2010 Chrysler 3.8L burning oil

[steveh]

Originally Posted By: Flareside302
The 3.3 and 3.8 both commonly burn oil. A fix typically is a pcv valve replacement or going to 5w30 or thicker synthetic with a really low black.

Mother in law is running Pennzoil ultra 5w30 in her 06 3.3 caravan and after 5k on this run its only down 1 Qt. Previous run of valvoline conv. It burned 2 QTS in 3k miles.. Gonna stretch her OCI out to 7500 as its first run of synthetic. Next run will be Amsoil Signature series 10w30.
I had good luck with my 3.3.The rest of the 95 Intrepid was a POS from day one.

 

[otis24]

I purchased my 2005 Grand Caravan new (3.8 engine). I would consume a about 3/4ths of a quart in 1200-1300 miles. That issue led me to find bitog. Since about 36k on the odometer, I switched to full snynthetic (Pennzoil Platinum or Mobil 1, depending on price). Using synthetic reduced the amount of consumption. During my one and only used oil analysis, Dyson commented that synthetic was less volatile and therefore there was a reduction in the amount of consumption. I currently have 179k on the odometer and the Grand Caravan still runs great.

I also just added a 2009 Town and Country to the lineup (3.8). Based on the oil change sticker from the dealership, the vehicle used a quart in about 1200 miles. I assume they used GM bulk oil. I will change out to a full synthetic soon.

Point being, I think the consumption issue is a characteristic of these engines. We have been engrained not to expect an engine to consume, and are therefore troubled by it when we see an engine that does have consumption.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. Choose a good synthetic and make sure you check your oil level on a regular basis, which is something you should do anyway.

 

[Jiblet]

I have an 08 wrangler with the 3.8, luckily I have no oil consumption issues so far. But I have followed the jeep forums for years. In fact oil consumption posts on jeep forums led me to BITOG.

Some 3.8s burn oil, no question about it. Some did it from the get go, some had no issue for many miles then suddenly started consuming oil.

The misaligned ring issue happened during the late 07 and the very early 08 model year. It led to many a spun bearing and plenty of rebuilds. As far as I know it was never definitively shown that they engines in question came from the Mexican plant but that's the rumor.

There was also a problem with porosity in castings of timing covers causing oil loss. TSBs were issued for that.

Another "fix" is to change out the PCV valve. Many reports of that solving the consumption problem. Also many saying it did nothing. Same goes for switching the 5w-20 to different grade oil. Mixed results.

Can't say I understand how changing from 5w-20 to xw-30,40, etc. would stop oil consumption in an engine that is using a quart or more over 1000 miles.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

I'll add my personal experience with my 3.3/3.8 mopars.

In 2001 I bought an off lease 2000 GC 3.3, with 25k miles. @ 3k, no oil use?! Changed to 5k oci, still no oil use. At 50k miles, changed to Mobil 1 5w30 or 10w30 and 1 year oci, ~10k miles. At this point van was using less then 1 qt./oc . At around 100k miles, started to see some oil use, around 1 qt./5k miles. For the last oil change at 153k miles,van had used a total of 2 1/2 qts. in 11k miles. For the last oc I had used Mobil 1 5w-40. While cleaning up the van I discovered the valve covers were leaking quite a bit. The vc gaskets were changed and I put in Mobil 1 5w30 high mileage. We'll see how it goes at the next oil change.

In 2006 I bought 1994 GC 3.3 with 178k miles for my son. From the 1st. it was getting ~1200 miles/qt. All the usual repairs were done with little effect on oil usage. Van now has 240k miles on it and still uses ~1200 miles/qt.

!n 2008 I bought a 1994 Plymouth GV 3.8 with 187k miles. Did All the usual repairs, oil millage improved to 1800/qt. I'm now using RT-6 5w-40 and getting 3k/qt.

So, it appears that YMMV....

I will add this, all of the mopar motors prior to the new generation ohc ones require serious attention to the PCV system. I personally clean the PCV valve at each OC or twice a year and replace it every 2 years.

Wayne

 

[IndyFan]

Originally Posted By: Oldmoparguy1
I'll add my personal experience with my 3.3/3.8 mopars.

In 2001 I bought an off lease 2000 GC 3.3, with 25k miles. @ 3k, no oil use?! Changed to 5k oci, still no oil use. At 50k miles, changed to Mobil 1 5w30 or 10w30 and 1 year oci, ~10k miles. At this point van was using less then 1 qt./oc . At around 100k miles, started to see some oil use, around 1 qt./5k miles. For the last oil change at 153k miles,van had used a total of 2 1/2 qts. in 11k miles. For the last oc I had used Mobil 1 5w-40. While cleaning up the van I discovered the valve covers were leaking quite a bit. The vc gaskets were changed and I put in Mobil 1 5w30 high mileage. We'll see how it goes at the next oil change.

In 2006 I bought 1994 GC 3.3 with 178k miles for my son. From the 1st. it was getting ~1200 miles/qt. All the usual repairs were done with little effect on oil usage. Van now has 240k miles on it and still uses ~1200 miles/qt.

!n 2008 I bought a 1994 Plymouth GV 3.8 with 187k miles. Did All the usual repairs, oil millage improved to 1800/qt. I'm now using RT-6 5w-40 and getting 3k/qt.

So, it appears that YMMV....

I will add this, all of the mopar motors prior to the new generation ohc ones require serious attention to the PCV system. I personally clean the PCV valve at each OC or twice a year and replace it every 2 years.

Wayne




What do you do to clean it? Replacing the PCV on my Jeep reduced consumption, as did Mobil 1 5w30 High Mileage, but I'm still using 1/2 quart or so every 1k miles. I'm betting the PCV is the culprit here, but I'm not sure there's a real solution short of a redesign of the PCV system.

Other than oil consumption, the engine has been a sweet one. Quiet, smooth, reliable, and just enough power/torque. (I have a 6 speed with 4.10 gears). It isn't a powerhouse, but it does just fine. If it didn't use oil, I'd be completely happy with it.

 

[artificialist]

My grandmother had a 2003 T&C van, and I think it used a 3.8.
1 Quart every 2000 miles. Sure that may not sound bad, but no other car in my family consumed that much oil.

 

[RMBC73]

We have a 2007 Wrangler that with the 3.8 that does burn oil. We bought it at 37K and have monitored the oil level very closely. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of posts on the Jeep forums which I frequent about this issue. The "made in Mexico" ring issue is highly debated along with changing the PCV and switching to heavier viscosities to remedy the issue. The real cause appears to be the machining of the blocks themselves. Chrysler has replaced many blocks under warranty after doing an oil consumption test and they do say that 1qt/1000 miles is acceptable. Many people feel their standard is ridiculous but that's what it is. As long as you check the oil level as the owner's manual tells you to do and keep the level in the safe zone you won't have any issue and many Wranglers with the oil issue are well over 100K miles. If you don't check the oil level and it runs low/dry then you'll have a spun bearing or other catastrophic issues usually aroung 50K miles.

 

[vssjim]

I'll bet that the converters don't think oil use is ok and they run out of warranty at 8yrs or 80,000.

 

[dlundblad]

Our 2009 wrangler has about 25x on it at the moment. Oil consumption seems to be at about 1/2 quart per 3000 miles or so? Much more than my 4.0 with 150x on it. Ill definitely keep an eye on it. I wonder if consumption with change when I begin to use PP rather than M1.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: Rand
They will seal your dipstick tube and drain plug and run an oil consumption test (IIRC)


No problem, pull oil filter, dump, reinstall...

Originally Posted By: vssjim
I'll bet that the converters don't think oil use is ok and they run out of warranty at 8yrs or 80,000.


I thought it was Fed law that all vehicles emission system had to be warrantied for 150K mi, was the reason zinc was reduced...

Sooo in that light appears the catalytic converter is not going to give a rats behind about oil usage...

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: Jiblet
I have an 08 wrangler with the 3.8, luckily I have no oil consumption issues so far. But I have followed the jeep forums for years. In fact oil consumption posts on jeep forums led me to BITOG.

Some 3.8s burn oil, no question about it. Some did it from the get go, some had no issue for many miles then suddenly started consuming oil.

The misaligned ring issue happened during the late 07 and the very early 08 model year. It led to many a spun bearing and plenty of rebuilds. As far as I know it was never definitively shown that they engines in question came from the Mexican plant but that's the rumor.

There was also a problem with porosity in castings of timing covers causing oil loss. TSBs were issued for that.

Another "fix" is to change out the PCV valve. Many reports of that solving the consumption problem. Also many saying it did nothing. Same goes for switching the 5w-20 to different grade oil. Mixed results.

Can't say I understand how changing from 5w-20 to xw-30,40, etc. would stop oil consumption in an engine that is using a quart or more over 1000 miles.



Huh?
You don't understand how switching from a 20 grade to a 40 grade would affect consumption? Are you serious?
It only makes sense that a thicker oil will be consumed slower than a thinner one. I don't understand why you are having trouble comprehending the whole idea.
Try the search function. I'm sure there is a few hundred threads explaining why thicker oil is consumed slower. Try reading a few of them.


OP.
If consumption is unacceptable I suggest either a 0w-40 or if your climate is warm enough a 5w/10w-40. Then monitor from there.
Check to see if its leaking or if no leaks are found then it can be inferred that its either getting by the valve guides or by the rings.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

Originally Posted By: IndyFan
Originally Posted By: Oldmoparguy1
I'll add my personal experience with my 3.3/3.8 mopars.

I will add this, all of the mopar motors prior to the new generation ohc ones require serious attention to the PCV system. I personally clean the PCV valve at each OC or twice a year and replace it every 2 years.

Wayne

What do you do to clean it? Replacing the PCV on my Jeep reduced consumption, as did Mobil 1 5w30 High Mileage, but I'm still using 1/2 quart or so every 1k miles. I'm betting the PCV is the culprit here, but I'm not sure there's a real solution short of a redesign of the PCV system.

I just spray it out with Gumout cleaner. Shake it, make sure it rattles. Now that I've gone to 1 year/10k OCI, I try to check it a couple of times a year.

Wayne

 

[Jiblet]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: Jiblet
I have an 08 wrangler with the 3.8, luckily I have no oil consumption issues so far. But I have followed the jeep forums for years. In fact oil consumption posts on jeep forums led me to BITOG.

Some 3.8s burn oil, no question about it. Some did it from the get go, some had no issue for many miles then suddenly started consuming oil.

The misaligned ring issue happened during the late 07 and the very early 08 model year. It led to many a spun bearing and plenty of rebuilds. As far as I know it was never definitively shown that they engines in question came from the Mexican plant but that's the rumor.

There was also a problem with porosity in castings of timing covers causing oil loss. TSBs were issued for that.

Another "fix" is to change out the PCV valve. Many reports of that solving the consumption problem. Also many saying it did nothing. Same goes for switching the 5w-20 to different grade oil. Mixed results.

Can't say I understand how changing from 5w-20 to xw-30,40, etc. would stop oil consumption in an engine that is using a quart or more over 1000 miles.



Huh?
You don't understand how switching from a 20 grade to a 40 grade would affect consumption? Are you serious?
It only makes sense that a thicker oil will be consumed slower than a thinner one. I don't understand why you are having trouble comprehending the whole idea.
Try the search function. I'm sure there is a few hundred threads explaining why thicker oil is consumed slower. Try reading a few of them.


OP.
If consumption is unacceptable I suggest either a 0w-40 or if your climate is warm enough a 5w/10w-40. Then monitor from there.
Check to see if its leaking or if no leaks are found then it can be inferred that its either getting by the valve guides or by the rings.


Affecting consumption or being consumed slower is a little different than stopping consumption of 1qt per thousand miles. But thank you for your enlightening contribution.

 

[IndyFan]

I just switched to Mobil 1 0w40, so we'll see how it goes. Anyone have thoughts on this oil? I'm probably due for another PCV valve replacement, too.

Anyone have direct experience with the NAPA replacement PCV for this engine?

 

[anpconnors]

Thanks for all the replies. We replaced the PCV valve (NAPA), no decrease in oil consumption. Going to try 10W30 QS as it was on sale for $2 qt. Not convinced synthetic oil is a value solution. Will try the 15W40 on 2nd change as we have a Diesel truck and I buy supplies on sale+rebate. It's just a shame that the last three new American built cars have had so much trouble...

 

[NeilR]

My $0.02, my dad had a 2005 (I think) Chrysler T&C with the 3.8L. From day one it burned about a quart over 3k miles, got a bit worse as it aged. I believe he was told this was "normal" as well.

He always used Castrol conventional (think it was 5w-20) and a NAPA Gold filter.

Sold it somewhere around 150k. Engine never had any problems, just burned oil.

 

[otis24]

I have a 2009 T&C with the 3.8. Using 1qt/1k. Started with Mobil 1 5w30. Have been topping off with 15w/40. It hasn't seemed to help much. Plan on using up my stash of Pennzoil Ultra 10w30 to see if lower Noack oil will make a difference.

I may switch to Delo400LE 5w/40 synthetic. It was a reasonably priced oil. If consumption continues, I will run 10k-15k miles since I am adding a quart every 1000 miles.

 

[demarpaint]

If the rings are in fact the cause of consumption according to a study Shell published some years ago a 20 grade oil can actually be a better choice, sometimes. The study was posted here, good luck finding it though.

 

[anpconnors]

Update: @ 84,000 miles replaced PCV twice, one NAPA and one Mopar, both times PCV rattled fine. No impact on oil consumption. Running 10w30 Quaker State or Mobil , whatever is on sale since it uses 2-3 quarts in 5-6,000 miles. Been @ dealer since Monday morning for oil and transmission fluid leaks with an eta of mid next week. They said it was oil pan, two tier and the transmission output shaft seals, covered under power-train warranty, but no rental car reimbursement...tried the "chat" with Chrysler Cares, and they did not care.

 

[dlundblad]

If wonder what consumption would be if a 10w40 was used?