Dodge Caravan Used Engines

Caravan and Grand Caravan listings are grouped here because the engines are the same parts; the Grand is the long-wheelbase body. Chrysler Town and Country and Volkswagen Routan engines of the same year are also identical, which makes this one of the deepest pools in the catalogue. The important line is 2011, when the whole range was replaced by the single 3.6 Pentastar. Before that the van ran the 3.3 and 3.8 pushrod V6s, with the 4.0 in the top trims and a 2.4 four-cylinder in the base van.

Dodge Caravan Used Engines — engine options by generation

How to pick the right one

Model year does most of the work. The 2010 to 2011 change is absolute: the 3.6 Pentastar is a dual-overhead-cam engine with a different block, different mounts and different management, and nothing from the pushrod era fits. Within the pushrod years, the 3.3 and the 3.8 share a family and a bellhousing but have different displacements, cranks and heads, so match the one you have. The 4.0 EGQ of 2008-2010 is a single-cam 24-valve engine and a separate part from both. Town and Country and Routan engines of the same year are the same parts, so check those listings too. Send us the VIN and we read the eighth character against the build.

What usually fails on these engines

The 3.3 and 3.8 are genuinely durable pushrod engines and most of them get replaced for neglect rather than design - a failed water pump or a head gasket after an overheat. They are also cheap to buy, which is why they are worth replacing rather than repairing. On the 3.6 Pentastar, the left-bank cylinder head on the 2011-2013 build range had a documented failure Chrysler covered under extended warranty; the symptom is a misfire on cylinders two, four or six that will not clear with plugs or coils. Buy a later revision where you can and we will tell you the build date of any unit we list. One thing worth checking before you replace anything: on these vans a transmission that is holding second gear is usually a governor pressure solenoid, not a dead engine or a dead transmission.

What ships with every unit

• Compression and leak-down tested before it is listed, with the test sheet in the box.
• VIN matched fitment — send us your VIN and we confirm the engine code against your vehicle before the order ships.
• Written warranty on every engine, with labour coverage available.
• Free freight anywhere in the lower 48, shipped on a pallet to a commercial address or a terminal.

Related reading: Chrysler 3.6L Pentastar engine guide, all engine guides.

Dodge Caravan used engines - frequently asked questions

Which engines did the Dodge Caravan use?

Across 1996 to 2020 the Dodge Caravan was built with 2.4L EDZ I4, 3.3L EGA V6, 3.8L EGH V6, 3.5L EGJ V6, 4.0L EGQ V6 and 3.6L Pentastar V6. The table above lists which one belongs to each generation, with the engine family and VIN character that identifies it.

How do I know which engine is in my Dodge Caravan?

The eighth character of the VIN encodes the engine on almost every US vehicle, and that is the only reliable way to settle it - two cars of the same year and trim can carry different engines. Send us the VIN and we check the engine code against your vehicle before anything ships.

Will an engine from a different year fit my Dodge Caravan?

Model year does most of the work. The 2010 to 2011 change is absolute: the 3.6 Pentastar is a dual-overhead-cam engine with a different block, different mounts and different management, and nothing from the pushrod era fits.

What usually fails on these engines?

The 3.3 and 3.8 are genuinely durable pushrod engines and most of them get replaced for neglect rather than design - a failed water pump or a head gasket after an overheat. They are also cheap to buy, which is why they are worth replacing rather than repairing.

What comes with a used Dodge Caravan engine?

Every engine is compression and leak-down tested before it is listed and the test sheet ships in the box. Fitment is VIN matched before the order goes out, every engine carries a written warranty with labour coverage available, and freight is free anywhere in the lower 48.