Dodge dakota

[jdb]

So in looking at couple Dakotas now 1 with the 3.7 1 with the 4.7 any advise??

[fish vacuum]

I've known a few people with the 4.7 and there's NO WAY I would own one.

[jackelope]

3.7 is a decent engine. Not a lot of power if that's a concern

4.7's are great unless they crack a cylinder head causing usually a #1 cylinder misfire. Exhaust manifolds leak on them at times which isn't too bad a problem as long as the manifold to head studs don't get seized into the head.

They have some front end issues with ball joints so get those checked.

[netcoyote]

I had a 2004 Dakota with the 4.7 V8. I've heard others have had problems but, for me, it was one of the most reliable rigs I ever owned. Drove it for 9 years and about 80k miles. No engine probs, no front end probs. I towed a 4,000lb travel trailer for awhile but it was a bit underpowered for that.
Gas mileage sucked, rarely got above 16-18 on long trips, 9-10 when towing.
I think the later versions of the Dakotas were better after they got the bugs out of them. Learned NOT to mess with different spark plugs, gotta stick with OEM plugs or you may have probs.

[fish vacuum]

Jackelope, have you seen any 4.7s with oil pump or sludge issues? After knowing two people who dealt with that, I looked online and it seems to be a weakness for that motor.

[jackelope]

Jackelope, have you seen any 4.7s with oil pump or sludge issues? After knowing two people who dealt with that, I looked online and it seems to be a weakness for that motor.

Not that I recall as long as they were maintained properly.

[Alchase]

I had a 4.7 in my 2002 Ram that I put 230k on it before I traded it in last year for a 2007 Dakota with a 3.7.
The 3.7 is a decent motor,  a little better but not much better mileage then the 4.7.
So far the Dakota has been a great truck.

[jdb]

What kinda milage you get with them?

[Alchase]

I get about 16-18 average my Ram got around 14 mpg.
On my trip to Glacier Montana I averaged 18-20.
Normal driving 16-18.

Forgot to add, I tow my boat and a Fargo trailer with no problem with the 3.7.
The only reason I would need the v8 option is if towing something substantially larger like a camping trailer or heavy boat, then I would look for the 4.7 HO 360 hp with lots of torque.
The standard 4.7 only has 20 more HP then the 3.7 does.

[Alchase]

The 4.7 has some nice "tuner" kits available for them though.

[FC]

Jackelope, have you seen any 4.7s with oil pump or sludge issues? After knowing two people who dealt with that, I looked online and it seems to be a weakness for that motor.

Both motors will sludge up badly if they aren't maintained. I put an oil pump and a set of main bearings in a 3.7l at about 50k due to the oil only being changed about 2-3x at that mileage. The older 4.7l was well known for the same problem, both build up sludge around all of the valley drains and the ones in the heads as well. The result is first an oil starved valvetrain that gets pretty noisy, later they develop oil pump and bearing problems due to the oil draining so slowly back to the sump that the pump is starved.

[Alchase]

Jackelope, have you seen any 4.7s with oil pump or sludge issues? After knowing two people who dealt with that, I looked online and it seems to be a weakness for that motor.

My Ram 4.7 started getting oil starved at the valves exactike FC described.
I was meticulous about oil changes, at 230k burning up valves gets expensive, lol
Both motors will sludge up badly if they aren't maintained. I put an oil pump and a set of main bearings in a 3.7l at about 50k due to the oil only being changed about 2-3x at that mileage. The older 4.7l was well known for the same problem, both build up sludge around all of the valley drains and the ones in the heads as well. The result is first an oil starved valvetrain that gets pretty noisy, later they develop oil pump and bearing problems due to the oil draining so slowly back to the sump that the pump is starved.

[Alchase]

My wife's Durango with a 4.7 is still going strong at 239k.
I will have to pry the Durango from her dead hands to get a new rig.
I even dragged her to the "wallop in Puyallup" yesterday to get her to bite, so far no go, lol