ARE 4.7's REALLY THAT BAD?
#2289134
04/16/17 11:50 PM
04/16/17 11:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,673 S.E.Ohio
Magnumguy
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,673
S.E.Ohio
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Looking at a 2004? Dakota one a local lot, 4x4, 4 door, pretty burgandy & silver. Called about it and it's a 4.7, 160,000 or so miles. EVERYONE says they're death.
Are they really that bad?!
And... go!
Last edited by Magnumguy; 04/16/17 11:52 PM.
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Re: ARE 4.7's REALLY THAT BAD?
[Re: Magnumguy]
#2289242
04/17/17 04:07 AM
04/17/17 04:07 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,309 Laveen, Arizona
GTSDart340
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,309
Laveen, Arizona
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I have one in an 01 Durango. It has about 195k on it, uses a lot of oil, but runs super smooth! I'm pretty sure it's the valve seals and possibly the guides causing the oil use.
1949 International KB-2 "Mater" - 302/T5
1968 Dodge Dart GTS "The Drat" - 340/727
2006 Dodge Magnum R/T - Hemi
2016 Dodge Durango Limited - 3.6
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Re: ARE 4.7's REALLY THAT BAD?
[Re: Magnumguy]
#2289285
04/17/17 10:10 AM
04/17/17 10:10 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,531 Jacksonville, FL
Chris2581
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,531
Jacksonville, FL
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The 4.7 is a good engine IMHO. I had one in a 2002 quad cab and never touched the engine. It still had the OEM water pump on it and went way over 200K on it. I only traded it in because I wanted a new truck (15 Crew cab/Hemi). I used 15w40 oil after it had 9000 miles on it and changed it about every 3K then went 4K and was going 5k on oil changes.Coolant flushed every 2 years.Just maintained it is all I did,and it didn't cost me a lot of money doing so.
Nautilus Racing- We use Superformance gaskets and Turbo Action converters/products.
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Re: ARE 4.7's REALLY THAT BAD?
[Re: Magnumguy]
#2289305
04/17/17 11:04 AM
04/17/17 11:04 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,801 Benton, IL.
DaveRS23
Master of nothing...
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Master of nothing...
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,801
Benton, IL.
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When asked about the durability of a particular engine, I always recommend that a few calls be made to local salvage yards to check on price and availability. That will tell the curious a lot about the engine in question.
In this case, you will find very few good 4.7s and they will be expensive.
Master, again and still
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Re: ARE 4.7's REALLY THAT BAD?
[Re: Magnumguy]
#2289309
04/17/17 11:15 AM
04/17/17 11:15 AM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,416 St. Charles, MO
wingman
Uncreative Title
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Uncreative Title
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,416
St. Charles, MO
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Got my 4.7 Dakota used at 30k miles and now I am at 185k. I'm happy with it.
Only thing that went out on it was the water pump at about 110k. These have a plastic impeller from the factory and are prone to failure. I got the truck stopped quickly and shut off so it didn't overheat. My guess is a lot of the 4.7's die this way. Water pump goes out, and if the driver doesn't know what's going on they keep driving it dry and overheat it.
I also have the usual lifter clatter for about 30 seconds on cold startup. This is very common on these engines and does not seem to hurt anything.
Anything used at 160,000 miles is a bit of a risk if you don't know the history. If the rest of the truck seems well taken care of, the engine probably was too. If the price is right I'd take a chance.
1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee 383 A4 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 440 FC7 (sold)
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Re: ARE 4.7's REALLY THAT BAD?
[Re: Magnumguy]
#2289310
04/17/17 11:17 AM
04/17/17 11:17 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,940 Richmond, Indiana
19swinger70
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,940
Richmond, Indiana
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I'd say if you like the truck, and can get it cheap (2004 truck should be cheap) - then go for it. Do some maintenance, and use it until the wheels fall off.
1970 340 swinger. sublime 1967 barracuda fastback BB 55 Plymouth Project
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Re: ARE 4.7's REALLY THAT BAD?
[Re: DaveRS23]
#2289367
04/17/17 12:50 PM
04/17/17 12:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21,055 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21,055
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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When asked about the durability of a particular engine, I always recommend that a few calls be made to local salvage yards to check on price and availability. That will tell the curious a lot about the engine in question.
In this case, you will find very few good 4.7s and they will be expensive. Just try to find a used 4.7. Some of you guys have lucked out, the majority are in the scrap yards because the engine is bad. Don't believe me? Call around.
"Come get your wife"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Front and rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
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Re: ARE 4.7's REALLY THAT BAD?
[Re: Magnumguy]
#2289649
04/17/17 08:41 PM
04/17/17 08:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,478 Kalispell Mt.
HotRodDave
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,478
Kalispell Mt.
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They don't really blow up so to speak but they have many issues.
Blown head gaskets and cracked heads are common and usually mean it needs a radiator, heater core or water pump as the heads and head gaskets only seem to go bad when it gets overheated, ocasionally it will also drop a valve seat when it gets overheated. I can't think of any instance where an owner told me it didn't start overheating before they got those issues.
The "lifter noise" they typically have is no biggie... till one of your rockers fall off in the morning. For it to fall off it has to sit with the tip of the lobe pressing directy down on the rocker with the weak lash adjuster and it has to sit long enough to completly bleed down the lash adjuster, then when you start it it kicks the rocker off before the lifter has a chance to pump up. If your lucky you pull the valve cover and put it back on and your back on the road in an hour. Sometimes though depending on where exacty the rocker falls is can bust the lash adjusters hole out of the head, break the cam, or bend or break a vave and even poke a hole in the piston.
The timing chains are another biggie that usually gets em condemend, if you let it go long enough it will sound like the bottom end is coming apart, they are a lot more complicated than most timing chains to replace and a lot of shops won't even touch em. The plastic guides break usually starting around 125,000 (I just finished up a set in an 07 dakota with 109,000 and they were al falling apart). Your best bet is to do em around 100K just like you would a timing belt. Get the kit with all 3 chains, all 3 tensioners and all the plastic guides, do it once and do it right. The plastic in the engine just can't take the heat.
One other issue I have seen a couple times is the rod bearings seem very soft and will just go away for no reason. luckily the rod bearings are very soft and every one I have seen do this the crank still looks new, put in new bearings and go on with life.
The bores hardy ever show any significant wear on em, cranks seem to last forever, pistons, rods... all seem to hold up ok. I have worked on tons of them and never seen one need rings or bored and pistons replaced. Some of the issues can be avoided by overy active maintnance and by watching your temp gauge very carefully. Even with the best maintnance you still should do the timing set up to expect the most out of it.
I remember when Chrysler came out with these engines and even said they only expect them to last 150,000 so there is that.
I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!
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