Re: [Amc-list] Synthetic or conventional....

[Steve Cornelius <steve.c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> The car is a 2006 Dodge Magnum SE. 2.7 liter V-6
> with a 4 speed auto.

Hmmmm...

If I'm not mistaken (you have the 24V DOHC with variable induction, right?), this is the infamous "sludge motor" that got such a nasty self-destruction reputation a few years ago (see http://allpar.com/mopar/new6.html).

The problems I've heard rumored with the original engine design were (1) too shallow of an oil pan in the LH cars, (2) a bad PCV design, and (3) too-small oil galleys up near the timing chain. Supposedly this was all "fixed" back about 2003, but I've never seen any conclusive evidence either way.

We have one of these engines in a Sebring ragtop (an '04). Because of the reputation they have, many owners, myself included, run synthetic oil in it just as insurance against sludge. In theory, the synthetics don't have the dissolved parrafins in them to cook out and combine with combustion byproducts to produce sludge under high heat.

I've heard that good quality hydrocracked mineral oils (Google on "isodewaxing", a Chevron process) are also good for making sure that sludges don't build, because the parrafins are chemically separated from the base stock. They're quite a bit less expensive than PAO synthetics, too.

So, you might want to consider this over the long term of owning your engine. The design issues should have been fixed by '06, but only some Mopar engineers know for sure.

BTW, I think it's a really sweet engine to drive. Clean power curve, and spins nice and smooth all the way up near 6500rpm. It's just a blast to straight-shift it.

They're built in Kenosha, BTW, so it is part of the "family" in a way ;)

-steve c.



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