Oil Sludge in Chrysler's 2.7L Engine is a Toxic Hell Stew

Every car with an internal combustion engine needs oil to run. Oil sludge, sometimes called black sludge, is when that oil starts solidifying into a sticky hell stew that coats the inside of your engine. The sludge retains heat and starts putting severe strain on the mechanical parts of your engine. This all spells disaster for your car and typically results in a damaged beyond repair engine.

The Problem with the 2.7L DaimlerChyrlser Engine ∞

Preventing oil sludge is usually as easy as maintaining regular oil changes. In some engines, however, oil sludge can be unpreventable due to a defective crankcase ventilation system, water pump or some other problem.

In the case of the 2nd generation 2.7L V6 engines from DaimlerChrysler, reports indicate a poorly designed water pump allows internal coolant leakage which leads to oil sludge. Even with regular maintenance, Dodge and Chrysler owners is that even with proper care, their engines are experiencing catastrophic failure.

Signs of Oil Sludge ∞

• Loss of oil pressure
• Stalling Engine
• Engine Knocking
• Poor Gas Mileage
• Jerky Acceleration
• Piston Failure

Vehicles Most Affected by Oil Sludge ∞

Since 2001 the most commonly reported problem on CarComplaints.com has been either engine failure or timing chain problems with Chrysler & Dodge's 2.7l engine, both of which are the result of oil sludge.

The defective 2.7L engine is found in many vehicles, including 1998-2002 Chrysler Concordes, 300Ms, Sebrings and the the 2002 Dodge Stratus, but here are some of the most complained about on CarComplaints.com:

The Response ∞

DaimlerChrysler hired a 3rd party company to handle defective 2.7L Engine warranty claims, but made it extremely hard to ever win a claim. To even receive consideration, the owner will need to have records indicating an oil change every 3,000 miles that were done only by a certified Chrysler or Dodge dealer. According to them, if you changed the oil in your car it's your fault. If you had another mechanic change the oil in your car, it's his fault. Awesome.

In a 2005 interview with The Plain Dealer newspaper, a Chrysler engineer, Burke Brown, stepped up and said that oil capacity may have been a factor with this engine's oil sludge defect. He said they started using a smaller oil pump so that consumers could save on oil, giving the engine a five-quart capacity instead of six.

Despite all of this, DaimlerChrysler continues to deny any defect with their 2.7L engine. Unreal.

In May 2005, Chrysler spokesman Sam Locricchio said the automaker had only 600 complaints on record and that some of those may be duplicates. A sharp contrast to the 2,800 complaints on record at the Center for Auto Safety, according to its executive director, Clarence M. Ditlow. Who do you believe?

Quotes About Oil Sludge ∞

Chrysler has denied any defect and blamed problems on poor maintenance.

"In retrospect, that took away the margin. More oil means it [the oil] deteriorates slower," Brown said during an interview here at a media preview for the Charger. "If you don't change the oil on schedule, they [the 2.7-liter V-6s] don't tolerate a lot of abuse in that regard." Burke Brown, chief engineer at Chrysler

"It's not a widespread issue ... or a safety issue. It's a maintenance issue." Chrysler Group

"You have a car that goes from being a usable car to what some call a lawn ornament -- you park it on the lawn if you don't have money to fix it ... this is an economic disaster for consumers," Clarence Ditlow, Center for Auto Safety

Can it Be Prevented? ∞

Some are claiming that even with the defective engine it's possible to catch oil sludge early and prevent it from becoming a catastrophic mess.

If you see a sharp drop in oil pressure, drop your oil pan, check for signs of sludge and clean it out. Then buy a cheap filter and some oil and flush out your block. You will also need to clean your valves, which we recommend having a mechanic do.

Can it Be Repaired? ∞

However you decide to fix your blown 2.7L V6 engine, do not put in another defective 2.7L engine. Find a mechanic to swap up to a 3.2/3.5L engine instead. Here's why:

• The 3.2/3.5L engine doesn't have the design defect that causes oil sludge to form in the 2.7L V6.
• The 3.2/3.5L engines are less expensive than the 2.7L, sometimes by $1,000 or more.
• The 2.7L to 3.x swap is fairly straightforward & does not require any custom parts or other major components be replaced.

Here's a thread about a successful 2.7 to 3.2L engine swap & what's involved.

Some companies sell “fixed” 2.7L V6 replacement engines that supposedly have been modified to fix the oil sludge defect. We have not heard back from enough owners who have gone this route to be able to form an educated opinion on this method. Usually though, the cost of the modified 2.7L engine is prohibitive.