Fix for Chrysler leaking oil filter housing problems

Chrysler’s Leaking Oil Filter Housing problems: The Backstory

A leaking oil filter housing and oil cooler assembly is a common problem on Chrysler vehicles with the Pentastar 3.2L and 3.6L engines. The housing is injection molded using polypropylene and it’s located in the valley between the engine banks. The location is great because the oil filter sits right in the center of the engine. All the technician has to do is unscrew the cap, pull the filter and swap in a new one. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work out that way in real life.

The housing bolts to the top of the block. Oil circulates in and out of the cooler from the bottom. Coolant circulates through ports on each side of the sensors

What causes the leak

Because it sits in such a hot place, the plastic ages quickly. It becomes brittle, warps, and cracks. The leak usually shows up weeks after the last oil change and the shop that did the oil change usually gets blamed for “over tightening the oil filter cap.” But that’s not the cause. It’s not their fault; it’s just a bad design.

Chrysler originally replaced the housings with a replacement made with minor modifications. But they really didn’t fix the problem. Then Chrysler said that the problem wasn’t the housing itself but the O-rings that seal the unit to the engine block. The replacements failed at the same rate as the original housings.

Aftermarket replacements fix the problem

Chrysler maintains that the fix to the leaking oil filter housing is to replace the O-rings between the housing and the block. That doesn’t fix the problem. However, several companies sell what they claim is an upgraded oil filter housing assembly.

Dorman Products sells a cast aluminum housing #926-959 that’s a complete redesign of the Chrysler oil filter housing. The complete assembly costs around $350 and is available at most auto parts stores like Advance Auto Parts.

The Dorman 926-959 assembly is a permanent fix for the leaking oil filter housing problem. The assembly comes with a new filter cap, oil cooler, filter, all gaskets and seals and new bolts.

Several other manufacturers make replacement oil filter housings, but beware!

If you enter the Dorman part number into a search engine you’ll come up with comparable looking units for a LOT less, like this one from amazon that only costs $70. But like most things, you get what you pay for. A full 10% of the reviews give just 1-star on the seller’s page. Here are some of the buyer’s comments:

• Faulty — Got a P06DD for bad sensor which the housing comes with. Waste of time and money
• ABSOLUTE JUNK — Lasted about 3 days, then blew out an O-ring. Replaced them. Then it blew out the oil pressure sensor.
• Defective on install — Loose oil cooler bolt that caused a leak on install.
• Junk — After 45 days started to leak again
• Do not buy — Didn’t even last a month before it started to leak worse than before

Installing the oil filter housing

Alldata lists the job at 2.2 hours, so it will take you every bit of the morning to do this yourself.

Drain the coolant
Remove engine cover and the air intake ducting
Disconnect vacuum lines and all electrical connectors to the throttle body and upper intake
Remove the upper intake.
Remove the lower intake
Remove the housing and swap in the new unit.
Use a torque wrench to torque the bolts to the housing. This is critical. Don’t guess and don’t reuse the old bolts
Reinstall everything in reverse order

Vehicles using the defective Leaking Oil Filter Housing Cooler Assembly

3.2L & 3.6L V6 engines in

Chrysler 300
Chrysler Pacifica
Chrysler Voyager
Chrysler Town and Country
Dodge Challenger
Dodge Charger
Dodge Durango
Jeep Gladiator
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Wrangler
Ram 1500
Ram 1500 Classic
Ram Promaster

©, 2022 Rick Muscoplat