Re: Engines that are prone to sludge

Built_Well wrote:

> For Chrysler/Dodge:
> 
> 2.7 L V6
> 
> Automobile models and years:
> 
> 1998-2002 Concorde
> 1998-2002 Sebring
> 1998-2002 Intrepid
> 1998-2002 Stratus
> 
> New Warranty Coverage: None, handled on a case-by-case
> basis (Not as nice as the Audi/VW deal above)
> 
> Oil drain intervals for warranty coverage:
> 3,000 miles/three months (severe)
> 5,000 miles/six months (normal)
> 
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
> For Dodge/Jeep:
> 
> 3.9 L V6
> 5.2 L V8
> 5.9 L V8
> 
> Models and years:
> 
> 1994-1999 Ram Truck
> 1994-1999 Ram Van
> 1994-1999 Dakota
> 1994-1999 Durango
> 1994-1999 Grand Cherokee
> 
> New Warranty Coverage: None, handled on a case-by-case
> basis.
> 
> Oil drain intervals for warranty coverage:
> 3,000 miles/three months (severe)
> 5,000 miles/six months (normal)

> 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
> 
> ...Amsoil's
> source for the Chrysler/Dodge information is ConsumerRe****ts.Org and
> the source for the Dodge/Jeep info is a Chrysler TSB 09-05-00 (I
> guess
> this is a Technical Service Bulletin issued by Chrysler on
> 9/5/2000).

Interesting info. - thanks for posting it.  That Chrysler TSB must be 
only for the trucks because it doesn't show up in my alldata 
subscription on the '99 Concorde with 2.7L that I have (which 
incidentally is over 200k miles with no problems - I change the oil and 
filter every 3000-3500 miles and keep 8 oz. of Marvel Mystery Oil in the 
crankcase; other people use synthetic, which I don't - I have my 
reasons; and it is my 80 mile-per-day daily driver, which I think also 
helps prevent sludge).

Curious that they don't list the 2.7L thru 2004 (the year LH car 
production stopped).  There were some design changes in mid production 
that supposedly addressed the sludging, so maybe they are assuming that 
that fixed the problems - would have to check the LH car forums on the 
2.7L failure posts by owners to see if the failures were heavily 
concentrated in the earlier production years.  Evidence that something 
has worked is that they use the 2.7 heavily in the later platforms, and 
I haven't heard of failures in those (when they fail, it's generally in 
the range of 60k to 80k miles), plus it would be extremely foolish of 
them to start a whole new platform if it were not truly fixed.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my 
address with the letter 'x')