[Sunvanse]

Definitely a poor redesign, only happening on 2014's and later. I trust myself over dealer or independent lube shops when it comes to oil/filter changes, but it seems if plastic part fails, and oil change wasn't done at dealer, you're screwed.

 

[RD_3]

Wow! I would not have paid that bill...did you bring in the Service Manager? Did they explain this BEFORE they completed the repair and showed you the bill? This seems like it might fester into a wide spread issue now that the 2014's have been in service for at least a year now. :jpshakehe

 

[Organized Confusion]

I own a Jeep shop we have changed the oil on several late model Wranglers and we have never had or seen this issue. We always use a torque wrench - the spec is made into the casting on the top portion of the oil filter housing that gets removed. Also make sure that you replace the O rings- we only use OEM filters from the dealer
good practice is to run the engine for a minute and watch for leaks at the oil filter housing before giving it the thumbs up

 

[Sunvanse]

It already is a wide spread issue with the Jeeps, I'm only a bit relieved that this problem is rare on this minivan forum. 2 self oil changes so far, I leave my filter cover on the loose side, barely hand tight. It was still hard to break it free this last oil change though. I can only imagine how tight some un-knowing lube techs must make it.

 

[Organized Confusion]

Actually I do remember seeing something in the Chrysler system awhile back about them changing the oil filters to a new part number and design I did not read it much. We still have not experienced the issue first hand but I did look and there is a recent TSB in the system



3.6L Oil Loss Diagnostic Aid
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves additional information on oil loss.
MODELS:
2014 (RT) 2014 (JS)
2014 (JC) 2014 (LX) 2014 (LD) 2014 (WK) 2014 (WD) 2014 (JK) 2014 (DS) 2014 (LC) 2014 (DX)
Chrysler Town & Country Dodge Grand Caravan
Chrysler 200 Dodge Avenger
Dodge Journey Chrysler 300
Dodge Charger
Jeep Grand Cherokee Dodge Durango
Jeep Wrangler
Ram 1500 Pickup Dodge Challenger Ram Truck (Mexico)
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles within the following markets/countries: NAFTA.
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles built on or before January 20, 2014 (MDH 0120XX) equipped 3.6L Engine (Sales Codes ERB).
NUMBER: 09-008-15 GROUP: Engine
DATE: August 07, 2015

09-008-15 -2-
DISCUSSION:
The customer may describe any of the following: oil loss, low oil, oil weep or oil consumption. Before performing normal diagnostics, check for oil pooling in the engine valley (under the lower intake). This area may hold almost a quart of oil and not show any signs of oil weeping. It may be hard to visually inspect this area. Using a long wood dowel, insert it into the engine valley in front of or next to the oil filter housing, until the dowel bottoms out on the floor of the valley. Remove the dowel and check if there is about 10 mm (0.39 inch) of oil covering the tip of the dowel. If oil is found to be pooling in this area, the Oil Filter Housing may need to be replaced.
NOTE: A small amount of oil may be found on the tip of the dowel. During an oil change some oil may drip from the oil filter into the valley. No parts should be replaced for this condition.
POLICY:
Information Only

 

[Organized Confusion]

Actually I do remember seeing something in the Chrysler system awhile back about them changing the oil filters to a new part number and design I did not read it much. We still have not experienced the issue first hand but I did look and there is a recent TSB in the system



3.6L Oil Loss Diagnostic Aid
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves additional information on oil loss.
MODELS:
2014 (RT) 2014 (JS)
2014 (JC) 2014 (LX) 2014 (LD) 2014 (WK) 2014 (WD) 2014 (JK) 2014 (DS) 2014 (LC) 2014 (DX)
Chrysler Town & Country Dodge Grand Caravan
Chrysler 200 Dodge Avenger
Dodge Journey Chrysler 300
Dodge Charger
Jeep Grand Cherokee Dodge Durango
Jeep Wrangler
Ram 1500 Pickup Dodge Challenger Ram Truck (Mexico)
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles within the following markets/countries: NAFTA.
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles built on or before January 20, 2014 (MDH 0120XX) equipped 3.6L Engine (Sales Codes ERB).
NUMBER: 09-008-15 GROUP: Engine
DATE: August 07, 2015

09-008-15 -2-
DISCUSSION:
The customer may describe any of the following: oil loss, low oil, oil weep or oil consumption. Before performing normal diagnostics, check for oil pooling in the engine valley (under the lower intake). This area may hold almost a quart of oil and not show any signs of oil weeping. It may be hard to visually inspect this area. Using a long wood dowel, insert it into the engine valley in front of or next to the oil filter housing, until the dowel bottoms out on the floor of the valley. Remove the dowel and check if there is about 10 mm (0.39 inch) of oil covering the tip of the dowel. If oil is found to be pooling in this area, the Oil Filter Housing may need to be replaced.
NOTE: A small amount of oil may be found on the tip of the dowel. During an oil change some oil may drip from the oil filter into the valley. No parts should be replaced for this condition.
POLICY:
Information Only

 

[RD_3]

It already is a wide spread issue with the Jeeps, I'm only a bit relieved that this problem is rare on this minivan forum. 2 self oil changes so far, I leave my filter cover on the loose side, barely hand tight. It was still hard to break it free this last oil change though. I can only imagine how tight some un-knowing lube techs must make it.

I am totally aware of the issues with the Jeeps. It would seem they are more prone to failures based on the location of the oil filter housing as compared to the T&C/GC. Time will tell if we start to show the same issue...

 

[Sunvanse]

"This bulletin applies to vehicles built on or before January 20, 2014" I'm guessing they corrected the defect after that date. Of course my 2014 was built before that date, so in the future if the part fails, I will have to pay for the repair even though they know there's a problem. I love the last part: POLICY:
Information Only

I guess that means you're SOL.

 

[Linuxos77]

Okay weird, I'm bringing the wife's 2013 Grand Caranvan SXT in for the THIRD time in two weeks to get this looked at and hopefully fixed. We've had the van for a year, zero oil leaks, brought it into dealer for oil change and after it was leaking badly, returned next day and they claimed "oil filter adapter" had leak and replaced it under warranty. Oil was still leaking badly that night, this time took to a different dealership and they claim oil cooler has leak and replaced that. Now the leak is far less, before it would leave several golf ball or bigger marks on the cardboard I put down, now there was one or two nickel/quarter sized marks. It's going back in tomorrow. Is there a chance the oil I saw this morning after the van sat all night was simply residual oil left over from the previous leak making its way out from nooks and crannies? Very frustrating.

 

[RD_3]

Its possible you are seeing the residual leakage dripping off the motor. Where you want to look though is down in the valley below the oil filter housing. There is a very pronounced valley that will collect oil if in fact the oil filter adapter/cooler was cracked. Being that both were replaced you would think the tech would have cleaned up that area...one could only guess though.

Let us know what they find tomorrow...

 

[Sunvanse]

you would think, but these days of rushed jobs, no one is going to clean-up collected oil on an engine

 

[blknblu]

Won't be long until some Jeep enthusiast comes out with a metal housing.

--------------------------------------
I see for the VW engine, someone came out with a nice billet one to replace the plastic oil filter housing.

Billet Aluminum Oil Filter Housing Kit - Polished
Aluminum oil filter housing replacement for plastic OE housing
https://www.ecstuning.com/ES2723775...wBRDnq93MioaqtKQBEiQAb7Ezn1MWtiz3wmNW9wKmL5IQ9M4KYtjrBFaVXUW5i3RZxh4aAqNf8P8HAQ

 

[RD_3]

Won't be long until some Jeep enthusiast comes out with a metal housing.

--------------------------------------
I see for the VW engine, someone came out with a nice billet one to replace the plastic oil filter housing.

Billet Aluminum Oil Filter Housing Kit - Polished
Aluminum oil filter housing replacement for plastic OE housing
https://www.ecstuning.com/ES2723775...wBRDnq93MioaqtKQBEiQAb7Ezn1MWtiz3wmNW9wKmL5IQ9M4KYtjrBFaVXUW5i3RZxh4aAqNf8P8HAQ

But the issue is still present...the metal "cap" still screws into the plastic body (I've owned previous veedubs that used this filter setup). If you think about it, that's actually a worse scenario compared to a plastic cap screwing into a plastic body. The issue isn't the cap, its the plastic housing the cap screws into. IMO you would be prone to apply more torque than necessary with a metal cap (not using a torque wrench) and crack the housing.

Now if the reverse were true, I would absolutely use the stock plastic cap screwed into a metal body...

 

[Sunvanse]

The issue isn't the cap, its the plastic housing the cap screws into.

Exactly!!

 

[birmingplumb]

Knew I bought the lifetime bumper bumper warranty from dealer for 2345 for a reason. As a plumber cussing at failed plastic plumbing parts forever, maybe we ought to require the engineers at Chrysler and their suppliers to do a plumber apprenticeship at Detroit Local 98 for 5 years. Then put them on a service truck and make them repair all the plastic junk we deal with after builders go cheap. As a experienced "thread" expert-I can tell you heat expands the metal to such a degree that stainless screwed 2 inch piping for fire protection in our sealer ovens at Jefferson north are unservicable and if you try to unscrew a joint it rips off the threads. Oven hits 450 degrees then cools and the cycle seems similar to a part on a engine. Engineers are ignorant at best if they do not calculate expansion into any joint design, refrain from threaded joints and use flanged bolted or clamped seals instead-The actually have "joining seminars, papers etc and it is supposed to be a science but ... Add plastic female threaded fittings with metal male or vice versa and the condition leaves no forgiveness. Having to put a torque wrench on a oil filter-priceless- and bottom line economics-Thanks for the heads up-

 

[ChryslerCares]

Okay weird, I'm bringing the wife's 2013 Grand Caranvan SXT in for the THIRD time in two weeks to get this looked at and hopefully fixed. We've had the van for a year, zero oil leaks, brought it into dealer for oil change and after it was leaking badly, returned next day and they claimed "oil filter adapter" had leak and replaced it under warranty. Oil was still leaking badly that night, this time took to a different dealership and they claim oil cooler has leak and replaced that. Now the leak is far less, before it would leave several golf ball or bigger marks on the cardboard I put down, now there was one or two nickel/quarter sized marks. It's going back in tomorrow. Is there a chance the oil I saw this morning after the van sat all night was simply residual oil left over from the previous leak making its way out from nooks and crannies? Very frustrating.

Hi Linuxos77,

I'm very sorry to hear about this experience. Keep us posted on the outcome and please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you!

 

[robert22]

oil leak

I have a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country with an oil leak at 21,000 miles. Just had the oil filter adapter replaced today at Orlando Dodge. Mine was the second vehicle done today.

 

[Sunvanse]

Welcome. Was repair covered under warranty, who did previous oil changes?

 

[robert22]

Orlando Dodge did a thorough job as I asked them to do. which was to correct the leaking and pressure wash inside engine and underneath. Thank you to them and we will keep an eye on this. Hopefully no further problems will occur. Thankful for this message board shedding a light on this problem. All was under warranty.

 

[BryanM]

welcome to the forum.Glad to hear everything worked out.