When Chrysler unveiled the Tigershark engine in 2007, many people wanted to get their hands on the engine.
Instead of focusing on bigger vehicles, this engine was aimed towards smaller ones. As you would expect from Chrysler, the engine was rock solid in terms of performance.
But, no matter the company, the engine does come with its own set of flaws.
Let’s outline some of the Chrysler 2.4 Tigershark Word Gasoline engine problems. It had three main problems:
- High Oil Consumption
- Unexpected Oil Leaks
- Too Many Overall Issues
Although the list is small, these issues frustrated many users. For the next part of this article, we will talk about them and discuss how a person can address them.
So, without any further ado, let’s get straight into it!
Table of Contents
- 1 The 3 Most Common Chrysler 2.4 Engine Problems
- 2 What Is The Chrysler 2.4L Tigershark Engine?
- 3 Is The Chrysler 2.4 Liter Engine Reliable?
- 4 What Cars Use The Chrysler 2.4 Engine?
- 5 Chrysler 2.4 Tigershark Engine Specs
- 6 The Benefits Of Choosing The Chrysler 2.4 Tigershark World Gasoline Engine
- 7 Frequently Asked Questions
- 8 Conclusion
The 3 Most Common Chrysler 2.4 Engine Problems
As promised, our focus will now be solely on the three problems I listed above.
By the end of this article, you will not only know what causes these issues but what damage they can do and how they can be fixed.
1. High Oil Consumption
Some owners of the Tigershark engine noticed that they had to refill the oil quicker than usual.
When this problem was reported, many other users also brought up this issue. That is fairly evident in online forums.
The Issue
So, what causes high fuel consumption in an engine that has been designed to give you maximum fuel efficiency?
Well, if you have a newer Tigershark engine, then you can continue scrolling. This issue solely affected users that own the oldest available engines.
Although Chrysler did not provide users with a definitive answer, it was concluded that the reason for the high consumption was the failure of the piston rings.
The rings’ function is to keep a proper seal, so the oil does not leak out. But on the Tigershark engine, it failed to do so.
The oil enters the combustion chamber and is burnt. So, there are no leaks or anything else.
Symptoms And Damages
Some users also complained that their engines did not display the check engine light on time. This means that you have to manually make sure that there is enough oil in your engine.
If the oil quantity becomes too low, you are bound to run into various issues, such as overheating. The engine’s lifespan will also be shortened due to the increased friction.
Some of you may wonder what a person can do to confirm an oil consumption issue in the engine. There are three things that you can observe to confirm if the issue is present or not:
- Manually check oil consumption after every 1000 miles.
- Observe if the engine suddenly stalls while driving.
- The oil pressure is low.
If these three symptoms are present, then there is a high probability of oil consumption or an oil leakage issue in the engine. We will get to the latter in just a second.
What To Do
Unfortunately, the only solution to this issue, or more rather a workaround, is to use thicker oils in the engine.
This will minimize the consumption as it will be difficult for the piston rings to leak out the oil.
Although I have included this in the spec sheet below, the engine normally uses 0W-20 oil. You should find one that is thicker than that.
But, if you are worried that the issue will cause long-term damage to your engine, you should relax.
The problem does not have any adverse effects unless you drive way too much with low oil.
2. Unexpected Oil Leaks
Yet another oil-related issue plagues the World Gas engine. Oil leak is an issue that is present in almost every single engine to an extent.
The problem may or may not occur, but users of all engines have complained about unexpected oil leakage.
Unfortunately, the issue is way too common on the Chrysler 2.4L engine.
The Problem
I have some good news for you guys. The 2.4L engine does not have any design flaws that could lead to this leakage.
I know many of you may have taken a sigh of relief, especially those who bought the engine without researching enough.
But this poses another problem, where is the leak coming from, then? It occurs from places that give up after too much wear and tear.
You guessed it; I am talking about the valve cover gasket, the main seal, and the oil pan gasket. These are the ones that commonly cause leakage of oil.
Out of these three, the valve cover gasket is the one that is exposed to most of the wear and tear. It is normal for it to wear out around the 100000-mile mark.
Because a gasket is made of rubber, it cannot tolerate high temperatures very well either. So, that could be another reason for unexpected oil leakage from your engine.
Symptoms
An oil leak is something rather easy to spot. Some things that you can notice or observe as an oil spots on the ground where the vehicle was parked:
- The smell of oil burning.
- Engine emitting smoke.
- Low engine oil light turns on.
The first symptom confirms the presence of an oil leak.
The second one, however, can be related to the first issue we discussed. It can be due to failing piston rings. So, you might have to get that looked at.
Repair
If all of these issues are happening simultaneously, you need to get them diagnosed and fixed as soon as possible.
There is a high probability that your vehicle could stall in the middle of the road, so it would be better to get it hauled to the nearest workshop.
This poses a danger to you and all drivers and vehicles around you. Although the parts are not expensive, the replacement procedure is labor-intensive.
So, you can expect a hefty bill to get your engine back in usable condition. Unless you don’t want to drive the vehicle anymore, unfortunately, there is no other option.
And the repair should not be delayed.
3. Too Many Overall Issues
History
Perhaps the most annoying of all issues is the last one. This is not one problem but a collection of many. It is expected for an engine to cause problems for users.
Things are never straightforward. Anything can fail, from the timing chain to the water pump. This is all normal.
The Issue
But the issue with the Tigershark engine is that it has general issues way too many times.
The fact that you have to visit a mechanic more times than ever is something that all prospective engine buyers are afraid of.
The fact that there is no design flaw means that there are no service bulletins or anything else that the company issued to help consumers.
With hundreds of parts of an engine, and many of them being sourced from other manufacturers or even countries, there is bound to be a mismatch.
More than that, Chrysler should have tested this engine more to be aware of this issue.
Again, the problems that come into this category are not critical. They are uncommon, and them repeating themselves, again and again, annoys consumers.
What To Do
So, what can a person do to avoid these issues? Unfortunately, there is not much you can do except to pray that they won’t happen.
I am kidding! You can take some steps that will minimize the risks of these problems occurring.
You can use high-quality oils, as they provide excellent lubrication. A low-quality oil can increase friction and also reduce the efficiency of the engine.
So, it is always recommended not to cheap out when choosing the oil for your vehicle.
Moreover, you may already need to use thicker oil due to the piston rings issue. So, for some of you, this may be the perfect time to choose a proper oil.
Other things that you can do are:
- Keep your vehicle maintained at all times.
- If any issues arise, get them fixed without any delay.
- Change fluids on time.
These are the only things that you should do to avoid most issues. This is something that all vehicles owners must do, regardless of the engine under the hood.
You can take this positively, as the Tigershark engine will keep you punctual about keeping your vehicle in top-notch condition.
If you do all of this, you can expect the engine to last you for a very long time. There have been reports of users that even crossed the 200000-mile mark.
But, again, that is not possible without proper maintenance.
What Is The Chrysler 2.4L Tigershark Engine?
The Tigershark engine debuted in 2007. It is a decent engine and was featured in many vehicles.
The engine is certainly more than enough for most vehicles with a power output of anywhere between 172 HP and 185 HP.
The 2.4L engine uses variable valve timing and variable valve lift technologies. This allows them to output up to 185 HP.
The system itself is based on a FIAT engine. So, with it taking many cues from FIAT, you can expect solid performance from it.
As you all just read, the engine does have some issues. There is nothing major about them, but they are present.
Apart from that, it is a pretty good one. The fuel efficiency is great, which is something many users loved about it.
So, if you are thinking about buying this engine, you should be up for the regular maintenance tasks. If you are, then you will have a fantastic driving experience with it.
Is The Chrysler 2.4 Liter Engine Reliable?
I think the whole article can be interpreted as an answer to this question. I have stated several times throughout this article that the engine requires constant maintenance.
If that can be achieved, then yes, the 2.4L engine will remain reliable. But, if you want a simple yes or no answer, things are not quite simple.
If you are one of those people that cannot do that but still manage to get the engine, then your experience will not be delightful.
Even if the first two issues don’t occur, the last one will make your trips to the mechanic more frequent.
So, for you guys, the engine is not reliable. It would be best to consider getting another vehicle with some other engine under the hood, which will handle rough usage a bit better.
All in all, the engine is great. Its reliability depends directly upon how you treat it. Just like a human, if its needs are fulfilled, it will remain in optimal condition.
What Cars Use The Chrysler 2.4 Engine?
With a very decent Horsepower output, one could expect the engine to be used in a ton of vehicles before its retirement.
But Chrysler played differently, this time around, with the World Gasoline engine. The first vehicle that debuted with this engine was the Chrysler Sebring in 2007.
The Dodge Caliber R/T and SRT-4, the Jeep Compass, and Patriot were also vehicles that started arriving in the same year, rocking the same 2.4L engine under the hood.
The Sebring was released with this engine up until 2010. The Caliber, however, stopped using this engine until one year later.
The Jeep Compass and Patriot used the same engine for a whole decade, up until 2017. Other vehicles with this engine were the Chrysler 200, the Dodge Avenger, and the Dodge Journey.
The engine was last used in the Journey, with production ending in 2020.
The engine was produced for more than a decade, which means that it was a good one, which consumers loved.
Chrysler 2.4 Tigershark Engine Specs
Fuel injection type | Multi-point fuel injection |
Arrangement | Inline |
No. of chambers | 4 |
Valves in each cylinder | 4 |
Valvetrain layout | SOHC |
Bore | 88 mm or 3.46 cubic inches |
Stroke | 97.0mm or 3.82 cubic inches |
Displacement | 2.4L or 2360 cc |
Internal combustion engine (Type) | Four stroke, Naturally articulated |
Compression ratio | 10.1:1 |
Power | 178-185 HP @ 6250 rpm |
Torque | 171-179 lb.-ft @ 3800 rpm |
Weight of engine oil | SAE 0W-20 |
The capacity of engine oil | 5.5 quarts w / filter |
Firing directive | 1-3-4-2 |
The interval between oil change | 10000 miles (15000 km) or 12 months |
The Benefits Of Choosing The Chrysler 2.4 Tigershark World Gasoline Engine
It looks like many of you are now rethinking your decision to buy this 2.4L engine.
Well, after dedicating the whole article to the problems of this engine, let me enlighten you with some of the benefits you get with this engine.
- The engine was designed with a FIAT partnership.
- Newer models have 90% improved fuel economy.
- Rotating balance shafts have been included to combat vibration.
- Oil squirters are present, which help in reducing the overall temperature.
- A two-stage oil pressure relief system maintains oil pressure at all times.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you still have some questions or confusion, searching google will most probably help. This is due to amateurs, forums that answer questions, with no care if they are correct or not.
This is the case with some forums. So, I have answered a few important ones, with full assurance from my side that they will be as accurate as possible.
Q1. Is The 2.4 Tigershark A Good Engine?
This question pops up in almost every article that I have written on. I have had the pleasure to say every single time that an engine is a good one.
But in the case of the Tigershark, that is not the case. It is a great one, instead! Its driving experience is great and close to 200 HP is more than enough for most people.
Q2. Where Is The 2.4 Tigershark Engine Made?
It looks like you want to know everything before you buy this engine. So, in answer to your question, the engine is made at a Chrysler plant in Dundee, Michigan.
This is not the only engine manufactured there. The 1.4L and the 2.0L variants are also assembled under the same roof.
Q3. Why Does The 2.4 Tigershark Burn Oil?
If you are in a hurry and don’t have time to read the entire article, the Tigershark burns oil because of the failure of the piston rings.
They are defective, meaning that they let the oil seep in through them into the combustion chamber. This scenario is called oil burning.
Q4. Are FIAT Multi-Air Engines Reliable?
It is completely alright for you to be skeptical about unknown technologies. In the case of the Multi-Air II, you don’t need to worry about anything.
When a company like FIAT is in the equation, most of your skepticism should already be out of the door. So, you should not be worried about anything.
Conclusion
Although the Chrysler 2.4 engine problems are things you should not take lightly, they can mostly be fixed easily.
Aside from the first issue with a workaround, you should have nothing to worry about with the engine.
I hope that the article and the buying guide may have aided in your decision to buy this excellent engine.
If you have decided in favor of it, you should be up for the task of regular maintenance. Even if you decided against it, the decision is not bad either.
Many other engines are more reliable and can even provide you with better performance.
Resource:
1. https://tuningpro.co/chrysler-2-4-tigershark-world-gasoline-engine-problems/
I am Tahir Azam, and I have been writing amazing articles for TaxiHack for as long as I can remember. I know everything that is to know when it comes to automobiles and is always on top of industry news and developments. While I am not an expert by any means, I pride myself on knowing the ins and outs of many different problems and, of course, their solutions. The articles on our website are some of the best and well-researched content that you will find, and I spend countless hours making sure this remains to be true. This is why I ask you to take your time out and read some of my articles, especially if you find a topic that resonates with you or is something you are looking into. This way, you will find the perfect mix of information and tips on your desired topic. Learn more about Tahir.