MajorCommonFluid Leaks

Chrysler 300C: 3.6 Pentastar V6 plastic oil-filter housing cracking (oil + coolant leak)

3.6 Pentastar V6 plastic oil-filter housing cracking (oil + coolant leak) is a common fluid leaks fault on the Chrysler 300C on the 2012–2021 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 15 documented faults on the Chrysler 300C.

Vehicle: Chrysler 300C
Engine: 3.6L
Years: 2012–2021
Fuel: petrol
System: Fluid Leaks

This page covers the Chrysler 300C as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Chrysler 300C faults15 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The second-gen 300C's 3.6 Pentastar V6 has an oil-filter/cooler housing made of plastic that sits in the hot centre of the engine and becomes brittle and cracks with age, leaking oil and coolant. It's one of the most common Pentastar faults. Symptoms are oil weeping down the back of the engine, coolant loss and sometimes oil in the coolant. An upgraded aluminium housing is the usual fix. Left leaking it makes a mess and can drop the oil level or overheat the engine.

What you would notice

Oil leak down the back/centre of the engine
Coolant loss or oil mixed in the coolant
Oil smell / burning smell when warm
Low oil or coolant level

How to check it

Where to look. Oil-filter/cooler housing in the centre-top of the V6 engine, between the cylinder banks

Open the bonnet and look down into the centre/rear of the V6 for oil weeping around the filter housing, and check both the oil and coolant for cross-contamination (milky oil or oily coolant).
Check the coolant level.
Ask whether the housing has been upgraded to the metal part.

What it costs to put right

$400 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the oil-filter housing ever leaked or been replaced with the alloy upgrade?”
“Does it lose any oil or coolant?”

Now check the Chrysler 300C you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

EcoGard 'The Pentastar problem: oil filter housing/cooler assembly'
8020 Automotive 'Chrysler 3.2 and 3.6 Pentastar oil filter housing problem guide'
Chrysler 300C & SRT8 Forums '3.6L oil from filter cap' thread

Chrysler 300C buyer questions

Is 3.6 pentastar v6 plastic oil-filter housing cracking (oil + coolant leak) serious on a Chrysler 300C?

We rate it major and common on the Chrysler 300C. The second-gen 300C's 3.6 Pentastar V6 has an oil-filter/cooler housing made of plastic that sits in the hot centre of the engine and becomes brittle and cracks with age, leaking oil and coolant. It's one of the most common Pentastar faults. Symptoms are oil weeping down the back of the engine, coolant loss and sometimes oil in the coolant. An upgraded aluminium housing is the usual fix. Left leaking it makes a mess and can drop the oil level or overheat the engine.

How much does it cost to fix on a Chrysler 300C?

$400 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Chrysler 300C years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2012–2021 Chrysler 300C. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Open the bonnet and look down into the centre/rear of the V6 for oil weeping around the filter housing, and check both the oil and coolant for cross-contamination (milky oil or oily coolant). Check the coolant level. Ask whether the housing has been upgraded to the metal part. Look here: Oil-filter/cooler housing in the centre-top of the V6 engine, between the cylinder banks