About Dodge Engines
At Powertrain Products, we hear a lot of questions about 4.7, 5.7, and 3.7 Dodge engines. For example:
- Are there any common problems?
- What exactly happens to them?
- What can they do to prevent a problem after installation?
- What’s this I hear about valve seats dropping?
One of the biggest issues we see in these engines is the valve seats dropping. Powered metal seats that Chrysler used from the factory have a tendency to fall out of the bottom of the cylinder head, anywhere from 60,000 miles to 300,000 miles. It’s a random occurrence, and, unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent it. We do know that the process is accelerated by heat.
What Happens When Valve Seats Drop
Metal from the seats is broken up on top of the cylinders and is ejected throughout the engine. Usually, the engine gets shut down or stops. It throws the metal back into the intake manifold. In some cases, this metal’s so hot, because it’s coming out of the combustion chamber, that it will adhere to the inside of these plastic manifolds!
Clean The Intake
If the mechanic doesn’t take the necessary precautions to clean the intake, or in the event that the intake is not cleanable, replace the intake manifold. This way, that old metal from the engine won’t find its way back into the new engine. If it does make its way back, it will likely destroy the brand new engine.
It’s imperative that these manifolds are cleaned properly, hot-tanked, high pressure-washed, scrubbed down, shake-tested…whatever it takes to get them correct.
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