Known overheat issues 4.7 RAM V8? EDIT FIXED

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67Dart273

67Dart273

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My neighbor bought a 4.7 1/2T Dodge plow truck recently, so no real history. It seems to overheat bad on the highway and I did warn him about plow blockage. They tried a new stat. Anybody familiar with "known" issues with this engine? Is there any tricks to filling them? I have not looked at it, he just called me. Heater works REALLY well he says. Bear in mind it's been COLD here high temps last two weeks in low 20's and teens this week.

I told him to try and figure if it is "really" overheating (feel around heads etc) try to find infra-red thermometer.
He said T stat changed things, I even mentioned maybe the new stat is defective
I can't see a rad blockage as it would seem the heater would block first, but ?? (These heaters have tiny passages)
Likely not a water pump or heater would not work "well"

Ideas?
 
The only thing I've ever been aware of regarding those engines was the oil pickup tube being too small and causing the oil to coke up and sludge up the tube stopping it up. I'm sure over heating won't help that. That's all I got. Your advice about confirming it with the infra red gun is spot on. Usually over heating going down the road is a water flow issue, since it has all the air flow it will get. Have they removed the plow to see if that makes it stop?
 
I did find that there's a plug on the top hose fitting that needs to be removed and bled while filling. It is 15F at 10AM. I am NOT looking forward to screwing with this, hoping to keep it at the "hands off" level LOLOL.

HAPPY NEW YEAR
 
I've done plenty of radiators on those for poor/no flow and causing overheating issues.... be aware, head gaskets on those do not like it when the engine temp gets too hot. You'll know it's too late when the exhaust looks like a locomotive blowing white smoke!
 
That's a chain driven water pump isn't it? Kinda like the infamous 2.7L engine, but maybe not dumping water DIRECTLY into the sump.
 
Serpentine drive reverse rotation water pump. That’s probably one of the last engines id want in a plow truck. What year is it?
 
Garrett Ellison said:
Serpentine drive reverse rotation water pump. That’s probably one of the last engines id want in a plow truck. What year is it?
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Not sure it's the newer more "rounded" body style, 08? He says the heater "just blasts" heat which I would think would turn attention away from a pump
 
They are notorious for cooling issues. As mentioned when they get hot the headgaskets go. I've seen it on alot of 4.7s
 
They're good engines, not the strongest...but just like everything else neglect and poor maintenance plays a major part in its reliability
 
65-440 said:
They're good engines, not the strongest...but just like everything else neglect and poor maintenance plays a major part in its reliability
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Maybe it's a location thing, I don't know, but the impression I get from people around here is that the 4.7 is a total POS.
 
I do not know any mechanics that like those engines. A deal breaker for most of them when looking at a used vehicle. They’re no LA, it’s almost a copy of a Ford 2 valve 4.6. Just not as good… I like them, but just like 65-440 said, they’re only as good as they’re maintained. It sounds like it’s possibly a thermostat, but a cell phone bore scope would be a good investment to look into the cylinders with for steam cleaned parts or coolant intrusion when cold. At least the spark plugs are on the intake side of the engine. I’d probably just taste the motor oil to see if it was “coolant sweet” or not.
 
67Dart273 said:
My neighbor bought a 4.7 1/2T Dodge plow truck recently, so no real history. It seems to overheat bad on the highway and I did warn him about plow blockage. They tried a new stat. Anybody familiar with "known" issues with this engine? Is there any tricks to filling them? I have not looked at it, he just called me. Heater works REALLY well he says. Bear in mind it's been COLD here high temps last two weeks in low 20's and teens this week.

I told him to try and figure if it is "really" overheating (feel around heads etc) try to find infra-red thermometer.
He said T stat changed things, I even mentioned maybe the new stat is defective
I can't see a rad blockage as it would seem the heater would block first, but ?? (These heaters have tiny passages)
Likely not a water pump or heater would not work "well"

Ideas?
Click to expand...
Any sign of antifreeze consumption? I’ve replaced a lot of warped cylinder heads and head gaskets back in the day.RJ
 
Don't know anything yet. Have not heard more out of them. "I think" they may have decided to to something else today
 
Garrett Ellison said:
I do not know any mechanics that like those engines. A deal breaker for most of them when looking at a used vehicle. They’re no LA, it’s almost a copy of a Ford 2 valve 4.6. Just not as good… I like them, but just like 65-440 said, they’re only as good as they’re maintained. It sounds like it’s possibly a thermostat, but a cell phone bore scope would be a good investment to look into the cylinders with for steam cleaned parts or coolant intrusion when cold. At least the spark plugs are on the intake side of the engine. I’d probably just taste the motor oil to see if it was “coolant sweet” or not.
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"The joke" about Mopar engines is "anything .7" 2.7,. 3.7, 4.7 "and sometimes" 5.7 LOL
 
RustyRatRod said:
Maybe it's a location thing, I don't know, but the impression I get from people around here is that the 4.7 is a total POS.
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I don't care for them. My buddy bought one new in 07. I told him to spend the extra money and get the hemi but he didn't listen. He absolutely babied that truck I mean to the point of being ridiculous. He wouldn't drive it on dirt roads he would drive it in the snow nothing. I used to pick on him all the time. What's the point of buying a 4x4 if your not gonna use it as a 4x4. We would always take my truck hunting, fishing, shooting etc. Anyway at 80k miles he was driving home from work and out of nowhere it started getting hot. He took it to the dealer they replaced the radiator and heater core. After that every time he would start it it would puff white smoke but just when it started. That started getting a little worse. I noticed one day when he was driving away it was smoking pretty bad. I told him about it and he let me look and sure enough rhe headgasket was blown. The dealer replaced it and less than 10k miles later it blew again. The truck was done before it reached 100k miles. And was less than 10 years old
 
In my opinion 4.7 is a pretty sound little motor, 6 years and put 60,000 miles on it a total 111.000 the only problem I have ever had is a broken exhaust manifold bolt . But if it's overheat and then sub freezing weather something's going on. I would monitor coolant level as mentioned and be concerned.
 
65-440 said:
They're good engines, not the strongest...but just like everything else neglect and poor maintenance plays a major part in its reliability
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My daughter has over 250k on her 4.7 jeep commander. Never had any problems with the drivetrain. I think the only problem she ever had was a window motor crapped out in the down position.
 
I never understood why they redesigned a new engine when they had the 5.2 and 5.9. Those engines were tried and true and lasted forever. Why not just them and make them better? They could have worked on the heads and intake and made some really impressive hp and torque with a tried and true design. Because as we know the bottom ends are damn near bullet proof.
 
i've got a bud who has one 329'000 th miles on it. same head bolts 3 set's of head gaskets .
 
dartfreak75 said:
I never understood why they redesigned a new engine when they had the 5.2 and 5.9. Those engines were tried and true and lasted forever. Why not just them and make them better? They could have worked on the heads and intake and made some really impressive hp and torque with a tried and true design. Because as we know the bottom ends are damn near bullet proof.
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The cam in head was the improvement!
 
dartfreak75 said:
I never understood why they redesigned a new engine when they had the 5.2 and 5.9. Those engines were tried and true and lasted forever. Why not just them and make them better? They could have worked on the heads and intake and made some really impressive hp and torque with a tried and true design. Because as we know the bottom ends are damn near bullet proof.
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way too heavy. Cast iron everything! These newer motor were all cast aluminum with integrated water and oil pumps, serpentine drive, MPFI, yadda yadda. They couldn't save the Slant either, too small valves too long of a stroke. Bring it back in Aluminum with a redesigned cross flow head, EFI? Its still a straight 6, long and long for all the new transverse mounted platforms. Sometimes you gotta start fresh. Spitfire motor, over 300HP in a NA V6? Try that in a 5.2 with 2 less cylinders and a wonky balance crank.
 
pishta said:
way too heavy. Cast iron everything! These newer motor were all cast aluminum with integrated water and oil pumps, serpentine drive, MPFI, yadda yadda. They couldn't save the Slant either, too small valves too long of a stroke. Bring it back in Aluminum with a redesigned cross flow head, EFI? Its still a straight 6, long and long for all the new transverse mounted platforms. Sometimes you gotta start fresh. Spitfire motor, over 300HP in a NA V6? Try that in a 5.2 with 2 less cylinders and a wonky balance crank.
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You know they're bringing the straight 6 back right? Supposed to come out with the new design of the challenger
 
pishta said:
way too heavy. Cast iron everything! These newer motor were all cast aluminum with integrated water and oil pumps, serpentine drive, MPFI, yadda yadda. They couldn't save the Slant either, too small valves too long of a stroke. Bring it back in Aluminum with a redesigned cross flow head, EFI? Its still a straight 6, long and long for all the new transverse mounted platforms. Sometimes you gotta start fresh. Spitfire motor, over 300HP in a NA V6? Try that in a 5.2 with 2 less cylinders and a wonky balance crank.
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Jus sayin but that Jeep 4.0 has been a GREAT engine over the years.....................
 
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