Quote Originally Posted by circmand View Post
the VX engine is the same one as in the Trooper. As far as I have seen there has been no documented engine problem on the 3.5. Sure several people have had engine problems. Most seem to stem from a failure to check the oil or just plain abuse. Of course you blow an engine you are going to complain but if you do not blow an engine you are not likely to post hey I havent had a probem everything is okay
I'd say above average oil consumption is a very well documented problem with the 3.5 in the VX, Trooper, and Axiom (including the direct injection, one-year only version that I own). I've owned a Nissan/Infiniti, Honda, Ford/Mercury, Chrysler/Dodge, Chevy, and even a Jeep and never had oil consumption issues anywhere near as bad as with the Isuzu 3.5 engine. Now those cars all had much worse issues in other areas, but none were at the same level of oil consumption.

True, aggressive oil checking/maintenance can help stave off an engine failure. But just because the engine never fails doesn't mean that it is without design flaws.