3.7 L Dodge Engine

[zrxkawboy]

Originally Posted By: [email protected]
Are your Liberties 4 wheel drive as well?


Yes, mine is a 4x4.

Just a thought...I wonder if the Jeep dealer would let you test drive a different Libby, just to see if the characteristics are different than yours. Wouldn't hurt to ask.

If I was making monthly lease payments on a vehicle that acted like your Libby, I'd be upset, too. Hopefully the dealer can get something figured out for you.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: Mustang2008Z
Hey...The engine you speak of was designed by Mr.Lutz of Chrysler, after he was fired by General Motors.


Lutz was many things... but he never "designed" an engine when he worked at GM, Ford, BMW, or Chrysler. People with degrees in Production Management (Bachelors) and an MBA just don't do that, they're not qualified.

gotta admit... I thought this board was above the kind of blatant nonsense that's popped up *twice* now in a single thread :-(

 

[zrxkawboy]

Amen, 440magnum...

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: scoobie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_PowerTech_engine

in 1999 the 8 cylinder version of this engine was on the best 10 designs list. wikipedia refers to it as a semi-hemi. this line is used in dodge trucks, and no one is saying anything bad about it.


Its what the Ford Modular without the quirks of the Ford Modular ;-) Many engines built today qualify to be called "semi hemi" in some regard. The canted-valve Poly 318 of the mid 50s was a semi-hemi, as were the big-block Chevrolets ("rat" motors) of the 60s-90s, and virtually EVERY 4-valve OHC engine (although they're technically "pent-roof" combustion chambers). The only problem with the 4.7 is that its a dead-end design. The new 5.7 Hemi with MDS gets better mileage *and* cranks out a lot more power, plus being a pushrod engine its simpler and more compact so it can fit in lower hood-lines than the overhead-cam 4.7 can. But the 4.7 is still a nice piece of work, and in 2008 they bumped its power rating up again and its never showed any of the weak spots that the Ford Modular did (oil consumption in early models, cylinder head failures, difficult to set up bottom end assembly, spitting spark plugs, etc.)

The 3.7 has many of the 4.7's good qualities, but it suffers from being a 90-degree v6 with a splayed crankshaft to bring the firing pattern back closer to even, just like the 3.9 before it (based on the 318) and the Chevy 4.3 Vortec. Decent truck engines, but rough compared to their v8 cousins and inefficient compared to the smoother ground-up 60-degree v6 engines like the Chrysler 3.8 that's now used in Wranglers and which I'm guessing will be also used in future Jeeps including the next Liberty (or its replacement) should Jeep survive to keep building them :-/

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: scoobie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_PowerTech_engine

in 1999 the 8 cylinder version of this engine was on the best 10 designs list. wikipedia refers to it as a semi-hemi. this line is used in dodge trucks, and no one is saying anything bad about it.


Its what the Ford Modular without the quirks of the Ford Modular ;-) Many engines built today qualify to be called "semi hemi" in some regard. The canted-valve Poly 318 of the mid 50s was a semi-hemi, as were the big-block Chevrolets ("rat" motors) of the 60s-90s, and virtually EVERY 4-valve OHC engine (although they're technically "pent-roof" combustion chambers). The only problem with the 4.7 is that its a dead-end design. The new 5.7 Hemi with MDS gets better mileage *and* cranks out a lot more power, plus being a pushrod engine its simpler and more compact so it can fit in lower hood-lines than the overhead-cam 4.7 can. But the 4.7 is still a nice piece of work, and in 2008 they bumped its power rating up again and its never showed any of the weak spots that the Ford Modular did (oil consumption in early models, cylinder head failures, difficult to set up bottom end assembly, spitting spark plugs, etc.)

The 3.7 has many of the 4.7's good qualities, but it suffers from being a 90-degree v6 with a splayed crankshaft to bring the firing pattern back closer to even, just like the 3.9 before it (based on the 318) and the Chevy 4.3 Vortec. Decent truck engines, but rough compared to their v8 cousins and inefficient compared to the smoother ground-up 60-degree v6 engines like the Chrysler 3.8 that's now used in Wranglers and which I'm guessing will be also used in future Jeeps including the next Liberty (or its replacement) should Jeep survive to keep building them :-/


They never stuck a blower on it and made its internals capable of 1,000RWHP in stock trim either though

hehe

Isn't this engine known for sludge problems? A buddy of mine has this engine in his Grand Cherokee. Seems to work reasonably well.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL


They never stuck a blower on it and made its internals capable of 1,000RWHP in stock trim either though

hehe

True ;-) Of course the aluminum-block Modulars never had much trouble- it was always the garden-variety 2-valve and 3-valve iron block versions. I like the Ford Modular, don't get me wrong- its an amazing powerplant, and Ford does seem to have managed all the little problems it had early on.

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL

Isn't this engine known for sludge problems? A buddy of mine has this engine in his Grand Cherokee. Seems to work reasonably well.


I can't say for sure but I think people are thinking of the 60-degree 2.7L Chrysler, which was known for sludge and other problems (timing chain guide failures leading to catastrophic failure, for example). Other than tending to form a gooey emulsion in the tall filler neck, I don't think the 4.7 has any excessive sludge problems. ANY engine will make sludge under the right (wrong) driving conditions, though.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: [email protected]


Are your Liberties 4 wheel drive as well?



Mine is a 4x4 select Trac II. I thought the 3.7L was one of the better Chrysler V6's? I'm a Ford fan, and would take a Ford Engine over a Chrysler engine any day, but this one has been very good, and is changing my mind. Sorry you're having such problems, there are lemons in every car company. Biggest problem now is will Chrysler survive?

 

[wjli]

I own an 06 Ram quad cab/ six speed. For my purposes it is an awesome truck (plenty of room for the family,light duty hauling and towing, cheap purchase price)

I truly only see 16 mpg's but it is a big truck, not very aero dynamic, has the fan bolted to the water pump (electric fan would be a good idea to save a few mpg's)

I guess 20mpg is all you can expect out of any full size truck, so I am fine with what the 3.7 gets.

after going through the shop manual on the engine and reading what i could find on the web, i trust the engine will last a long time with proper maintenece.

The only issue i have found is a little start up noise that smooths out nicely when warm (piston slap), and oil/water emulsion building up in the oil fill tube becaus of short trips plus cool weather. the noise is not an issue of durability and i battle the emulsion with normal (read 3-4000 mile) oil changes.

The 3.7 is solid but not a powerhouse. I love mine.

 

[VNTS]

No the 4.7 is not a sludge engine. Too many people look at the oil fill cap, mounted off to the side of the pass head and it is the coolest part of the engine and has the PCV valve hooked to it. So it gets frothy snot if the truck is driven a lot on short trips, especially in the winter. If you give them normal service they are fine engines. Many on Jeeps Unlimtied are over 200K mile on their 99 or so WJ's. Not many with known service have any issues. As mentioned they bumped up the HP and tourque and went to a 16 plug set up in 08.

I have 02 WJ Laredo with the 4.7 and is a great engine. My WJ routeinely returns 20-22 mpg on highway with 4wd and 3.73 gears.

 

[wjli]

I think the majority of people confuse oil/water emulsion with sludge. They are in deed different things. Sludge forms form excessive oci's and mabey defective coolant flow (causing extreme heat and oil burning in the areas affected)

the yellow "snot" is explained well VNTS's post.

to diagnose sludge, take an afternoon and pull a valve cover (which may not be possible as you have not yet purchased the truck) and take a peak @ the cam / valve area. If I am correct, the 3.7 gaskets are re-usable.

 

[Mustang2008Z]

Pardon....For my statement, he still was Head of the Departments that designed the Chrysler products and the engines as well.

 

[Mustang2008Z]

Pardonne.....

 

[Mustang2008Z]

Bob Lutz
Lutz joined Exide after a distinguished career with the former Chrysler Corporation from 1986 to 1998, where he reached the position of vice chairman. Lutz also served as president and chief operating officer, responsible for Chrysler’s car and truck operations worldwide.

Lutz led all of Chrysler’s automotive activities, including sales, marketing, product development, manufacturing, and procurement and supply. He began his service with Chrysler in 1986 as executive vice president and was shortly thereafter elected to the Chrysler Corporation board. His 12 years with the company are chronicled in his 1998 book, Guts: The Seven Laws of Business That Made Chrysler the World’s Hottest Car Company. Guts was revised and updated in 2003 and retitled, Guts: 8 Laws of Business from One of the Most Innovative Business Leaders of our Time.


Please Pardonne........

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: VNTS
No the 4.7 is not a sludge engine. Too many people look at the oil fill cap, mounted off to the side of the pass head and it is the coolest part of the engine and has the PCV valve hooked to it. So it gets frothy snot if the truck is driven a lot on short trips, especially in the winter. If you give them normal service they are fine engines. Many on Jeeps Unlimtied are over 200K mile on their 99 or so WJ's. Not many with known service have any issues. As mentioned they bumped up the HP and tourque and went to a 16 plug set up in 08.

I have 02 WJ Laredo with the 4.7 and is a great engine. My WJ routeinely returns 20-22 mpg on highway with 4wd and 3.73 gears.


Just recalling reading about it on here before. If this is not the case then I assume that point is irrelevant

 

[Mustang2008Z]

Per U.S. News and World Report:

Chrysler. (Privately owned; about 55,000 employees). It’s never a good sign when management insists the company is not going out of business, which is what CEO Bob Nardelli has been doing lately. Of the three Detroit automakers, Chrysler is the most endangered, with a product portfolio that’s overreliant on gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs and almost totally devoid of compelling small cars. A recent deal with Fiat seems dubious, since the Italian automaker doesn’t have to pony up any money, and Chrysler desperately needs cash. The company is quickly burning through $4 billion in government bailout money, and with car sales down 40 percent from recent peaks, Chrysler may be the weakling that can’t cut it in tough times.

A company that may go out of business in 2009.

Just information I wanted to share on this forum.

 

[MarkC]

3.7...bah!
I'm glad to still own my 96 Cherokee with the excellent 4.0.

 

[artificialist]

My mom has a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.7 engine. In the city, it gets 17-18 MPG, and on the highway it can get 23 MPG. This is attached to the NAG1 transmission, maybe that makes the difference?

MPG did go up about .5 after I went from 5w30 synthetic to 5w20 synthetic.

Why do I miss the 4.0? Because I like inline sixes much more than a 90 or even 60 degree V6.

 

[Dupree]

I have a jeep 4.0l and a jeep 3.7l. The old 4.0l is more powerful all around but the 3.7 is plenty spunky. My 2007 Liberty has 40k on it now I run 0w30 in her. This engine motivates the liberty fine, as far as the 13mpg yes it needs to be looked at. I get 18 city and as high as 25 highway. Mine is a work vehicle. If I run the engine all day (approximatley 6 hours a day 100-200 miles a day with engine sitting idling in between stops)I still can eek out 16-17 mpg. It isnt the most powerful motor, but she gets the job done and does fine.

 

[moklock]

Father picked up an '04 2WD Dakota with a 3.7, w/ ~90K for a really good deal last year. Was worried about sludge given iffy maintenance considering it appeared to still have the OE plugs with hardly any tip left, despite running OK.

Changed plugs/fluids and runs great and gets 20-21MPG IIRC w/ ~100K on it now. The 42RLE auto transmission is way smoother than the 4cyl. S-10's and Rangers I have more expierence with.