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Powerful and robust engines have been the highlights of Dodge cars for decades now, yet the brand also got away with some ridiculous power plants.
Ever since they have been on the market, Dodge and Chrysler have been one of the top innovators of engine models for American cars second only to General Motors. Dodge’s engines are known for their powerful torque and horsepower, their durability, and their interchangeable parts which makes them perfect engines for muscle car customization. Several of the world's most famous muscle cars are Dodges or get customized with Dodge engines, especially their V8 Hemi models. Dodge also has the famous Viper V10 engine to their name.
However, not every engine model produced by Chrysler for Dodge has been a success story. While the engines that came standard with some of their classic muscle cars have impressed consumers, gearheads, and customizers for generations, some Dodge engines have performed poorly, and not even the most talented mechanic could customize them to increase their performance. These are five Dodge engines that manufacturers wished people would forget about, but to be fair let’s also revisit 5 of the best engines Dodge has ever had the privilege to put in their cars.
Related: 10 Chrysler Engines That Were Useless And 5 That Were Absolute Beasts
Out of all the engines to get put into and Dodge vehicle, this one that came in cars like the 2002 Dodge Stratus was notoriously and noteworthily bad.
This engine would often fail long before reaching 100,000 miles due to an oversaturation of engine sludge caused by a faulty crankcase ventilation system.
While most of the Slant 6s are great engines and several of the issues with the 225 were fixed in later versions, the aluminum 225 blocks still had several problems that its predecessor and descendants did not. This one was prone to corrosion due to faulty cooling systems.
The aluminum used in the engine also tended to deteriorate quickly, requiring frequent tune-ups and causing engine failure.
While several diesel engines get more bad press than they deserve, this is not one of those engines.
Dodge’s 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6, which was available in trucks like the 2014 Dodge Ram was notorious for exhaust gas recirculation failure, timing chain/camshaft gear shift problems, coolant leaks, and engine overheating due to oil cooler failure.
This motor, nicknamed the “Tiger Shark” came standard in all Dodge Dart trims and the Dodge Neon in 2013 and it had poor fuel economy and surprisingly low torque ranges of 171-179 lb-ft. The engine tends to consume oil excessively in order to function properly and is highly prone to sludge and engine buildup.
In May, Fiat-Chrysler ran into some legal problems with this engine, as consumers are demanding a recall because allegedly the company knew that faulty piston rings would allow oil to enter the combustion chamber.
This engine that came with the 2009 Dodge Durango yielded 345 horsepower at around 5000 rpm, and while it might have been useful in smaller models the heavy weight of the Dodge’s hybrid SUVs lowered this engine's ability to deliver where a hybrid engine is supposed to, mileage.
Related: This Is America's Biggest V8 Engine And It's Going In This Chevy Camaro
While the Durango’s 22 mpg is fair for an SUV, it’s meager compared to the 50 mpg that most hybrids are suspected to pull.
This engine is one of the most popular of Dodge’s motors especially among performance car enthusiasts because it came standard with classics like the Plymouth Road Runners or the Dodge Challengers of the 1960s and 1970s.
This beauty came with a 4 barrel carburetor and up to 275 horsepower.
The 440 is the largest displacement engine Dodge ever used in any of their cars. It was the engine that put Dodge on the muscle car map, powering the likes of the 1970 Charger R/T to 375 horsepower.
Dodge's 440 V8 was a staple of the 1970s muscle car hype, but during the 1980s it went on to power numerous Dodge, Plymouth, and Oldsmobile vans, trucks, and sedans. Related: 15 Modern Muscle Cars That Make People Forget About The 1960s
The 426 were the first Hemi engines and went on to become legendary due to their power. Nicknamed “the Elephant” for its massive size, this engine was the power behind several classic muscle cars including the 1969 Dodge Charger and the 1968 Dodge Dart.
Before making their way into '60s muscle car icons like the Charger, the engine was used in NASCAR. When a street version was finally made a few years later, it pulled 425 horsepower straight from the factory.
The Dodge Viper engine is notorious for its heavy-duty endurance and high performance. This ten-cylinder monster comes to 400-645 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque at around 5,000 rpm.
Related: Dodge Owner Shares Simple Tuning Process Behind Stock Viper's Power Upgrade
The engine first debuted in 1992 and is powerful enough to drive the Dodge Tomahawk, a non-street-legal motorcycle that was only produced 10 times.
This is one of the most popular and durable Dodge engines. This Hemi has earned a reputation for both performance and endurance and is one of Dodge’s longest-lasting engines, with some lasting as long as 300,000 miles.
The engine has been a standard installation in several Dodge Models since debuting in 2003, including both consumer cars and work vehicles like trucks or SUVs. Cars with this beauty include the Dodge Charger since 2006, the 2005 Dodge Magnum, and the 2009 Dodge Challenger.
Jimbo is a writer with words in TheThings, Sacramento News and Review, Ariel Chart Journal, and more. Like many a gear head, he grew up holding the flashlight for his mechanic dad.