1999 Dodge Intrepid 2.7

[Grayfox]

Bought the car from my dad last winter with around 80K on it for one of my boys. I got a call from him today at work and he said the car started making a ticking noise on his way to the store this morning. I told him to drive it back home and park it until I got home.

I got home this afternoon to find out he changed the oil. It was due to be changed 1200 miles ago. Not real happy with him right now. Reason he didn't change it was because I didn't have any oil in the garage?

Anyway, it's more of a knock than a ticking noise from the upper passenger side of the motor. Does anybody think that it could be a hydraulic lifter sludged up and the seafoam trick might work to free it or do I have bigger problems. Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks

Rob

[fishhuntwork]

These sludge up real bad, no sea foam is going to take care of them. The oil passages were to small from chrysler. I use to work at a chrysler dealership saw a lot of them. Take the intake off and the valve cover, willing to bet there is a lot of sludge. You can try and clean it but probably won"t work. It needs a motor, sorry to break the news.

[1johntimm]

The 2.7 does not have a good record for reliability. I had one and did a google search on it for motor knock.....Bad news! Thanks to Dodge for making such a fine product.

[Jaspernuts]

These engines are notorious for the sludge, but I only saw 2 of them sludge up in the 3 years I worked at a dodge dealer. The late 90's engines are not as reliable as the 02-04 engines. I inherited a 04 intrepid with the 2.7. It gets mobil one every 3k and not one mile over. Oil is checked often and topped off if even 1/4 quart low. If you baby them, I saw some of these engines with over 250k on them. But you cannot go over the oil change inverval. It is their death sentence.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I got home this afternoon to find out he changed the oil. It was due to be changed 1200 miles ago. Not real happy with him right now. Reason he didn't change it was because I didn't have any oil in the garage?

WHAT?

Find a good low mileage used engine.

[1968]

A "good" 2.7 might be hard to find.

A 3.2 or 3.5 can also be substituted without a ton of hassle.

If the noise is upper right and front of the engine, it could be the hydraulic timing chain tensioner. But with the 2.7 I would expect the worst. If dad let the oil changes slide for the first 80k, the worst case is even more likely. Sorry!

[Grayfox]

Well here's the latest update. I put seafoam in last night and drove it for 20 miles and when I got home it was actually a lot quieter. Still could here it but better. I came home today and started it up and it was knocking again.

I took it for a spin and was heading to a local mechanic to get his opinion and the car killed as I was coming to his place. Got it running by holding gas pedal 1/2 way to the floor. It won't stay running and sounds like a marble bouncing around in it. He thinks the timing chain jumped and took out a valve. Doesn't look good. He's going to take a look at it next week and let me know my options. The car is in great shape and everything else appears to be working great so I'd hate to junk it. Is a low mileage motor the way to go or is trying to upgrade to the 3.2 or 3.5 the answer.

Thanks again for all the help.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Low mileage or reman from Jasper. They are out there

Swapping is a little more complicated.