Is anyone running a 4.7L???

Got one in my 02 Dakota that runs like a scalded dog. No matter how hard I run it it never gets less than 16 mpg and if I take it easy 19-20 mpg isn't a problem. Never had 1 single problem with it, but I do change oil regularly and use synthetic and it only has 85,000 miles on it. That's not to say I'd use one in an A-body though. It's size is comparable to the 5.7 Hemi (much wider than a LA engine) so in my opinion if your going to go through all the work to install one why not go for the extra cubes and more power?

For those that mentioned they had a 4.7 and wished they would have gotten a 5.2, it's my understanding the 4.7 replaced the 5.2 so unless you would have bought an older truck you couldn't have gotten a 5.2...

Oh yeah, I had a 93 Dak, same exact configuration (std cab, short bed, auto with 3.55 gears) as my 02 but it had a 5.2 in it. Never ever got more than 15 mpg, even with my wife driving it running down hill. Ran liked a raped ape too but gas mileage sucked. Avg was generally about 12 mpg

rumblefish360 said:

If you add two more cylinders to the V6, you would the. Have a 318. The V6 IS a 318 minus the two cylinders!

Depends on what year your talking. The early magnum series V6's were a 318 minus 2 cylinders. In the early 2000's when the 4.7 appeared the V6 changed along with the 4.7 and became a 3.7 V6 which was a 4.7 minus 2 cylinders.

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The 4.7 is NOT, I repeat, NOT a modified 318 as it was touted by sales men back when they we're new. This bull **** sales pitch was so made as to install customer confidence.

Your exactly right

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There is nothing out there for the 4.7's for upgrading performance. The engine has a bad rep not only among customers but mechanics as well as mentioned above.

If you want to do something modern, it isn't the 4.7. It is either a HEMI, a Magnum or a serious "LA" build with the aftermarket supporting all the new tricks your after.

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Agreed. I wouldn't do a 4.7 swap either. Too much work for such a little return

They are not a Chrysler engine. I am pretty sure they are Mercedes engine. I own a Jeep and talk to a lot of Jeep owners and I have heard so many bad stories of complete rebuilds and engine swaps due to blowing up these engines due oiling problems. You must must change oil more than what service schedule says and use a very good quality synthetic oil. I am with the others use a Gen 3 hemi.

AVOID THE 4.7L!!!!!!!!!!!

I have had nothing but issues with them!!!!!

My wife has a grand cherokee with the 4.7l. we got it with 90,000 miles (now has about 135,000 miles.

Don't get me wrong, it runs great and has tons of get up an go. (alot of the stuff I have had to replace is more so parts on the jeep itself BUT connected to the engine...so Ill just list most of it)But since we have owned it I have had to put in an oil pressure switch,radiator,heater core,fan,a/c compressor,water pump,alternator,muffler,oil pan (rusted out at 100k miles due to poor material quality....rest of the jeep was clean at the time....but oil pan was swiss cheese). This Jeep has been meticulously maintained also.

and a few other odds and ends. The biggest issue I have with it have already been mentioned...the sludge issue being one (poor pcv design and also allows condensation to build up.) if you pop the oil cap off it looks gross.
That and the timing chain issues ( almost every 4.7 I have seen when you start it up it will rattle like it has junk lifters for a few minutes until the timing chain tensioners build up enough pressure to hold the chain to the guides.).

I also had a 02 ram 1500 with a 4.7l for about a month and that was the worste engine I had ever owned. burned a quart of oil every 100 miles!!!!!!. bad timing chain noise,leaked fluids,exhaust manifold leaked,over heated,no get up and go in a full size truck. Needless to say I got rid of that truck as soon as I could.

Some may be good...but most have issues or will in the future. Just get the 5.7 if you want to put in a modern engine.

I ordered a brand new 2000 Dakota with a 4.7 and 3.91 gears.
Drag raced it for three years strait and sold it with 43 thousand miles on it.
Ran low 15 teens with drag radials.I changed the oil all the time and never had a problem.
I have heard of problems with them though.
Last new vehicle i ever owned.
7500 grand gone in three years.....i would rather have more older cool cars then one new one.

i must be lucky 200K, cheap oil changed every 5 to 7K, never touched the trans!! i do about 75% highway. and i have been blocking the grill and when very cold blocking the lower air dam, this has basically stopped the white foamy condensation. I bet a lot of the 4.7's with oil problems as mentioned are in cool to cold climates coupled with short trips.

Strange, yet I opened the hood on my 1980 450 Mercedes along side my friend's Dakota a year ago to show him the similarities of the 4.5 and 4.7, they almost look identical..

When I worked at the transmission shop, we had a Jasper rep that would stop in like once a quarter trying to get us to use them. We got on the subject of the 4.7 one day. According to what he said, the oil pickup in them is too small. It allows the oil to overheat and break down and sludge up if you do not stay RIGHT on top of oil changes. At least that's what he said.

Had a 04 Durango(my wife did). It ran great until the oiling problems as mentioned by RustyRatRod. Also the oil pump is mounted in some way on the front of the engine behind everything. Not a quick fix. And when the problems manifest themselves you can expect to replace the head too.

I didn't even bother to put money into it. My wifes asks about it from time to time. Waiting for the right moment to show her the video of it being crushed by a monster truck.

As a whole I like the 4.7 in my 2000 4x4 Durango a lot. Breaks the tires loose like a champ, pulls hard and sounds pretty damn good with the stock exhaust system. It's sitting right at 220,000 miles and all it has gone through is a radiator, and two clutch fans, although I am in need of a valve cover gasket pretty bad. Mileage is really not that great next to other comparable mills. All that being said, I love it in the Durango, but defiantly not what I would consider swap material. Pretty much like everyone else said, too much work, too much $, and almost no aftermarket support, other than K&N and flowmaster