Closing in on 400k on my 98 City and Country 3.8L LXi.
Knowing the original previous owner's phobia (laziness) of maintaining anything; besides a water pump, 2 sets of plugs, intake, oil pan and valve cover gaskets, the engine is about as untouched as the turn signals on a BMW!

I have had two 2.4L engines easily go over 400k no sweat in the cloud cars. The Mitsu 3.0 was a cool engine...when it's put in the 3000GT VR4 though.

 

I'm driving a '99 Dodge Caravan 3.3L with 255k+ miles on it. I'm installing its 2nd set of sparkplugs today. Other than replacing the forward valve cover gasket nothing else has been touched. Less than a quart of oil "used" between 6k oil changes, roughly 20 - 22 average MPG [with the A/C on]. This is the 2nd Dodge 3.3L I've driven, the 1st one I traded in at 300k+ for the one I now drive. IMO - a good reliable engine if you take care of it. I do not routinely pull a trailer.

 

Same.
My 1999 with 3.3L has over 300,000 and as of today I consider it still my most reliable vehicle.
IIRC never been in the motor. I think I replaced the water pump a time or two over the last 15 years.
I would not hesitate to drive it coast to coast.
That said, it's been maintained like it was an aircraft since I got it. But then I'm mentally ill. I have automotive repair OCD.

 

Was the engine maintained? That is the exception, not the rule. These engines will go 300,000 miles or more with proper care, as long as you don't have any problems with the rocker shaft pedestals breaking off.

 

In my opinion..The 3.0l mits motor is garbage..their belts break..valve seats drop causing them to burn oil..etc.,The chrysler engines on the other hand are great..i swear by 3.3l..3.8l and the 2.5l(turbo or non)..i won't even touch it if it has a mits motor in it.Both my current vans have a 3.3l and a 3.8l..The 01 t+c has 211,000 on it n still running very strong n ive done very little to it in the past 3 and half yrs of owning it..so yes the 3.3l is a very durable engine..

 

2006 DGC SXE 3.3L, just flip it to 201,xxx miles. Very pleased with this engine. Did some mods to wake it up for some zip, like 3.8L TB on the 3.3L engine. Common upgrade for nearly all the years.

 

If I remember correctly, the 3.0L engine that went south on you was what many of us here call a "Mitsusquishy" engine. Rather, for this generation of vans, Mitsubishi manufactured the 2.4L and 3.0L engines used in the vans, and Chrysler built the 3.3 and 3.8L engines.

The 3.0L btw, also has a timing belt, not a timing chain. Something you'll find is more than enough to talk the majority of this forum out of that engine to begin with.

Also, I'm probably the only one on the forum who would solidly recommend the 3.3L over all the rest, even including the 3.8. Now, I'm hoping that my previous sentence won't ignite the flame-war I'm anticipating of people calling me various names because the 3.3 and 3.8L are essentially the same engine. Well if they are, then I'm a monkey's uncle because I've had two VERY different experiences with them, and even when running properly, the 3.3L to me performs better. [In truth, they obviously are the same engine with slightly different displacement, but you know what I mean...]

Be happy with your 3.3L! My first Town & Country has gone 12 years and is still going merrily on its way with its *original* 3.3L EGA V6. ...mind you this is after beating the veritable crap out of that van.

Take care of it, and you'll get a great life out of that engine.

 

If I remember correctly, the 3.0L engine that went south on you was what many of us here call a "Mitsusquishy" engine. Rather, for this generation of vans, Mitsubishi manufactured the 2.4L and 3.0L engines used in the vans, and Chrysler built the 3.3 and 3.8L engines.

Leaving alone the fact that I think the 3.0 is every bit the engine the 3.3 is, Mitsubishi didn't manufacture the 2.4 in the minivans. That one is the same engine that is in my Stratus sedan and it was manufactured in Saltillo, Mexico by Chrysler. The only 4 banger Mitsubishi ever produced is the 2.4L in the Stratus coupe.

 

Hey Chris, when are you going to be in Connecticut next? I'm bidding on a project for Hartford Hospital and I'll be down there once a week with a properly running 3.8 if I get it.

 

I'll be back in August around the second week.

 

I too am a big fan of the 3.3L. I have owned both the 3.3 and the 3.8. While both excellent engines, I think the power and torque gained with the 3.8 are not worth the trade off in efficiency.
The 3.8 is the same engine, with more displacement. They are both very strong, long lived engines that should easily outlast the vehicles they are powering.

 

I'm kinda curious about the "trade off in efficiency" thing. Other than the AWD models (which for the Gen 3 and Gen 4 vans are exclusively 3.8 liter engines), I've yet to see any conclusive evidence that suggests that the 3.8 is any less efficient than the 3.3. In fact, I've even read rumblings that suggest that on the highway at least, the 3.8 vans may actually get slightly better mileage than 3.3 liter vans.

 

I have found the 3.3 adequate to my needs and fairly peppy. The 3.8 has a little extra if you need it the odd time .... towing, loaded down, or whatever .... and logically, being of the same design as the 3.3, uses a little more fuel in the process.
To have the same efficiency as the 3.3 during normal driving, the 3.8 would need higher gearing, which would bog it down when .... towing, loaded down, or whatever.
A case of can't have your cake and eat it too, I'm thinking.

As to durability, both engines have lots of that.

 

The 3.8L has taller gearing so there can be at least a little cake eating. Per my 2000 DGC factory service manual, page 21-89:

Gear Ratios
First --> 2.84:1
Second --> 1.57:1
Third --> 1.00:1
Overdrive --> 0.69:1

Final Drive Ratios
2.4L --> 3.91
3.3L --> 3.62
3.8L --> 3.45

 

FWIW - I've had five 3.3's...most reliable power plant I've ever owned.

 

No doubt, one of the best. I've had two 3.3s. My Son has my first 3.3 now with around 330,000 kms, and still going strong.
Here's a little history of the 3.3/3.8 http://www.allpar.com/mopar/33.html including this statement:

Ervin added: “On the Caravan with the 3.3, take the bolt out of the front engine mount by the radiator and let the engine rotate forward as far as possible and then set the parking brake. Watch for clearance as you push the car in park and it will work. You can then use a socket extension straight down on the plugs and reach them easier.”

Anybody reading this ever take that approach????

 

Both the 3.3 and the 3.8 have been very reliable in my experience.

I have gotten better mileage with the 3.8 than I ever got with the 3.3. Comparing apples to oranges, I know, because the 3.3 was in a 2nd gen, and the 3.8 is in a 4th gen.

 

The 3.3L in our '99 DGC now has 152,000 trouble-free miles on it. I've kept up with maintenance per the book. Some attachments have gone south, most recently the water pump for the first time, about two weeks ago. I also had to replace an idler pulley a few years ago. Otherwise, this engine purrs right along.

 

Newbee Point of View

Just bought a '92 for $500. 198,000 km....

My local mechanic told me horror stories of "...fuel rail failures" and lifters. I have yet to find out what these are, but yet I held the 3.3 V6 and it sounded strong.

Oh, yeah! Apparently there is a pin that over time will break loose and grenade the engine and transmission...something to do with lack of proper lubrication during high torque circumstances.

Other than that I am also interested to know more about these motors.

He (the mech) did say that of the "mini van world", the caravan is the best option, to quote....

"they made them first, they made them best."

He drives a '96

 

Just bought a '92 for $500. 198,000 km....

My local mechanic told me horror stories of "...fuel rail failures" and lifters. I have yet to find out what these are, but yet I held the 3.3 V6 and it sounded strong.

Oh, yeah! Apparently there is a pin that over time will break loose and grenade the engine and transmission...something to do with lack of proper lubrication during high torque circumstances.

Other than that I am also interested to know more about these motors.

He (the mech) did say that of the "mini van world", the caravan is the best option, to quote....

"they made them first, they made them best."

He drives a '96

The 3.3 is a great engine. Reliability is among the best.
As to a pin breaking, I believe he might be eluding to a transmission problem whereby it isn't wise to spin your wheels and have them fetch up suddenly.

 

Before I bought my DGC earlier this year, I researched the reputation of the engines in the Ford, GM, and Chrysler minivans. The Chrysler pushrods were, by far, the best of the lot. I was partial to GM 60 degree V6 pushrod engines, at least when they used green coolant. Now, not so much.

My parents had a 1989 PGV and a 1994 PGV, both with the 3.0L. The first van gave its life killing a deer but it had well over 100,000 miles on it. My dad gave the second minivan to a family in my church who desperately needed it. It had 194,000 miles on it when I rebuilt the front suspension and delivered it to them. Neither van EVER had a problem with the engine. At about 175,000 miles I used the van to move a piano from the parents' house to mine, and it did just fine at speeds up to 100 MPH -- with the piano in the back. Not very smart perhaps, but a lot of fun.

Edited to say: I forgot about a 1990 Dodge Dynasty they had with the 3.0L. It also ran for well over 150,000 miles without a single hitch in the engine, and it was driven by at least two teenagers who did what teenagers do.

I had always assumed the 3.0L was a superb engine, and it wasn't until I did some reading that I realized the superiority of the pushrod motors.

 

I had always assumed the 3.0L was a superb engine, and it wasn't until I did some reading that I realized the superiority of the pushrod motors.

The 3.0 IS a superb engine. Don't let all of the rhetoric around here fool you, you've seen three great examples for yourself. IMO, you can pick between having a great engine in your van or an even better engine. Which is which is entirely up to you, and this is coming from someone who has owned both.

I'm sure all those GM 60 degree V6 owners with Dexcool replacing intake gaskets wish they had something like the 3.0 in their vans. Or owners of the Toyota and Chrysler sludge monster engines.

 

Those GM intake manifold gaskets are somewhat weak even without the dexcool. I had a GM 3800 engine (90 degree V6) blow its intake manifold gasket, albeit close to 200,000 miles. All it took was a little bit of corrosion on the mating surfaces to crush the plastic carrier and cause a leak. The problem seemed inherent to the gasket design.

- G

 

I concour - I get exactly 60MPH (100kPH) at 2000 RPM with the 3.3L

 

I like 3.3 L and 3.8 L

Friend of mine has a 1994 Concord with a 3.3L it has 276,000 miles on it and still going. I have a GV with a 3.3L with 90,100 only thing with the motor is the oil pan gasket. My folks had a GC with a 3.8L it went 300,000 before it was give a way. Now the 3.0L is whole other thing, they love oil so much that I have help a few buddy do an valve job.

 

Mike,

I have a Chrysler 2006 Town and Country minivan. Today's date is 05-22-2020. The car now has 137,500 miles on it. The engine is now shot. My mechanic say it is the head gasket. That repair would cost anywhere from $2500-$3800. That is too much for a 14 year old car. Time for a new car. I live in NYC in Queens. A lot of urban stop and go driving. Is it a good engine, yes, but city driving killed it.If you do a lot of highway mile it will last much longer. The car is being sold for scrap. By the way, I bought it used one year old with 12k miles on it. It gave us long loyal service.

 

Welcome.

In case you don't know, Mike registered back on June 18, 2008.

Posted a couple of times same day and left to never came back.

Yes, you are replying to a 10+ yeard old post.

 

I have a 2000 grand caravan sport w/240 K miles & a new set of tires, has the 3.3 dodge engine thank goodness. Im a do it yourself guy most jobs- Ive had some jobs too doooo--
lots of tensioning & Idler pulleys, transmition 1 warranty one not, headliner, just did original alternator change ( alt. actually bench tested good but elect. went insane so after new battery/then alt, seems OK , power steering pump couple years ago, changed front end wear items after it became really sloppy & was killing tires, 3 power window assemblies (2 driver & 1 passenger side). original ac system & rear air still blowing but compressor is loud, leaks some freon. Headlight panel control switch, ac fan control on dash works on all speeds accept #3 currently. Both turnsignal s work fine but the indicator lights in upper dash dont light up as of this month.... doesnt burn oil but leaks quite a bit.. We had a 92 caravan that was great when my 3 kids were little so i got the 2000 w/ about 20 K miles at purchase, deep south, mostly kept outside so clear coat is leaving my wifes sinking ship.

in closing, still rides great/super comfortable seats & with seats out- you can move any kid to college, holds more crap than most pick ups....but alas my last dodge forever!!!!

wanna buy it, make you a great deal

 

I have two 2005 minivans, one with a 3.3, the other a 3.8. Both have 220,000 miles. I changed valve cover gaskets on both, due to leaking & the covers & rockers looked brand new. The only issue I ever had were cam & crank sensors failure. They both run great, the 3.8 has more power, but overall, very dependable! No vacuum leaks or bearing noise. The 4 speed trany are both dry, shifting crisply with no issues. I change the fluid every year via the dip stick tube. I'd like to see 300,000, but the bodys will rot out first I'm afraid. New England is tough on steel.