Well the 4.7 gets a lot better gas mileage than the 5.9 and it can still pull 5650 lb with the 3.92 rear. It's still a worthy truck just doesn't have the same power output as the 5.9. It's not a worthless cause by any means, just gets better fuel economy when you're not pulling.

 

Power wise they are very close, just not in the torque field. So if you tow you should go with the 5.9L and not then the 4.7L is a good choice.

 

gas mileage on stock 4.7L is probally better than a stock 5.9L in same durango..........towing with my Rt i`ve pulled around 7600 lbs ,, then again my 5.9L is now a 6.3 L ( stroked) and i still can pull 20/21 mpg,,at 100kph ( 60 mph)....i guess each motor weither 4.7 or 5.9 or bigger suits each of our purposes plus they are all good lol.

 

Mmmmmmm........Stroker = Bad ***

 

I will confess, the 4.7 will blow the doors off my 5.2. It's got good power. Just lacks the resilience of the other motors.

 

swiss, just bc yours was abused and neglected and has problems bc of that does not make the 4.7 a bad motor, we have corrected you on this a number of times, not stop spewing your useless crap about the 4.7 being poorly designed, or a bad engine, its NOT and yours might be problematic, but that is NOT THE NORM or else we would have a ton of posts about its problems on here (sure there are some, but not the high number you seem to think there are)

 

Now YOU are spewing random BS. Did you read what I typed? I bolded and quoted just in case. Everyone on this board should be well aware that the iron headed, push rod engines are a LOT more DURABLE than the baby 4.7. Whether you (or anybody) thinks the 4.7 is a "bad motor" is purely their opinion. Mine is it is a bit of a anomaly in comparison to it's 3 brothers.

First link in a google search found this, and it wasn't the only one.
Also search dropped valve seat 4.7. I wouldn't think it was common either, until I called my machinist to ask about repairing the busted head. Told him what it looks like and he said the 4.7 jeep engines are the worst but he has seen it a few times. engine warms up, two different metals expand at different rates, seat fall down go boom. My resource at the Tulsa dodge confirmed, they don't like getting hot at all and are very picky about proper oil changes on the mark.
Maintenance Issues

2. Like all automakers, Chrysler LLC, the parent company of Dodge, adheres to a strict warranty policy. Engine failure, a recurring issue with Dodge Durangos and Dakotas, has centered on the lack of proper maintenance. Although an owner may provide evidence of regularly scheduled maintenance on the vehicle, evidence of oil sludge, metal shavings or failure to replace parts at scheduled intervals could void the warranty.Engine Failure
   
3. Engine failure can occur after 70,000 miles due to poor or lack of maintenance. But engine failure also has been known to be caused in some 4.7-liter engines with abnormally thin engine block walls on some engines. The thin walls cause excessive heat, which over time will cause oil to become gummy and the heads to crack. Only strictly following the factory recommended maintenance schedule can minimize the exposure to engine failure and ensure the warranty will be honored.Exceptions
   
4. Although engine failure in the Dodge 4.7-liter V-8s haven't reached significant proportions, carcomplaints.com reports that owners have complained of sudden loss of oil pressure with as little as 36,000 miles on the engine. Internal examination of the engine has found oil sludge to be present, although diagnostic checks fail to pinpoint the source of the failure.Oil Sludge
   
5. Oil sludge appears to be a common problem with the 4.7 engine. It has been known to build up in no matter what the weight of the motor oil. Oil sludge is usually due to a faulty positive crankcase ventilation, or PCV, valve. Changing the PCV and switching to high-mileage oil will probably solve the problem, according to bobistheoilguy.com.Overheating
   
6. The 4.7-liter with more than 70,000 miles is in danger of cracking a head if the driver continues to drive it when the engine is running at 235 degrees on flat surfaces and up to 250 degrees on hills or towing a trailer. A diagnostic of the radiator, thermostat, water pump and gauge should pinpoint the problem.Oil Foam
   
7. Oil foam, usually evident on the oil dipstick or inside the oil cap, also is a result of a faulty PCV valve. A properly working PCV valve vents out excess condensation that builds up. The 4.7-liter V-8s prone to oil foam may require a 3,000-mile oil change instead of the 6,000-mile changes recommended in new models.

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References

• Dodge 4.7-Liter Engine Data
• Dodge Engine Failure
• More Engine Failure Issues

 

first of all i did read your post just fine, however considering how many hundreds of thousands of engines were made and sold (used in jeeps from 99-05iirc, dakota, ram, durango, aspen, from 00-07) and so few hits on the search, it would not be a common problem, 1% does not make something common, hell even 3-4% isnt COMMON, mechanics have a bias which is not in favor of the engine when they say stuff like this because they only see the engines that have problems, how many people come in (mechanics feel free to answer this for me) and see a real mechanic to have their oil changed, or service done???? i dont know of many (if any) who do, they only see a mechanic when they have a problem, is the 4.7 perfect?? no, but then again no engines are, your own post even states 2 things, the problem has not reached significant levels, and it is caused by lack of, or poor maintenance.


however we are getting off topic (lets try and change that) from what the OP was looking for if he would post up so that we know what the results were it would be easier to try and point him in the correct direction.

 

Good points you make a strong argument I concede, and

I'm eagerly waiting trust me.

 

When the OP posts the results, I will lock this thread because we will have the answer to HIS problem. In the meantime, please reframe fom posting, thank you.