Oil Analysis To Help Understand Head Gasket/Engine Failure Issue

3183 Views 74 Replies 13 Participants Last post by jongri, 3 d ago

M0Par

Discussion Starter · 26 d ago (Edited)

Decided to send in an oil sample on a 2019 Pacifica with 27,595 miles. This may show early signs of whatever is causing these head gasket/engine failures. Have no idea what the results will show but I'll document it here when the lab provides results in a week.

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Sea_of_Tranquility

· #61 · 16 d ago

PacificaMinivanFan said:
Yes, very long. The thread appears to be related to nearly new engines that are throwing the P0300 diagnostic code. I didn't read through all of it, but I did skip through it and wasn't able to see anything close to the P0303 code at 60k+ miles and failed head gaskets/warped cylinder heads/cracked blocks that 120 Pacifica forum members (as of this writing) are reporting.

It does raise an interesting question, though. Are the Jeep Gladiator Pentastar engines built at a different factory than Pacifica Pentastars?

Yes, I was looking for recent Pentastar possible class problems. The Gladiator issues are not the same, but the same engine, but unknown build location.

PacificaMinivanFan

· #62 · 16 d ago

I checked a couple of window stickers in online local ads for Gladiators. Engines were built in Mexico.

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jongri

· #63 · 16 d ago (Edited)

Sea_of_Tranquility said:
Yes, I was looking for recent Pentastar possible class problems. The Gladiator issues are not the same, but the same engine, but unknown build location.

@PacificaMinivanFan is correct they're made at Stellantis Saltillo South Engine Plant in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

M0Par

Discussion Starter · #64 · 15 d ago

Received notice that they have my sample in queue and will be another 4-5 days before the results are in.

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gmfreak

· #65 · 14 d ago

M0Par said:
Received notice that they have my sample in queue and will be another 4-5 days before the results are in.

Strange. It's usually much faster than this for me

jongri

· #66 · 14 d ago (Edited)

gmfreak said:
Strange. It's usually much faster than this for me

Aside from number of samples at Lab waiting for testing, distance from Black Labs & Memorial Day Holiday weekend would also factor in delay?

gmfreak

· #67 · 12 d ago

jongri said:
Aside from number of samples at Lab waiting for testing, distance from Black Labs & Memorial Day Holiday weekend would also factor in delay?

IDK I usually get a turn around in under a week. I live in NY (essentially Canada) and I believe they are in Indiana. Maybe a backlog of samples.

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M0Par

Discussion Starter · #68 · 12 d ago

I contacted them after a week had gone by and they offered to email me when they logged it in which was never done with prior samples. Had a 4-5 day backlog.

M0Par

Discussion Starter · #69 · 7 d ago

This engine is showing no early signs or symptoms of the dreaded engine destroying head gasket issue. That's great news for this vehicle but less so for problem-solving diagnostic purposes:

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jongri

· #70 · 7 d ago (Edited)

M0Par said:
This engine is showing no early signs or symptoms of the dreaded engine destroying head gasket issue. That's great news for this vehicle but less so for problem-solving diagnostic purposes:

It's actually better this way provided you continue to test this Pacifica with each future oil change. This gives you a starting point of 27,595 miles with clean oil analysis. We already know most Engine Failures are reported above 50,000 miles so continued future testing at every oil change with this Pacifica is ideal for diagnostic purposes. Cheer up Rome wasn't built in a day. This thread is perfect & will give us all record of documented oil analysis needed especially if or when future oil analysis at xxxxx miles comes back contaminated with Coolant. Great job @MOPar

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Werd

· #71 · 5 d ago

FYI the Jeep Gladiator and other current 3.6 platforms are RWD so the engine is mounted longitudinal vs transverse. That affects a lot of things - especially cooling.

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M0Par

Discussion Starter · #72 · 5 d ago

Werd said:
FYI the Jeep Gladiator and other current 3.6 platforms are RWD so the engine is mounted longitudinal vs transverse. That affects a lot of things - especially cooling.

Good info. Still not sure where the issue resides but there's no doubt it's in the engineering.

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PacificaMinivanFan

· #73 · 5 d ago

Werd said:
FYI the Jeep Gladiator and other current 3.6 platforms are RWD so the engine is mounted longitudinal vs transverse. That affects a lot of things - especially cooling.

I wonder about access to the oil cooler on the Gladiator's Pentastar. It would presumably be at the front of the vehicle, so maybe there is better light? Is it easier to see if the oil filter cap is tight enough w/o overtightening?

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M0Par

Discussion Starter · #74 · 3 d ago (Edited)

jongri said:
It's actually better this way provided you continue to test this Pacifica with each future oil change. This gives you a starting point of 27,595 miles with clean oil analysis. We already know most Engine Failures are reported above 50,000 miles so continued future testing at every oil change with this Pacifica is ideal for diagnostic purposes. Cheer up Rome wasn't built in a day. This thread is perfect & will give us all record of documented oil analysis needed especially if or when future oil analysis at xxxxx miles comes back contaminated with Coolant. Great job @MOPar

I'm thinking this guy's videos provide more explanation than any oil analysis: Videos about having to add engine coolant to Pacifica | 2017+ Chrysler Pacifica Minivan Forums (pacificaforums.com)

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jongri

· #75 · 3 d ago

M0Par said:
I'm thinking this guy's video provide more explanation than any oil analysis: Videos about having to add engine coolant to Pacifica | 2017+ Chrysler Pacifica Minivan Forums (pacificaforums.com)

Another great Thread by @PacificaMinivanFan

. Thanks for the link @MOPar

P.S. This oil analysis is still really important for diagnosis so don't dismiss it that easily!

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