Chrysler mechanics (local dealership) and he said they have seen several "oil burning 3.5 L's" but Chrysler says that a quart in 1000 miles is within their specifications and they won't repair / replace the engine if it's no worse than that. It really seems like the luck of the draw when it comes to getting one of the bad ones.

He did note that it always seems to show up when the owner / driver changes types of oil (synth / vs non-synth) in either direction which I found strange.

You need to go directly to Chrysler. Sounds like the local guys are blowin' smoke up you know where. In our past experiences with corporate, they'll make things happen. Had nothing but good experiences while working with them.

 

[carguy001]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

my wife and I own a 2004 pacifica with the 3.5l it too uses ALOT of oil we bought it with 36k on it from a dealer. i am an all around mechanic so i do all my own work and stay up on the maintenece I change the oil @ 4k and it has used up to 2 quarts. i notice when it first starts a little puff of smoke comes out the tail pipe. these new cars burn so hot at the cat-converter that once your up and running you won't see the smoke because the oil almost evaporates in the converter. other than a transmission being replaced @65k (under warrenty) and the oil issue it has been a great car. i have tried heavier weight oil seemed to help a little the car now has 105K on it.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

I have a 2005 Pacifica that I picked up off lease with 30K miles on it; over 130K now. It's used a quart of oil every 1500 to 2000 miles the entire time. No visible leaks.

He did note that it always seems to show up when the owner / driver changes types of oil (synth / vs non-synth) in either direction which I found strange.

This might have been true with the original generations of synthetic oils, but it makes no sense today.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

Doesn't look that way. Do a Google search on the 3.5 L and the oil problem and you'll get a ton of hits from unhappy customers.

If it was me, I still would be talking to Chrysler......

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

I'm not sure who these people are are how reputable they are but I found this interesting. http://www.le-international.com/uploads/documents/049_Notes on Oil Consumption.pdf

 

[carguy001]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

when they put the tranny in @ 65k i ask and got a very stupid response from the dealer, "that is why the owners manual tells you to check the oil at regular intervals" i was not suprised by the response so i have just learned to keep a close eye on it.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

"that is why the owners manual tells you to check the oil at regular intervals"

LOL, how many people read the manual......

Being realistic, how many people don't check the oil and fluid levels in their car,,, at all! I would venture to say 25% of the vehicles driving down the road don't have the oil checked by the driver. Scarey but true. I've heard more than 1 vehicle rattling at the gas station and asked the driver if they checked the oil lately, when they/I check the oil it's several quarts low...

 

[carguy001]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

fishrdan-

i do a lot of side work for friends,family, and co-workers and over 1/2 the cars i work on i pull the dipstick out and the oil level is @ or below the add line. very sad that people dont take better care of equipment. most of these cars late 90's to 2005 models.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

fishrdan-

i do a lot of side work for friends,family, and co-workers and over 1/2 the cars i work on i pull the dipstick out and the oil level is @ or below the add line. very sad that people dont take better care of equipment. most of these cars late 90's to 2005 models.

since owner's manuals were mentioned, that reminds me of how my '03 Mountaineer manual said to NOT add oil until it reached the ADD mark on the stick...I did not follow that instruction, however

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Anyone own a Chrysler 3.5 liter?

03 Mountaineer manual said to NOT add oil until it reached the ADD mark on the stick...

Probably because some people think adding oil means cracking open a quart and dumping in ALL of it. :facepalm: