I have a 2004 dodge ram 1500 with the 4.7l. Two weeks ago the check engine light came on went to autozone to get the code checked it came uo p304 or #4 cylinder misfire so i changed the plugs out and had the code reset, then a couple days later check engine light came back on code p300 multiple misfire. I took it to a local repair shop they put it on diagnostic tester and they cleaned some carbon from around the throttle body reset the code and said it wasnt missing anymore. I picked the truck up and 30 miles later check engine light came back on code came up p304 #4 misfire so i then replaced the #4 coil and added some Lucas upper cylinder lubricant. It was still missing and white smoke was coming from the tail pipe, let sit for a few days, started it up to take back to the repair shop it ran fine they reset code and drove it around and could not find anything wrong. It is still running fine with no white smoke. I am still worried about what was causing the white smoke, I have read how prone the 4.7l having blown head gaskets. The truck has 105000 miles on it. Any ideas as to what might be happening. Thanks Larry

 

My guess is you are burning some coolant and that would point to head gasket failure. Check the oil for any signs of coolant in it...

 

Sound like a bad gasket or a cracked head( check the oil is it milky?)
Sorry for the bad news
Mike

 

white smoke, if i remember right, is oil burnoff past the rings. my dad told me that when i was 15, so i could be wrong, haven't dealt with white smoke so i've forgotten.

 

White smoke= coolant/ water burnoff. Blue smoke is oil.
The smoke and consistent, persistent misfires does sound like the classic recipe for head gasket failure. Sorry.

 

+1


This is why I sold my 4.7 and got a hemi

 

Yep, coolant is leaking and getting burned inside the cylinder. Time to break down the engine and replace a few things

 

Honestly, it's a repair job I thoroughly enjoy. Why? But honey, the exhaust manifolds needed replacing, as well as the intake, remaining exhaust system, etc.

Muhahaha!

On a serious note, grab a cooler fill it with your favorite beverage and get to wrenching. It's not all that bad as some make it put to be.

 

It's pretty bad when your not a backyard mechanic! The 4.7L is an OHV engine so the cams need to be precisely marked off when taking things apart, not to mention you need to take everything off the top and everything off the front of the engine just to remove one head. Reminds me of my 4.6L modular ford motor...yuck! Bad design, but smooth running.

OP, parts are fairly cheap, but it's gona take you atleast all weekend to tackle a job like that! It will be a pricey job at the dealer or mechanic as well! Whatever you do DON'T just throw on a set of gaskets because one or both of your heads could be cracked so you'll need to have a machine shop check those out. Any garage or dealer will be able to do that in their service for you.

 

I hear ya Dirty. Having turned wrenches professionaly for ten years I feel safe tackling most any job. Just hate when corroded threads seize up the bolts like my last job. Ha ha.