If you drive a Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, or Ram 1500 equipped with the popular 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine, you might eventually face a messy problem: a mysterious oil leak pooling on top of your engine or dripping onto your driveway.
Before you panic about a blown head gasket, take a closer look. The culprit is likely a much simpler, yet notoriously widespread component: the Oil Filter Housing Adapter.
In this guide, we’ll break down why this part fails, how to spot the symptoms early, and why upgrading to an aluminum replacement is the smart move for your vehicle’s longevity.
What is the Oil Filter Housing Adapter?
The oil filter housing adapter (often integrated with the engine oil cooler) is a critical component that sits in the "valley" of your V6 engine, nestled between the cylinder heads. Its job is to filter your engine oil and circulate it through the cooler to maintain optimal operating temperatures.
Why Do They Fail? (The Plastic Problem)
The root cause of most failures boils down to material. From the factory, these units are typically made of plastic. While plastic is lightweight and cost-effective for manufacturers, it doesn’t hold up well over time against:
- Heat Cycles: The engine valley gets extremely hot, causing the plastic to become brittle, warp, or crack.
- Overtightening: It is all too easy to overtighten the oil filter cap during a routine oil change, which can crack the delicate plastic housing neck.
Once the integrity of the housing is compromised, oil (and sometimes coolant) begins to leak.
3 Common Symptoms of a Bad Oil Filter Housing
1. Oil Puddle Under the Vehicle The most obvious sign is a puddle of oil towards the rear of the engine. Because the housing sits in the valley, the oil often pools there first before overflowing and running down the back of the transmission bellhousing.
2. The Smell of Burning Oil If leaking oil drips onto the hot exhaust manifold or catalytic converter, you’ll notice a distinct burning smell coming from the engine bay or through your A/C vents.
3. Oil in the Engine Valley If you remove your engine cover and shine a flashlight down into the space between the cylinder banks (under the intake manifold), you might see a pool of golden or dark fluid. That is a telltale sign of a housing failure.
The Fix: Replace and Upgrade
Replacing the oil filter housing is a moderate DIY job that requires removing the upper and lower intake manifolds. While you could replace it with another OEM plastic unit, you are likely just resetting the clock until it fails again.
The Better Solution: Aluminum Housing Assembly At Autoround, we recommend upgrading to an Aluminum Oil Filter Housing Assembly. Unlike the factory plastic version, aluminum is far more resistant to heat cycling and won’t crack under the pressure of a filter change.
Benefits of the Autoround Upgrade:
- Durability: Metal construction eliminates the risk of warping and cracking.
- Complete Kit: Our assemblies come pre-installed with a new oil filter and sensors, making it a "plug-and-play" solution.
- Cost-Effective: You get a permanent fix at a fraction of the dealer price.
Conclusion
Don't let a leaking oil filter housing ruin your engine or your driveway. If you own a 3.6L Pentastar vehicle, keeping an eye on this component is key to preventative maintenance.
Ready to fix it once and for all?
Shop our Aluminum Engine Oil Cooler & Filter Housing Assemblies Here
