Several Facebook groups are devoted to the Dodge Dart; casual observers can quickly find complaints about oil-guzzling 2.4 liter engines, along with a few counter-protesters saying they’ve never had to add oil. That mystery was somewhat resolved recently when Allpar broke the news that FCA had issued a “customer satisfaction campaign” for more recent 2.4 engines installed in Jeeps, with the hint that the repair might be extended to other engines soon.
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The issue only appears to affect the TigerShark variant of the 2.4, which uses Fiat’s MultiAir system to individually adjust each cylinder’s valve timing and lift; that is why the recently-dropped Dodge Journey is not on the list—it used the older variant of that engine. The problem was that, under some conditions (continuous stop-and-go driving coupled with the engine having “certain manufacturing variances”), the system’s tuning could cause vacuum in one or more cylinders which drew oil into the cylinder, to be burned and ejected in the next ignition cycle. The problem is not entirely physical, but is caused by the “DECEL” system which cuts fuel to the engine when a driver coasts. On the 2.4, and only the 2.4, it can cause vacuum in the cylinders, which sucks oil in. The software fix alters the timing of various events to prevent that.
The solution is retuning the computer to avoid creating a vacuum. Owners who do not have to add oil between changes probably should not get the computer update, as it is unlikely to help them at all. The current campaign covers the following 2.4-equipped cars (not the 1.4, 2.0, or any V6):
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The issue only appears to affect the TigerShark variant of the 2.4, which uses Fiat’s MultiAir system to individually adjust each cylinder’s valve timing and lift; that is why the recently-dropped Dodge Journey is not on the list—it used the older variant of that engine. The problem was that, under some conditions (continuous stop-and-go driving coupled with the engine having “certain manufacturing variances”), the system’s tuning could cause vacuum in one or more cylinders which drew oil into the cylinder, to be burned and ejected in the next ignition cycle. The problem is not entirely physical, but is caused by the “DECEL” system which cuts fuel to the engine when a driver coasts. On the 2.4, and only the 2.4, it can cause vacuum in the cylinders, which sucks oil in. The software fix alters the timing of various events to prevent that.
The solution is retuning the computer to avoid creating a vacuum. Owners who do not have to add oil between changes probably should not get the computer update, as it is unlikely to help them at all. The current campaign covers the following 2.4-equipped cars (not the 1.4, 2.0, or any V6):
- 2014 Dodge Dart and Jeep Cherokee
- 2017-19 Jeep Renegade, Compass, Cherokee
- 2017 Chrysler 200
