How to Prevent Oil Sludge in a Chrysler 2.7L Engine

by Jerry Garner

The 2.7-liter engine manufactured by Daimler Chrysler made a name for itself, and not in a good way. The engine, which was used in the Chrysler Concorde and the Dodge Intrepid, among other models, was notorious for catastrophic engine failure as a result of oil sludge. Having an engine failure is no laughing matter, especially when it can usually be avoided with preventative maintenance.

Step 1

Change your thinking about car maintenance. We are always taught to not repair things that haven’t broken. This is just not the case when it comes to preventing oil sludge in your engine. The idea is to perform maintenance before the problems happen rather than waiting for a problem to occur.

Step 2

Use the best gasoline that you can afford to buy. In these economic times, it is easy for people to just go with the cheapest gas at the pump. The problem is that lower-grade fuels have more pollutants and impurities than higher grade petroleum. This leads to more filth in your engine and increases the chances of sludge developing. If you can afford to buy a premium fuel, do so.

Step 3

Change your oil frequently. Chrysler has changed the recommended oil change intervals several times, and it is still too high for the 2.7L engine. Do not wait until 5,000 miles to change your oil. This is an engine that has a history of oil sludge problems, and extra care should be taken to prevent it. That means changing your oil every 3,000 miles or every 3 months, whichever comes first.

Step 4

Switch to synthetic oil. It is important to use a true synthetic oil, such as Castol or Mobile One. These oils may cost more, but the are cleaner and will more easily work into the tight areas of the 2.7L engine. Using synthetic oil will also help to clean away any grime that was left by your old motor oil.

Step 5

Change your water pump and timing belt on a regular basis. This is where the issue in Step 1 is really critical. Most people would never think of changing a water pump before there is a problem with it, but if your pump starts leaking coolant into your oil, you will develop sludge before you know what happened. Sometimes the pump develops a leak on its own, or other times the timing belt make break and damage the pump. To prevent these problems from leading to oil sludge, you should replace your timing belt and water pump every 75,000 to 100,000 miles.

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