CarComplaints.com Notes: The Dodge Intrepid, Stratus & other Chrysler sedans are infamous for oil sludge problems with the 2.7L V6 engine. If someone offers to sell you a 2.7L V6 model, it's only worth the price of the scrap metal it's going to shortly turn into.
NOTE: Only the 2.7L V6 has the oil sludge problem. Our "Avoid like the Plague" designation is ONLY for models with the 2.7L V6 engine. All other available engines are very reliable with no major problems.
Even with regular maintenance, the oil sludge defect eventually destroys the 2.7L engine typically around 80,000-100,000 miles. The only true fix we know about is to put in the larger 3.2L engine, which has a great reputation.
This issue was never deemed a safety defect by the Feds, so there was no recall. In the end, Chrysler got away with FOUR YEARS worth of defective 2.7L V6 engines in their sedans.
Information I have shows that early timing chain replacement was caused by oil sludge, something I noticed around the oil filler cap soon after I purchased the used vehicle. Since the timing chain replacement, the car appears to still have sludge problems such as oil-starved knocking at idle and frequent instances of oil light coming on at idle. My mechanic did not know why, but a temporary fix was to put oil stabilizer (Lucas) that immediately quiets engine knocking and COMPENSATES for the reduced oil pressure.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Information I have shows that early timing chain replacement was caused by oil sludge, something I noticed around the oil filler cap soon after I purchased the used vehicle. Since the timing chain replacement, the car appears to still have sludge problems such as oil-starved knocking at idle and frequent instances of oil light coming on at idle. My mechanic did not know why, but a temporary fix was to put oil stabilizer (Lucas) that immediately quiets engine knocking and COMPENSATES for the reduced oil pressure.
- Steve W., Miami Springs, FL, US