Chrysler 3.6L Major Oil Leak - 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.ย. 2024
- This 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan has a huge oil leak. We quickly determine it's another leaking oil cooler / oil filter housing. Let's fix it!
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As an engineer in the private sector I can guarantee that the engineer that designed that part did not want to make it from plastic but the bean counters forced them to
Thats so shit. You would think people would stand up for there morals. Fca still failing us to this day
If you watch Shark Tank at all, there are some good inventions brought forth but until the marketers adapt it to sell “for the low low price of $19.99”, they’ve sucked out the quality and made important components plastic and the skeptical consumers conclude that it’s all crap. There are some of us who don’t wish to buy everything we own at the dollar store!
I remember the era when plastic engine beauty covers came into fashion - 'how silly!' I thought - now large, important sections of the actual engine are plastic.
That's very true.
nah plastic oil pans etc are the way they are designed-- to break .
Well Wes,
maybe that’s Chrysler’s “rust belt” option, featuring an oil bath underbody coating system, to ward off the nastiness of those salt brine covered road surfaces…
Also you save money on oil changes because if you have to keep topping it off you get an oil change real quick.
Too bad their 57s didn't come with this feature.
@@michaelbenardo5695 yeah that’s their less advanced engine
@@GemmaLB that was how I changed the oil on an old honda I had lol
When Dorman offers an upgraded part, you know your OEM has hit an all-time low.
Also, when the Dorman part really does last longer, it further proves the OEM part is crap.
Dorman has had some decent oem fix parts over the years.
They do, but it’s almost
Impossible to get one as everyone needs it
The only one I’ve dealt with leaked, so I’m not sure if it’s any better. Best you can do is keep any eye out on the valley and if the end starts to fill with oil then replace it
I had to replace the cargo hatch release lever and assembly on a 2001 Toyota sienna. It was all plastic, but very well made glass fiber reinforced plastic. It unfortunately had shattered. The replacement was a cheap no-name Chinese part but every component was made of thick cast aluminum. It lasted longer than the original, it was still working perfectly when the van was rear-ended and totaled.
And people wonder why modern cars cost so much to have repairs done. The amount of stuff you have to remove to access anything on modern crap is incredible. Add in the ridiculous cost of parts and delays and it’s a wonder we repair them at all. Thanks for all your videos. So enlightening.👍
Check under the hood of the new Maverick and Bronco vehicles-a gold mine for labor charges!
all by design, they don't want people fixing things, throw it away and buy a new one.
thats the thing, they are designed like shit so that you wont repair but buy new cause its more cost effective.
Wes should start a broken tool collection for 2023 and see how many broke by the end of the year.
And issue a collectible sticker for each broken tool! (Collect 'em all!)
Ha, yes, do it Wes!
Then hold a auction of these broken tools.🤣🤣
@@lzappa9109 Oh. yeah.
That'll attract people from miiiiles around. /S
the issue is his choice of tool. do you really think metal should just sheer and snap? like any old tool steel screwdriver will bend. Centered metal (which is just a powderized metal that they heat up and compress never gets to its melting point) is cheap and shit. im not sure why you would hear metal snap and be like 'ill give them more money'... that only happens with aluminum. and even aluminum bends!! but hey. ignorance will cost you greatly
Wes I really appreciate the time and effort you put in filming all the prep work it takes to do even a "simple" job like this. All the camera angles, letting the camera roll, to then need some cue to hit all the "jump" edits, to make the presentation flow. Your efforts at the editing screen do not get nearly enough credit in my book. Excellent job young man.
That’s like all the plastic coolant nipples I replaced on 3.8 GM’s. The replacements were made of metal as they should have been from the factory. Got to love the bean-counters.
Every auto company is plagued by the people trying to save a dime and make parts out of plastic
I've had both the 3800 coolant elbows AND the 3.6 oil cooler repair. Whyyy plastic..... ughhhh
What a coincidence! I just had to make this repair on our 2012. Same symptoms, oil filled the valley and ran down the bell housing. This could easily be mistaken for a rear main seal if you didn’t inspect the valley area first. Ours failed after a snap of very cold weather, probably caused the brittle plastic to crack. This component is a weak spot in the 3.6, but not terrible for 200,000 miles and 10 years. Really enjoy your videos, Wes, thank you for taking the time to share your experiences.
I learnt many years ago when looking for an oil leak under an engine always start at the top. Many a suspected rear main oil seal leak has turned out to be a rocker cover gasket, oil pressure sender or inlet manifold leak.
My 18 charger had this happen last winter after a brutal cold snap car had 120 000 KMS at the time cost around $700 at local dealership with oil change I live in manitoba Canada
@@666linche5 Brrrrrrrrrrrrr🥶🥶🥶🥶
@@666linche5 At first thought, $700 seems like a lot because this job isn’t too bad. But knowing how much the part costs from Chrysler, and knowing how much dealer shop labor rates are, $700 is probably a fair price. The important thing is to catch it before you lose too much oil and damage the engine. As others have said, manufacturers are trying their best to make as many parts as possible from plastic. Unfortunately the temperature extremes from the coldest Canadian winter to the hottest Arizona summer is too much for GF Nylon to handle.
I’m actually doing a preemptive replacement. Upon pulling the filter today for a routine oil change, the bypass valve launched itself from the housing. The Dorman repair kit, which is just the plastic clip and spring costs $40 with tax. I already had the filter/cooler unit new in box that I had ordered for my daughter’s Journey, which is leaking and I have yet to fix, so it’s going in my 2012 T&C today instead of repairing the OEM which is without a doubt destined to eventually fail.
I’ve heard it said “ some people swear by it and some people swear at it!” Either case, it amounts to the same thing. I am surprised the whole engine wasn’t plastic, plain scary. Thanks for the ride along sir.
I had to do this job on my 2016 Grand Caravan. At the time mine was leaking the only part that wasn't an ebay/amazon knock off that I could find was the all aluminum dorman model. It came with all the seals, the sensors transfered over easily and it is still leak free after 1 year and 20000 miles.
I remember the time when (clothes) washing machines started using plastic in all manner of components. Things went from safe to 'flood your house' in the space of a few years.
Had that happen.
Also the nylon nut on the braided hose from the toilet valve to the tank, split the nut horizontally when we were out of town. Second floor bathroom water ran for about 12 hours and did 40 thousand dollars worth of damage. Spent seven weeks in a hotel while all the hardwood floors on two levels was replaced also sheetrock and insulation. Now we don't leave the house without shutting the valve.
@@kylekyleson373 Every year we drive 2 hours to celebrate Christmas with family. Since the storm was coming I wanted to leave Thursday at Noon and spend the whole weekend up in Michigan. So, I just turned off the main water to the house and opened up the kitchen faucet and downstairs bathroom one. That way if a pipe did burst the water would be very limited.
The reason I use only the direct drive Kenmore and whirlpools
Wes:” Can’t make an engine out of plastic”
BMW: “Aight bet”
That van took Fluid Film to a whole new level
I replaced the oil cooler in my brother's mother in law van with the aftermarket aluminum version two years ago and it's still not leaking great video keep up the good work God bless from GA and happy new year to you and your family stay safe
I replaced the distributor in my 2004 Astro with an aftermarket aluminum one. Best decision ever. There are some places where plastic makes sense but a lot of places where some vehicle manufacturer is just an a-hole trying to cheap out on us.
Hopefully you just didn't jinx yourself buddy. 🤪
@@86FxBdyCpe 3 years and still OK. 👍
Metal is always better than plastic, unless it has to be an insulator.
@@Rein_Ciarfella You mean the distributor in an Astro Van is PLASTIC???
As Eric O says (paraphrasing); You didn't build it, you didn't buy it, and you didn't break it Wes, you just fix it. Great job & video!
We at Valvoline recently started having to "inspect" the oil coolers by sticking a long screwdriver next to the filter to see if there's oil and coolant leaking. I'd say 80% of them have at least a little oil
wow
I wouldn't trust a quick lube kid on anything. You kids forget oil, over torque drain bolts. Over torque oil filters and lose hardware to shields. I wouldn't be surprised if you removed the filter first, lost oil to the valley, then did your screwdriver thing you scare the customer.
@@iamtheoffenderofall I've seen it all
@@denzal689 seeing and fixing your fuckups are two different things buddy. How many stripped oil pan drain bolts did you fix CORRECTLY? Everyone here will know you'll day zero, but we all know that's gonna be a lie. How many engines did you let go with no oil? What compels you to crank an oil filter well beyond its torque limit?
Seeing is one thing....your eyes play tricks on you. Fixing your fuckups is another. And I bet if we talked to all the automotive shops in your area....they would tell tales of the quick lube joints jacking peoples vehicles up.
To be fair, a little oil often drips from the filter upon removal. Leaving small deposits in the valley over time.
If I had to guess, the people saying the aluminum Doorman part isn't any good, probably just don't like Doorman as a brand. Some of Doorman's parts are really good, some of them not so much. Taking a part that is predominately plastic, that is known to get brittle and crack/leak/warp, then replace it with all aluminum construction, is usually a engineering design choice that is almost always better.
Exactly, one comment said made in China.
The Dorman I installed 4 months ago had made in USA cast on it, fit great and no issues.
Probably typical internet BS, bashing shit and no real experience with it otherwise.
@@rickp8603 made in China... along with damn near everything? There's good and bad... and also good and bad "Made in USA".
Yeah we’re constantly doing these things at the shop. Most of the time it’s from when the customer went to a crappy oil chance place, & they overtightened the oil filter. If it’s overtightened the filter locks into the housing making for a single use unit.
What's crazy is they mold the torque value into the filter cover. I decided to change the oil myself a while back and had to use a breaker bar and smack it with a mallet to break the drain plug loose. Never again. I do my own maintenance and repairs now. It's been a great learning experience.
That’s what you call job security. Great job as always wes. Your level of knowledge and skill are top notch. I’ve learned alot because of you. Thank you, please continue making these great videos.
These cars are built to fail so the customer comes back to the $ervice department
Sucks that they lowered the labor time from 3.5 to 2.1 on these cash. Literally all I do at a Chevy dealer
As fleet mechanic, i have done almost 100 of their Dodge Promaster delivery vans. Sometimes i average 8 vans per week. depending on parts availability
Maybe you should tell your techs to stop overtightening the oil filter? It's a crappy stupid part, but if you treat it with care it will last a lot longer.
@@frazzleface753 mine didn't start to leak until the last oil change. M
frazzleface753 You might be on to something oil change on Monday noticed oil under the van Tuesday morning.
The manufacturer guarantees an undercoating that is self applicating.
Have a great year ahead Wes and family. All the best for 2023
I just drilled a small hole in my oil pan to coat my under body.
Wes have you ever thought of teaching? You have an excellent way of explaining things and passing knowledge on.
I think he’s already doing it.
His knowledge reaches far more people than it ever would if it was taught in a classroom setting
The Aluminum Dorman oil cooler is excellent. Sometimes the O-rings on the bottom don't fit the best, if they don't fit well then replace them with HNBR (green) or Viton (brown) o-rings. The housing itself is absolutely amazing though, never seen one leak if attention was paid to the o-rings. They don't crack or break, and they have a nice bright orange filter cap so you know that the aluminum one has been installed. Go ahead and try one next time you do one of these.
"Shouldn't use plastic there."
Chrysler - "watch me"
Well Wes, look at it this way, when you invariably see that minivan again in a few years, she's been so well oiled that she won't be rusty as most cars you deal with! Silver lining!
Or, it will only be rusted on the passenger side 🙂
Love your channel Wes. Hopefully 2023 is a good one for all of us. Happy New Year!
Your president is making sure that's not going to happen.
I'm glad that you are doing the spark plugs. You might as well do them when you have the manifold off.
I ran a water and sewer system for a small city. I can assure you that the engineers that design critical infrastructure are every bit as good as those that design cars. It was fairly common to hear the workers lament how they would love to see the designer of the stuff having to repair it in field conditions before they were granted a license to work in their field. I have been retired since 2008 and I still occasionally have nightmares about a particular valve failing. Cheers. ~ulrich
As an engineering student, I agree that there is a reality to this one. I work in a maker space at my school. I am always shocked by how little thought most students give to assembly and production. As the engineering student making other engineering students designs I see it all the time.
@@notsam498 Yes, just because you can design it in glorious 3-D doesn't mean that A) it will work or B) it is able to be manufactured and/or assembled. I did design engineering for decades and if I were king, every design engineer would be forced to both sit on the assembly line and put together his/her designed parts, and then also have to repair them in the field. The world would be a much better place!
@@redmondjp I agree, the production and service life of a design is part of the problem an engineer needs to solve. When they fail too think of that, they cost time and money. Usually someone else's time and money. Personally I think a lot of mech-e would do good to have a machinist look over there shoulder occasionally with a cattle prod in hand. 🙂
This is an interesting comment. You mentioned licensing. How does that work? I'm guessing you are in Germany.
@@jeffryblackmon4846 that's essentially true in the United States as well. Engineers take the fe and pe exams often. Without an fe, an engineer cannot do certain things. Without a PE an engineer cannot sign off on many types of designs. Pretty much to do more then menial work as an engineer these certificates are required.
I have a 2012, 200 with a 3.6, had it from new, no complaints at all so far, been a great engine
Wes, 2017 Ram Promaster Van, 1500, 3.6L -- I have put TWO of those crap plastic ones in, NOW I have the aluminum one, So far it works great, the problem I had is "Jiffy Lube Johnny" torking the friggn cap on to 500 ft. lbs and twisting, cracking the housing - I think Dodge owes me money....
If you use the aftermarket aluminum replacement cooler. Swap the old oil pressure and temp sensors from the original to the replacement. The aftermarket sensors fail quickly.
Thanks for the video. 2 years ago I went through the two plastic oil filter adapter they are crappy Took the courage to do it myself with Dorman aluminum filter adapter it worked great.
Having worked at a shop that was around the corner from a Jiffy Lube, a Valvoline instant oil change, a Firestone, a Meineke, and a Midas I got real good at doing these on the Amazon vans. Never done one in a Caravan like this one yet, but did a ton of them.
Sitting here at Chrysler in Toronto today Saturday . What started out as a regular OEM oil change turned out to be a leaking oil cooler.
1600 + tax and two Tim Horton coffees later. At least the Mechanic is going to stick it out and get it done. When the rep told me the price I looked you up.
Thanks
$1,600?? You must have had a lot of other work done. Wes says book time on the cooler job is a couple hours. Even at $200 for the part and $200 an hour for labor it would be hard to hit even $800 for the cooler job.
@@thardyryll I thought that too, they brought it down to 1200. Taxes included.
HNY to you, Mrs Wes, lad and pup. Always a pleasure watching your videos especially during the lockdown days over the past couple of years when they helped to keep me sane. Hopefully we'll have more workshop fun from you in 2023. Regards from not so sunny England.
I have a Dorman metal oil cooler, I can not complain at all, did this a while ago on the Charger I own, and not a single leak anywhere!!! Don’t cut corners and follow instructions and you are golden !
A New episode of Watch Wes Work on New Years day is like a late Christmas present you found behind the tree.
A big part of what makes his channel what it is is his humorous rhtorical observations on manufacturers FUBARs and SNAFU's.
Any guy or gal that can work on new cramped plastic crap in confined spaces is a saint, I find this too frustrating to watch. Give me good old fasioned built to last cars with no computer crap. Happy new year Wes and family.
We had this fixed on our 2014. We took it to our favorite mechanic, who does a lot of work on BMWs and other imports. The plastic part didn't phase him and we knew he'd already be wary of over torquing and what not. With the F revision of the part it's been solid for the last 30k/miles or so.
Did FCA finally make this part somewhat reliable?
No. Replaced mine with an aluminum aftermarket cooler unit..much more expensive than OEM part
Perfect timing! My sister brought her TrailSquawk in for a oil change today. I popped the hood and something told me to check the oil before I changed it. NOTHING ON THE STICK!
Surprisingly, Dorman has actually come up with a fix for that, they make that entire block assembly out of aluminum. You just have to put on the accessories and reinstall it on the engine.
All modern cars by all brands have plastic intakes...The 3.6 oil leaks come from people over tightening the oil filter as its located on that housing on the top of the engine.
Chrysler…the gift that keeps giving.
For mechanics 😆
As an instructor of mine once said, I've made a lotta money off them.
Hyundai/Kia.....Nissan/Infiniti.....FCA/Molar
The big 3 of the cheapest garbage out there.
Yeah like 4 wheeled herpes.
@@iamtheoffenderofall I had a Kia loan car a couple years ago, the thing was the cheapest pile of garbage you can imagine and no matter how hard you drove it, the thing had no power.
I was raised in Central Illinois around Bloomington & now live in N.E. Mississippi and I watch EVERY VID !!! 😊
Sure could use someone like you down here !!! Nothing but over priced dealerships !!!
I'm not sure if the part being plastic is even the issue with these. None of the "failed" coolers I've removed show any defects other than the rubber seals being compressed. BMWs have similar leaks on their oil filter housings but those are aluminum, the seals just get hard. The ultimate solution is to make the seals out of a different material that actually lasts.
having been a mechanic for a few years I really enjoy your videos. I am amazed at your calm demeanor when working on stuff that the designers built that makes repair next to impossible. I now hate to even work on my own stuff. You also make me smile with your short but sweet remarks. keep me smiling and keep bailing out those that have no idea what is wrong and bring their problem to you.
It may seem like a bug but it is really a feature. Thanks to the self-sustained fluid film application those underbodies will still be mint at 20 years old.
Repaired mine January 2024. Used 0-ring kit and upper & lower intake gasket set. $75 total cost ($22 was for Mopar coolant). I believe this is all that is required for the majority of these repairs! 🔧
And I was supplying these guys exterior lighting about the time this engine would have been engineered. This is just prior to bankruptcy and the free giveaway to Fiat. They had and I mean no money to spend. They came in and asked us what kind of tail light they could get for $12. We literally laughed them out of the room. We said "You can't get the wire harness and the bulbs for $12."
After watching lots of car repair videos I have stayed away from purchasing a Chrysler product, thanks Wes & Happy New year
Wes, I can honestly say this is the best video you have released in 2023. 👍 *Thank You* for the time and effort taken in creating this video for our viewing pleasure and I hope you, Mrs Wes, Kiddo and Max have an easier coming year than the last couple we have all endured. Your videos are greatly appreciated. Stay safe and warm.
Umm, it is his only video of 2023 when you made this comment. So I guess that are not wrong...
Reminds me of that 258 straight six engine I had with the plastic valve cover. Doubtless it rolled off the factory floor leaking oil. That was in 1983
These quite often crack if you over torque the filter housing during a change. I have a Jeep with one of these and while it’s under warranty it goes to the dealer for oil changes - it kills me to do so as I enjoy working on my own vehicles but if they break it - they pay to replace it.
Was actually looking at a caravan for my mom. Glad I saw this!
That valley holds a shocking amount of oil. Apparently Dorman makes an all aluminum version of that cooler, but I've never personally used one.
It’s supposed to hold about a quart of oil according to Chrysler lol, every single one of these we get in our shop we replace with the Dorman ones, on both the 3.6 and 3.2, never had an issue with them yet.
@@Cellomaster1234 even if u were to have an issue i assume all you'll have to do is just change the gaskets wich are a mere few quids compared to a whole new piece, been there done that, changed the gaskets for the oil cooler for 10$
“It’s sounds to good to be true” put it’s has Dorman written all over it.😂👍😎
A pleasure watching you work sir😊
As long as it makes it out of warranty it'll never detour manufacturers from making crap out of plastic. I draw the line at early 2000's vehicles for the vehicle I own. Not designed to fail nearly as much as the new garbage
“Rodent Snack Tray” , love it 😊 . Thanks for the video Wes.
I am so glad I found your channel many moons ago, someone that is as sarcastic as I am, kinda rough around the edges and has just a slight anger management issue BUT has a heart of gold!!!! Watching you soothes me where I sold all my tools and equipment 6 years ago and gives me just enough of the mechanical repair thing to satisfy my hunger and remind me that I have no desires to return to "turning wrenches". Thanks Wes... :)
Hi Wes! First and most important to you and your family, a HEALTHY and Happy 2023.
Now, to answer your question at the end of the video about plastic engines when you said, what are you gonna do? Well, I didn't buy Chrysler. My engine has a normal oil filter that I can get to from the bottom just like the good old days. Please have a GREAT 2023!
We've had various vehicles over the years and with high mileages, but this one takes the cake! Just look at that oil lake at 6.00, never seen a leak that bad before.
Yea its a total clown show. Soaked the entire bottom of my jeep took my two days to replace. Really upsetting they would do this
I put a upgraded all aluminum version on for a friend and it's on a 2016 Dodge Caravan. I never installed one until this install and the process required some colorful language. You made it look much easier tha my f#%÷ing hack job.
Very many thanks for all your videos which are always informative and generally very humorous!
Happy New Year to you and all your family, Dan.
Watching you work on that Mopar seems like a new level of hell. Especially with chunks of ice still in the cowl.
I did this job on my 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The Dorman part doesn't fit my year, it starts at the 2014 because the stacked plate cooler bolt pattern changed in 2014. Luckily, I found a wrecked 2014 Wrangler and bought the oil cooler so I could retrofit my Jeep to take this upgraded part. Anyway, it was tedious but well worth it, because I discovered the cooler on my Jeep had been previously replaced with a newer OEM assembly, so it was obviously an issue. I did my spark plugs and installed a Baxter spin on oil filter adapter while I was at it. The cartridge filters don't seal or filter that great in my opinion, plus the plastic bypass valve in the filter mounting cap is rinky dink as hell. Added bonus, I got anti-drainback functionality back with this modification.
It's a minor flaw in a otherwise great engine. We have 2 of these in our family. We had the same problem last year with our 2014 Jeep. It's the 3.2 engine but has the same exact cooler. We had it replaced and back on the road. Our van has the same thing as well. Both vehicles have had it replaced. It's the only thing we've ever had to fix on these engines. I am very happy with them. I see new trucks blowing up engines at 10 thousand miles. What junk
self-lubricating chassis system is in full effect on that one. lol
I replaced the one in my wife's van with an aluminum aftermarket, still going strong, definitely better than plastic,.
Happy New Year, Wes! Great video. Very common problem as you point out...especially on JEEPS. Yep, the 3.6 (and 3.8; both) comes from a mini-van. This filter housing/oil cooler is a really stupid idea (forget that it's also plastic). All the oil filter gorillas that need to put them on with 250 ft lbs of torque are gonna buy a bunch of these in their lifetimes. All that torque translates down to where those o-rings seat...guess what? Yep...they crack and get loose...then the rust-proofing happens! Look forward to many more videos in 2023. Thanks for doing what you do...and sharing with us.
I hate the room that is given to work on these new vehicles. Miss the old days where you could crawl into the engine compartment and sit on the inner wheel fender. Also, when you dropped a tool it went all the way to the ground. I have lost way too many tools that fell into the black obis never to be seen again. Thanks for sharing and a very Happy New Year to you and yours.
These are pretty easy compared to some of the junk out there.
I'm thinking that if one has a drill press, one could drill holes through the handles/shanks of the most commonly used tools, run some cord or wire or string through them so as to be easier to retrieve. 🔬☢
_Happy New Year to you Wes, and your family!_ Keep up the great work sir! Cheers mate!
"At least the Driver's side is undercoated". Thanks, Chrysler. Always adding value where others don't. 👏
Plastic is not a bad material, but does require proper design, engineering and manufacturing- three things that Chrysler ain't always known for
Think Chrysler is bad, try Mitsubishi
Plastic is not a good material for something that goes through a lot of heat cycles, it makes the plastic very brittle over time, and it will always eventually break. Metal is way more durable when it comes to heat cycles.
The bean counters never take into account the damage they do to the brand with cheap cost cutting measures like this. The crazy thing is the saving never gets passed on to the buyer anyway, pointless.
Yep, I've seen that before. I have a 14 promaster 2500 work van with the same pos engine. About 3 months ago, I was on the highway, and it reduced power. I took it to a dodge dealer, and it was 3 quarts of oil low. The whole top of the engine was coated as well as the underside of the van. They had to replace the same part. And it wasn't cheap.
Plastic is the perfect material when you want to save money and guarantee the part will last just through warranty.
Always a pleasure Wes..Happy Trails
Happy New Year Wes. Great content. As a former Illinois resident I don't miss the glazed donut (salt) effect of winter driving up there. Cheers.
But you make it sound so appetizing!
I have owned three Chrysler minivans and can vouch for everything Wes and other detractors say. I only buy them - used, never new - because their resale value is so low that they are dirt cheap. And they will give you plenty of DIY repair experience. My latest is a 2002, bought a year ago with 200k miles for $2,300. Where I live cars never rust, so we’ll see how long this one lasts. Gave my 1999 Caravan to my housekeeper after her PT Cruiser bit the dust. The PT was Chrysler’s successful attempt to build a car even less reliable than the minivans. The Caravan is still running, however barely, at 235k.
Consumer Reports nailed it when they warned readers “don’t be tempted” by dealers trying to move the last of their inventories of the design shown in this video.
Meanwhile my wife’s 2008 Lexus has had precisely one repair, the water pump, in its 16 years and 135k miles. Oh, I did have to replace the little rubber cover on the tailgate latch switch the other day.
Happy New Year Wes (& family)
Inaccessible spare tires on those vans are another engineering marvel!!!
Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦
That big round thing on the underside was the wheel well for the spare tire? How many seats do you have to remove to get at the spare tire?
@@susanrollinson Probably fewer than if you had to, say, winch it down from above like truck spare carrier. 🙂
Happy 2023 Wes! All the best to you and yours. I look forward to all the quality content a fella is gonna produce this year!
The aluminum one from Dorman is about the only part I will buy from them. Did mine on a jeep.
I installed the all aluminum Dorman a few months ago my wrangler. So far so good
I learned two things about this engine when doing the wifes plugs on our 2014.
1) The resonator is easier to pull out after removing the upper intake, and before putting the intake back and
2) The upper intake snaps really easily if you get a tab out of alignment on the front when reinstalling (bonus lesson: wood screws and a really small reinforcement plate work well to restore the strength of the hold down for less than the dealer tax for a whole intake.)
It is 2104 already?
@@lvsqcsl Yes, and car engineers still suck !
Fixed it.
@@kstricl Good one!
I had a 2014. I replaced the first one with an after mkg unit . It took 8 hours because I torqued every nut & bolt, I didn't have money to pay to have it done. It leaked again, I replaced all the O'rings @ 4 hours, leaked again! I went to the dealer hat in hand, Dodge replaced it gratis! It began to leak a forth time 2020. I immediately traded it in for a new Santa fe. Hyundai gave me $6k + $10k end of year incentive. I drove off with a $19 k loan change oil 5k miles drain & fill tranny @30k . Just ordered an oil catch can kit & CRC intake GDI cleaner, no problems. You made it look too easy, but then, I'm an amature.
Great video Wes! Love the content and your humor always! Those Caravans... Get Outta Dodge!! Happy New Year to you and family.
The little GM 4 cylinder vortec engines have the same issue but with thermo housing. Plastics. Got to love it.
So much plastic....in FL that stuff just crumbles. I can only imagine what happens in the SW. Thanks for the video and happy New Year.
Thanks for the video, always enjoy watching!
I'm not an automotive engineer, but placing an oil cooler in between the cylinder heads doesn't sound like a solid logical decision to me. Then they made the call to join injection molded plastic oil tubes to what looks like Aluminum heat exchanger. Its a 2017, the loan is likely paid off, and its time to turn on the reoccurring revenue parts stream. This is something , in my book that should never be a problem, and should never have been placed underneath the intake manifold. This is just another one of many bone head engineering accomplishments, Wes has the pleasure to work on. Remember the day when you opened the hood of you 1970 Chevy Nova, and you could identify engine and carb without removing one fastener?
Well there IS a lot of air flow down there by that heat exchanger... it's just inside the intake manifold! 😉 That's close enough, right?
That's why i purchased my '09 town & country with the boring 3.8 timing chain engine and standard fuel injection and valves. Has been trouble free except for a recent plastic thermostat housing replacement.
For once, I think I actually had a worse day than you did :P I replaced the valve cover gaskets on my mother's 04 Ford Explorer 4.0. I also did the intake manifold gaskets. The local shops wanted between $850 and $900 to do it :( I just charged her for the parts. It was not an enjoyable job, and certainly not how I had planned to spend New Year's Day. But it needed to be done, so I did it.
You charged her for the parts??
@@georgeharvey4304 Of course. It's her car :P The parts were only $50 on sale from NAPA, so she still saved $800+. She also bought me lunch the following day, as a thank you for spending 8 hours wrenching on her car.
Good man
We had 2 of these in the shop last week for the oil filter adapter under the intake. Surprised a recall has t been issued or a class action lawsuit. Haven’t seen it physically to see if it is worth it. There is an aftermarket all metal adapter that is supposed to eliminate this issue.
Have you had anything like a Ford Fusion in because the damn heat won't switch from vent to defrost? Really irks me that is a problem at all.
@@steveeab2364 not ford specifically. Many in from blend door actuator failures. Miss the days of vacuum actuators, those rarely failed
My 2016 F150 got a new plastic intake last month, this month the magnesium transfer case has rotted through. The truck looks like new but it should, it has less than 50,000 miles on it. Keep smilin and Happy New Year.
Keeps it rust free!
I have that exact engine that hasn't developed the leak yet. Thanks for the look into the future.
Chrysler: *Hold my beer.*
Did I tune into the right channel? No hidden nasty surprises or new parts that don't work. Wahoo starting the new year off right. Stay safe.
Chrysler engineer: "Yes, you never need to change the spark plugs either! Who would want to take all the intake plastic off anyway? "
My favorite channel on TH-cam. Keep up the good work Wes.