Dodge 4.7 V8, known for dropping seats?

[turbovanman²]

I have an 01 Grand Cherokee in my shop, with no compression in #1, traced to a burned intake valve or it dropped seat, took the intake off and yep, valve seat done. I've read ton's of horror story's of sludge and the odd cracked head but nothing about valve seats. I have no history on it and it doesn't appear to have been overheated, full of coolant, no blown head gaskets and doesn't have the typical smell of an overheated engine. Thanks.

[bakes]

got some extra lifters i can have??????

[turbovanman²]

got some extra lifters i can have??????

Not unless Rob says you can have them, lol.

[bakes]

dam!!!!!!!

[turbovanman²]

Although, 8 could be faulty! :eyebrows:

[bakes]

Although, 8 could be faulty! :eyebrows:

I smell a supper 60 cam going in :eyebrows:

[135sohc]

Mom managed to overheat our 02 Ram 4.7 pretty good little while back. Crossing fingers its still going strong...

Maybe just a random occurance you've had ?

[mr.ed]

I know they've been known to break valve springs. I've got an '04 Grand Cherokee right now with a broken spring on #6 intake. Luckily the valve didn't drop down far enough to hit the piston. IDK about seats dropping, though.

[turbovanman²]

Valve spring is just fine. You can see where the seat cracked in 2, which is either what caused it to drop or the poundage of the valve?

I'll try to find a camera to snap pics.

[black86glhs]

I have read a couple things about the seats, but i don't know if it is considered a problem. I have read the Dodge issued a bulletin or update talking about oil getting cooked to the heads because of too much heat in that area.
Also saw one for updated the rockers (IIRC) that flow more oil to the cam and valvetrain.

[turbovanman²]

Got the head off, F*CK Dodge, why couldn't you make the wiring harness removable for the passenger head. :censored: :mad:

Anyhow, no head gasket leaks, or signs of head cracking, just a dropped seat and some slight piston damage.

[clocktowersniper]

My Durango has a 4.7. I am not looking forward to working on that engine. I hear its a real pain. At 100k, The only issue so far was exhaust manifold bolts snapping numerous times. The only other issue is every once in a while it gets a glitch where it sounds like it is loading up. It will start idling like a dragster, Really lopey for a minute then stops.

[Orangetona]

As many things ive seen of the 4.7L (parts wise) im pretty sure its an engine to stay away from. Could be wrong but its really a common engine around here thats failing.

[Matt86]

I've seen it on both the 4.7 and 3.7 V6. Mostly due to overheating causing the head to warp enough to drop the seat. I replaced a 3.7 in a Liberty because it got soo hot it dropped 3 seats and trashed the motor. Used 3.7's arn't cheap either, almost as bad as the 2.7's-$1,800-$2,000 range

[turbovanman²]

I've seen it on both the 4.7 and 3.7 V6. Mostly due to overheating causing the head to warp enough to drop the seat. I replaced a 3.7 in a Liberty because it got soo hot it dropped 3 seats and trashed the motor. Used 3.7's arn't cheap either, almost as bad as the 2.7's-$1,800-$2,000 range

I had one in here, a 3.7 Lib, rad cracked and she didn't know, motor melted, literally, :o but this one, absolutely no signs of overheating.

Had a tough time finding a good engine, learned alot about the various year engine changes due to my wrecker using me as the guinea pig, :(

[thedon809]

The 4.7 is a good engine. It does NOT like to be overheated at all. I haven't seen any problems with them since I have been at a dodge dealer for close to a year.

[5sp. mini]

a little hint yes the head guy said real comon on the 3.7 to drop seats so i guess 4.7 having two more cyc will happen too.i found out that after you get the chains back on that no mater how many times you turn it over the marks will never and i mean never line back up.it notes this in the factory sev. man.left or right head cause intake has to come off anyway.

[neongary]

Makes me nervous now to read about some issues with the 4.7. My '01 Dakota has 102,000 miles and it's still has about 95% original parts on it. The engine has never been touched. Am I on borrowed time? I've used Mobil 1 since it was brand new and change the oil every 5K miles or 6 months, whatever comes first.

[boost geek]

From what I've heard, if you don't overheat your 4.7 and change your oil regularly, your engine can last a LONG time.

[thedon809]

Makes me nervous now to read about some issues with the 4.7. My '01 Dakota has 102,000 miles and it's still has about 95% original parts on it. The engine has never been touched. Am I on borrowed time? I've used Mobil 1 since it was brand new and change the oil every 5K miles or 6 months, whatever comes first.You will be fine.

[turbovanman²]

Makes me nervous now to read about some issues with the 4.7. My '01 Dakota has 102,000 miles and it's still has about 95% original parts on it. The engine has never been touched. Am I on borrowed time? I've used Mobil 1 since it was brand new and change the oil every 5K miles or 6 months, whatever comes first.

You'll be fine, but my machinist did dig up some info that they do drop seats, which isn't a big deal as you take the heads off and have them redone, :thumb:

[neongary]

From what I've heard, if you don't overheat your 4.7 and change your oil regularly, your engine can last a LONG time.
I'll just keep doing what I'm doing! It has the h.d. cooling, so it has never even come close to running hot, even on 100 degree days. I change the coolant every other year too. :thumb:

[PunKid]

My 03 dakota with the 4.7L has had no issues thus far. I just hit 130,000 with it. Still on the original clutch as well.

[Turbozcs2003]

Go to Jeeps Unlimited board, some have 250K on em and no issues.

Change the oil and keep the cooling system up to snuff. Good idea to change the PCV valve once in a while to.

I have a 02 WJ and no issues so far, but only have 57 K on it.

Main issues seem to be broken exhaust studs on driver side nearest firewall, some have wear on chain guides, and bad heater cores and blend doors on the limiteds.

[turbovanman²]

Its getting all the seats replaced, new thermostat, pcv valve. No broken exhaust manifold bolts.

NOW, I would like to find the f*cking ahole engineer that invented the power steering driven coolant fan and kick him so hard his nuts will come out of his head? I mean seriously, what a complete and utter twat. WHY do you need it? I almost feel like throwing it away not to mention the fact you have to remove the front end to remove the rad? Again, WTF? :mad: :banghead: :censored:

[Turbozcs2003]

Well

all the 99-2001 had tons of cooling issues with the electric fan, never had a hiccup on the hydraulic fan on mine but I freshen the fluid every year.

I take it, that it isnt too fun to remove? I also recall there is a TSB for a new hose, they leak at the fitting onto the PS pump

[turbovanman²]

Well

all the 99-2001 had tons of cooling issues with the electric fan, never had a hiccup on the hydraulic fan on mine but I freshen the fluid every year.

I take it, that it isnt too fun to remove? I also recall there is a TSB for a new hose, they leak at the fitting onto the PS pump

Forgot to mention, changing the chains and guides, the guides had some heavy wear.

Yep, total PITA to remove, and I honestly don't see the need for it, electric fan's have worked perfectly fine for millions of vehicles.

Yeah, changing the hose from the pump to fan motor, leaking at the crimp.

[neongary]

Interesting info about the fan. Like I mentioned before, mine is a '01 and has 102,XXX miles and the fan still works like day 1. It does have both the electric and engine driven fans. I suppose they are all this way? Figured that if the electric fan ever quit, the engine drive fan looks more than adequate to keep the engine cool. Can't say that I've ever seen a hydraulic driven fan on a Dakota. The only thing "extra" on my p.s. is a cooler.

[Matt86]

Some 1990's Lexus's had hydraulic cooling fans, those are always a mess. PITA to bleed air out of and they always clog up.