Leaking oil filter housing and cooler on the 3.6 Pentastar

Engine / equipment

3.6 V6 Pentastar: Jeep Grand Cherokee, Wrangler and Gladiator, Chrysler Grand Voyager and 300C, Lancia Thema and Fiat Freemont

Period mentioned

2011 onwards

Symptoms

Oil spots under the car, oil on the block below the housing (in the engine’s “V”), frequent top-ups and, in serious cases, a low oil-pressure warning; sometimes coolant leaks too.

Possible cause described

The plastic housing that holds the oil filter and cooler sits in the middle of the engine, exposed to heat: with heat cycles it warps and cracks. Overtightening the filter cap also damages it. Chrysler revised the design in 2014, but leaks still occur.

Check for the garage

Look for oil in the centre of the engine and under the car; do not overtighten the filter cap. The usual repair is replacing the whole assembly (aluminium versions exist), removing the intake manifolds, with new gaskets.

Cost cited in the source

No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database