Chrysler Pacifica Oil Problems

Replying to: mimma (Jul 27, 2007 11:43 am)

As a senior citizen driving a 2005 Pacifica Touring AWD I thought I had found my ‘dream car.’ I use the past tense since I began to have problems with oil consumption. I have since learned that Chrysler claims that using one quart of oil every 1000 thousand miles is ‘normal’ for their 3.5L engine up to 50,000 miles after which one quart every 750 miles is ‘normal.’ As a retired engineer my reaction to their internal memo that claims this type of oil consumption to be normal is #!!#%%!
 
I have always used a synthetic oil and recently switched to AMSOIL synthetic which requires an oil change every 25000 miles or once a year. They have successfully defended their clients against manufactures who have tried to avoid warranty claims based on not following their guidelines for oil change intervals. So far I am still within Chrysler’s guidelines since I just recently switched and AMSOIL is going to do an engine oil analysis to determine what is happening to cause this consumption excess. I use the phrase consumption since it has been determined that the car is not burning oil nor does it have an oil leak. In the mean time I am contacting an attorney to determine it there is a basis for filing a class action suite.
 
Having said all of that I still like the car and all I really want is for Chrysler to fix the problem while the car is still under warranty even if that means they have to replace the engine with a new one (right!) since not all Pacificas with the 3.5L have this problem.

Replies to this message:
• happytrails07 (Aug 06, 2007 5:50 am)
  • daveinater (Sep 23, 2007 5:02 pm)
    • qbrozen (Sep 24, 2007 9:41 am)
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  • licatach (Oct 01, 2007 12:13 pm)
    • happytrails07 (Nov 07, 2007 6:08 am)

Replying to: frjoel (Aug 04, 2007 3:25 pm)

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• daveinater (Sep 23, 2007 5:02 pm)
  • qbrozen (Sep 24, 2007 9:41 am)
  • happytrails07 (Sep 24, 2007 4:24 pm)
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• licatach (Oct 01, 2007 12:13 pm)
  • happytrails07 (Nov 07, 2007 6:08 am)

Replying to: happytrails07 (Aug 06, 2007 5:50 am)

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• qbrozen (Sep 24, 2007 9:41 am)
• happytrails07 (Sep 24, 2007 4:24 pm)
  • qbrozen (Sep 25, 2007 4:26 am)
  • qpower (Sep 27, 2007 3:28 am)
    • blufz1 (Sep 27, 2007 4:35 pm)
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Replying to: daveinater (Sep 23, 2007 5:02 pm)

Replying to: daveinater (Sep 23, 2007 5:02 pm)

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• qbrozen (Sep 25, 2007 4:26 am)
• qpower (Sep 27, 2007 3:28 am)
  • blufz1 (Sep 27, 2007 4:35 pm)
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Replying to: happytrails07 (Sep 24, 2007 4:24 pm)

Replying to: happytrails07 (Sep 24, 2007 4:24 pm)

Good Morning!
I am also a victim of Chrysler's perfidious treatment of its customers! Our 2005 Pacifica AWD Touring has been a conspicuous oil burner since its earliest mileage, and seems to use around 1 quart per 1000 miles or so. Frankly, the dip stick is hard to read and quantify as one side reads differently than another, but based upon the marks, we are always needing oil.
 
I have run a 6 K mile consumption test with the dealer I purchased from and they are a PITA! They claim that this is normal, which is shear bunk! I owned a VW New Beetle which also used oil like this, and VW did a ring job at 60K free under extended warranty due to a known and acknowledged situation. Frankly, that is Chrysler's trouble here, fessing up to what is really wrong.
 
I am in the wholesale auto parts business. There is no way that oil consumption at this rate is normal. My VW Touareg V6 consumes no meaningful amounts of oil between oil changes at 7500 miles on Mobil 1. My Chrysler 2001 Town and Country 3.3L V6 also consumes virtually no meaningful amounts of oil. It too is on Mobil 1.
 
I am deeply concerned as I just got the Pacifica back last night from the second local dealer, who parrots the same oil use nonsense. Interestingly, they discovered and repaired a problem with our Power Transfer unit which has made clicking sounds since new, whenever the wheel turns around like in a three point turn... we took it in for this complaint, and they fixed it with a replacement unit, and they told me this was a known trouble and they even keep the PTU replacement in stock as a result.
 
It MUST be a known trouble, then, for a dealer to keep an expensive part in stock!!
 
Frankly, I am concerned about buying another Chrysler product. I do enjoy the T&C, but life is short and it will need replacing soon enough. What then?
 
I think it may become time to trade out of the Pacifica before it is too far gone - before the engine develops more serious oil related damages. I just don't see the competitor landscape as offering a good and clear choice to move to...
 
Thoughts?
 
Any other PTU troubles?

Replies to this message:
• blufz1 (Sep 27, 2007 4:35 pm)
• qbrozen (Sep 28, 2007 4:52 am)
  • qpower (Sep 30, 2007 2:42 pm)
    • qbrozen (Oct 01, 2007 6:30 am)

Replying to: qpower (Sep 27, 2007 3:28 am)

Replying to: qpower (Sep 27, 2007 3:28 am)

Replies to this message:
• qpower (Sep 30, 2007 2:42 pm)
  • qbrozen (Oct 01, 2007 6:30 am)

Replying to: qbrozen (Sep 28, 2007 4:52 am)

Problem is, you still need to show that engine damage occured while it was being properly cared for... which is to say that engine failure does not translate directly into a warranty job.
 
I am so soured by the oil comsumption of this motor. One quart on average every thousand miles since early on is the sign of sloppy manufacturing. I have other late model vehicles that use virtually none, really, none..! This car has 36K and is just 25 months old.
 
So the answer is to get the best possible value and let this become someone else's problem!

Replies to this message:
• qbrozen (Oct 01, 2007 6:30 am)