Dodge 4.7L V8 Engine Problems: Reliability, Specs & Reviews

When it comes to a name like Dodge in the engine industry, then you can expect stellar performance from anything that comes of the company’s assembly line.

The same is the case with the Dodge 4.7 V8 engine, which is the topic of our discussion today in this article.

No matter the company, it is not perfect. This trait transfers down to their products.

Let me outline some of the more common issues faced by owners of vehicles with this engine under the hood.

Some of the most common Dodge 4.7 engine problems are:

1. Failure Of The Head Gasket
2. Problems With The Cooling System
3. Leakage Of The Valve Covers
4. Valve Seat Failure

Do not be frightened, as I will discuss these issues and explain how a person can address them. Let’s jump right into it!

The 4 Most Common Dodge 4.7 Engine Problems

As promised, we will now be focusing solely on the four problems I outlined above.

I will be getting into the issues, what damage they can incur, and how to solve them.

1. Failure Of The Head Gasket

The Issue

One thing that can cause issues for all types of users and on any engine is the failure of the head gasket. The problems do not occur due to a design flaw but due to extended usage.

Yes, that is true. One of the common reasons for the failure of a head gasket is an overheating engine.

And that can happen, either due to extended usage or a malfunction in the coolant system. We will get to the second one in just a moment.

Symptoms And Damage

So, what could happen if the head gasket suddenly failed on you? Well, the first thing we will discuss is the symptoms.

If you notice these things in tandem, then there is a high probability that your engine has experienced a head gasket failure.

• Exhaust giving off white fumes.
• The sweet smell in the cabin.
• Oil color different.
• Quick coolant consumption.
• Unexpected overheating of the engine.

The different color of the oil is due to the coolant mixing with the engine. If the engine is showing these signs, then there is a high probability of a head gasket failure of the engine.

If the overheating issue suddenly occurred while on the road, it could pose a threat to anyone in the vehicle and the people around you.

What To Do

There is not a lot you can do to ensure that the vehicle sustains as little damage as possible.

The best thing you can do is call a towing company and get your vehicle hauled to the nearest mechanic.

You not only need a new head gasket but a refill of oil and the coolant. This way, you can get your engine back in usable condition.

2. Problems With The Cooling System

The Issue

You would expect that the cooling issues of the engine would end in the head gasket failure. But unfortunately, the 4.7 engine is prone to other issues regarding the cooling system.

Although Dodge made an excellent engine, it did not test the cooling system properly to ensure it would last long-term usage.

In this 4.7 engine, users reported that almost all of the cooling mechanisms became faulty at one point. This includes the radiator, the cooling fan, and even the coolant.

The coolant system is an essential part of a computer, ensuring that the engine will remain under optimal temperature conditions.

Symptoms

So, what can a person check to ensure that the coolant system is the one that is failing. There are a few things that can be observed and can not be missed.

• There will be a coolant leak.
• The engine will overheat frequently.
• The coolant will need to be topped off quickly.
• The engine produces visible steam.

These symptoms are things that cannot be missed. They can affect the way you drive your vehicle.

Repair

A cooling system malfunction is always sudden. It does not develop over time.

So, what you can do is that you can call a mechanic to get the problem diagnosed and fixed at your doorstep.

You can do it, too, given that you have the right tools and you know exactly where the problem lies. You can use YouTube too.

If a mechanic is far from your place, the only option is to get your vehicle towed to the nearest workshop.

The bill amount may vary, depending on the type of damage the system has sustained.

What you should not do is drive your vehicle anymore until the issue has been resolved. You risk serious damage to the engine if you try to do that.

3. Leakage Of The Valve Covers

Another common issue faced by the owners of the V6 engine is the leakage of the oil gasket and the valve cover. There were many owners of the Dodge 4.7L engine that had this issue.

The Issue

Let’s see what causes this leak of the valve color. According to my research, the leak is caused due to excessive wear and tear. This is completely normal.

According to many professionals, the gaskets harden and crack over time. These cracks are the reason for the compromised seals.

Now, the seals don’t break immediately. The cracks let out a little bit of oil, a quantity so small that it is hard to notice.

The problem escalates slowly, which then causes the issue of quick oil leakage.

Symptoms

The oil could leak from various areas. Depending on the location of the leak, users may have noticed:

• Oil spots on the ground where the vehicle is parked.
• A burning smell.
• Smoke rising from the engine.

If the oil finds a way, it will drip onto the ground. This will be noticeable when you move from a parking spot.

If the drippage is less, you can drive the vehicle to get it to the nearest mechanic. But when it comes to a large puddle, then it is best to avoid driving.

What To Do

If you have the right tools and sufficient experience, then you could do the replacement at home.

I must warn you that the replacement is quite labor-intensive on engines such as the Dodge 4.7L.

So, if you visit a mechanic, the bill will most probably be quite high. If you cannot do the job yourself, then, unfortunately, there is no other option for you than to go to a mechanic.

4. Valve Seat Failure

Function

You may have noticed that there are two issues related to valves in this article. The least common issue, out of all four, is the failure of the valve seat.

This means that the company did not test the valves properly before releasing the valves on the market.

As many of you may know, valve seats are the parts that help seal the intake and exhaust valves. This ensures that there will be no escaping of gases.

So, the pressure will be retained at all times.

The Issue

The valve seats, when they fail, will not seal the intake and the exhaust properly. This will result in a drop in compression.

The air will leak out whenever the cylinder will try to compress air. This will have a huge impact on the air pressure.

Some of you may be wondering what may be the root cause of this issue. As many of you may have expected, the only reason for this happening is due to overheating of the engine.

I don’t know if you noticed, but many of the issues in this article are linked to one another in some way. This means that the brand could have fixed all of them easily.

Symptoms

The valve seat failure issue is something that cannot be ignored. It also renders the vehicle useless.

If you observe these things, then the engine needs immediate repair:

• Compression loss.
• Unexpected misfires.
• Power loss.

Aside from the first one, the other two can be caused by something else.

So, they are not definitive tests. But if all of them are happening at once, then there is nothing else that will be causing the issue.

If there is compression loss in the engine, you should not drive the vehicle at all.

It should be hauled to the nearest mechanic because the sudden power loss issue can get you in a major accident.

It is a danger that is not worth the risk. When it comes to engine problems, it is always best to play it safe because you don’t know what to expect.

What Is The Dodge 4.7L Engine?

Announced and unveiled in 1999, the PowerTech V8 quickly became an extremely popular option for users. It was used in vehicles for a full decade, up until 2009.

Although the year range is not as extensive as many others, it is more than decent. The engine is also known as the Magnum V8.

So, if someone is using a different name, you should not get confused.

As you may have read in the article above, the engine is far from being perfect. But what is unique to the engine is that all the issues are connected to each other in some way.

The cooling issue can be attributed to the leaking coolant. The leaking oil can be due to overheating, which is the result of less coolant in the engine.

If you want to know how reliable the engine is, you should wait for the next question.

Is The Dodge 4.7L Engine Reliable?

If yes is the answer you were waiting for, then you are very fortunate. The 4.7L beast is extremely reliable.

All of the above-mentioned issues are ones that are mostly caused due to excessive wear and tear and overheating.

So, if you keep the engine maintained at all times, and get all repairs done in time, then there is a very high probability that you won’t run into any issues.

And if you are interested in knowing how long the engine will last, well, you are lucky once again. The V8 engine has been built to last.

The timing chain will stop working around the 250000-mile mark. That is when the engine will stop working.

But if repairs and maintenance are done at all times, then the engine can possibly even cross the 300000-mile mark.

So, you can expect the engine to work reliably for a long time and with minor issues.

What Cars Use The Dodge 4.7L Engine?

Unlike other engines that have been used in dozens of vehicles, this 4.7 engine was featured in some specially picked cars and Jeeps.

The vehicle that started it all was the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The vehicle was the first one to feature the engine under its hood.

It came along with this engine up until its production was halted in 2009. The Dodge Dakota and the Dodge Durango were the next vehicles that came with this engine.

They had the engine from 2000 to 2007 and 2000 to 2009 respectively. Even the Dodge Ram 1500 came with this engine from 2002 to 2007.

The final vehicle that featured this bad boy under its hood was the Chrysler Aspen. It came with the V8 from 2007 to 2009.

That was the shortest period the engine had under the hood. But over its lifespan of ten years, the engine won the hearts of thousands of consumers.

Dodge 4.7L Engine Specs

The Benefits Of Choosing The Dodge 4.7L Engine

There may be some of you that are still not convinced if the engine is good enough for you.

I will be outlining some of the advantages that you can consider too before making a final decision.

• It is the first member of the PowerTech family.
• It was completely designed from scratch.
• Graphite iron bedplate reduces vibration and sound quite effectively.
• The engine does not even need a balancing shaft.
• Newer models had better airflow and improved efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQs is focused on questions asked by people on online forums. I hope they will help you in your decision to buy this engine.

Q1. How Much Horsepower Does The 4.7L V8 Engine Have?

The engine can output a very decent 310 Horsepower. Some of you may find it less, but for all average consumers, the output is more than plenty for most scenarios.

If you do not use your vehicle for racing, then the horsepower is more than enough for your needs.

Q2. How Durable Is The Magnum V8 Engine?

The engine is pretty durable. This has been the general consensus of almost anyone who has driven a vehicle equipped with this engine under the hood.

But there were users that complained about issues around the 70000-mile mark.

You won’t have to worry about that because there is a close to impossible chance that you get an engine that has been driven less than that.

Q3. How Many Spark Plugs Does The Magnum V8 Have?

So, you got the brand-new engine, but there is a problem of unexpected misfires.

This could be due to failing spark plugs. This is possible because the engine was most probably used a lot already.

To answer your question, the V8 engine has eight spark plugs. So, if you are looking to buy new ones, I would suggest that you replace all eight.

Q4. Is The Dodge 4.7 Engine A Hemi?

Unfortunately, it is not. The engine was shifted to the Hemi-style combustion chambers in 2008.

Its production was seized in 2009, so there are not a whole lot of Magnums out there that had the redesign.

But if you manage to get the newer one, then you can expect excellent horsepower from it.

Q5. What Goes Wrong With The Dodge 4.7L Engine?

Apart from the four issues that were the topic of our discussion today, users had no other complaints with this engine.

So, if you have bought the engine, then I would suggest that you spend a couple of hundred bucks and fix those issues before they ever appear.

Then you will not have any issues with it in the future.

Conclusion

The 4.7 engine is an excellent one to have under the hood of your vehicle.

The 300+ HP is more than enough for almost anyone looking for a V8 engine to power his or her vehicle.

There are a few Dodge 4.7 engine problems, but fortunately, they can be repaired easily.

I hope that this article and the included FAQs helped you in your decision of choosing if the engine is good for you or not.

If you have decided in favor of it, then I must congratulate you because it is a beast that will give you stellar performance.

You will enjoy the acceleration and the fuel efficiency. Yes, that’s right! The engine consumes less fuel than most V8 engines. So, it really is a great option.

Resources:
1. https://tuningpro.co/4-common-dodge-4-7l-v8-powertech-engine-problems/
2. https://itstillruns.com/dodge-engine-problems-5571443.html
3. https://www.motorreviewer.com/engine.php?engine_id=181