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Ifeelshame
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2007
21:05:10
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 Subject: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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So my 2000 Dakota 4.7 has about 120K on it and it seems slow and tired and doesn't seem to have even 50% of the get-up-and-go that it used to have. To be honest, I didn't maintain it like I should have. Aside from changing the oil every 3K all I've really done is throw some new spark plugs in. She's taken good care of me but I didn't really do my part.
I realize that there is no substitute for maintaining it from the get go...But I'm still hoping y'all might be able to compile a list of some things I might be able to do to help my truck feel a bit more like it did when it was newer.
Thanks in advance,
James
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2007
22:11:28
|  RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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Could be your crank timing sensor located on the back side of engine. your cat conv. might be shot. Only way I know of to check one is to disconnect it from the engine side right at the converter and drive it. very loud but if your power comes back you found the problem. If it should happen it busted lose on the inside, hitting it with a rubber hammer will make it rattle. You need to check it for codes. Might be something else and this will save a lot of time and most likely money.
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little jer
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2007
22:12:17
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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some things I can think of right off is giving a complete tune up - new cap, rotor, plugs, and also wires. Having injectors cleaned is a good idea too. These may make a world of difference. Old spark plug wires start leaking current and don't give optimal spark and performance. Maybe a new fuel filter wouldn't hurt either.
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01Motorsport
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2007
23:07:46
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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The 4.7 V8 has individual coil packs without a distributor or plug wires. Try spraying the throat of the throttle body with carb/injector cleaner, or better yet, remove the TB and clean it. A new PCV valve (on the side of the oil filler neck) may help. Run a bottle of STP concentrated injector cleaner on a full tank of gas. The fuel filter is not serviceable, as it is in the fuel tank. If you have 40K on the spark plugs, change 'em. My favorite are Bosch 4418 Platinum. My '01 4.7 has 163K, and just dynoed 211rwhp and 286rwtq with mods.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
4/09/2007
01:29:55
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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I agree about the injectors. 120k miles, they could EASILY be plugged. I have cleaned injectors on several different vehicles that started to loose power, idle rough, etc.
Cleaning/replacing the injectors will make a night and day difference if that is the problem.
How does it idle?
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2007
02:13:25
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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Yup on the injector cleaner, a mechanic friend recommended Chevron Techron injector cleaner if they are really buggered up. It's about $7 at WalMart, but has worked wonders for me in the past. I normally use the $1 WalMart cheap crap injector cleaner though.
I'd suggest replacing the air filter if it hasn't been changed within the last 20-30K miles. A good test for the air filter is to hold it up to the sun and try to look through it, if you can't see the sun through the fibers, it's plugged.
On a side note, you should have the antifreeze, transmission fluid , power steering fluid and differential gear oil serviced, at 120K that stuff's going to look funky. Don't let a shop hook up a flushing machine to the transmission with 120K on the truck, it could cause problems with a neglected transmission, make them drop the pan, change the filters and do it the right way.
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sneilan
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2007
09:56:52
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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get a complete engine flush as well. i did this on my Dak 2 oil changes ago and it really runs much better once all the gunk got cleared out. the oil looks clean after a couple thousand miles to instead of turning black after a few hundred like it used to.
Sean
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QQQ
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2007
16:20:32
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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I too have a 2000 4.7 80k miles. I have gotten a new crank sensor recently. (Went out) It seemed to make a small difference. I use techron occasionally, I think it just makes it idle fine, to really clean the injectors, they will have to be taken out and cleaned with a machine. I'm thinking of doing that myself. I haven't done an engine flush, but the last oil change I did I put in Valvoline max life. Man, what a difference! Dang truck ran like it was new! So next oil change, I'm going to use some engine flush, and hit the combustion chambers with mopar combustion cleaner. I did my differential oil recently too, that also made a noticeable improvement. There's not much to do on a 4.7, I guess it just likes its self to be clean.
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Ifeelshame
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2007
23:43:23
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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Yeah it idles okay I guess, maybe a bit rougher than normal.
Hmmm...I've used the injector cleaners before but always the cheap stuff. I'll try some of the better stuff. And I didn't even know there was such a thing as engine flush..lol
All great suggestions guys, I'm going to try to do/check as many of these options as possible.
P.S. Thanks for not flaming me...lol
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GB2000
GenIII
4/10/2007
11:13:36
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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Nah...you didn't neglect it too badly. Now if you hadn't ever changed the oil, then we woulda flamed ya. lol
What about using Sea Foam...?
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shatto
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2007
11:19:47
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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The Gasoline you use does have an affect. Not the grade; your truck does not like higher octane than recommended. The brand.
I once used Arco exclusively, and my Volvo dealer had to replace two of the four injectors, that couldn't be cleaned. Happened again, a year later, but they replaced two on warranty.
I've driven my Dakota over 100,000 miles with no injector problems at all. I now use Costco gas exclusively, cause it cost the least.
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wow
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2007
13:06:12
|  RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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a 100,00 on that brand spanking new truck all ready
hot dam
i bet you hit that half million mark by next spring!
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ZenDak
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2007
11:39:10
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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I have over 150,000 miles on my '01 4.7 auto. Still cranks up with just a bump of the starter. Runs great. I change my oil every 3k or sooner with Mobil1,,replace the spark plugs every 5k-10k miles, and clean the airfilter regularly. I run good injector cleaner through every oil change, and usually once between.
My grandfather has a delivery service and has two dakotas in his fleet. A '98 and a '00 I believe,,both genIII's. One has the 318 and the other has a 360. The 318 has 250K miles, and the 360 has close to 350k miles.
I know the engines are different from mine,,but makes me think mine will last quite a while longer if I keep taking care of it.
Peace,
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??????
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2007
16:35:27
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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Hey-Zen...How can you still have threads left in your heads zipping plugs in and out every 5000 miles? Standard plugs are good for around 30,000 miles. So- changing them at an early 20,000 miles to be "safe", means you are still changing 4 times too early. That means a lot of wasted time, wear on the threads in the heads, and a pot full of half worn sparkplugs going to the landfill way too early. And if you are going to run your oil for only 3000 miles-you can run dino oil and save again. Mobil 1 is good for at least 5000 miles.
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shatto
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2007
19:24:49
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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ZenDac,
?????? is right, you are over-doing it. Way over-doing it.
Mobil-1 used to say on the bottle: good for 30,000 miles. Must have removed it because the lawyers told them to.
No reason you can't go 5,000 to 7,000 miles between changes with a good synthetic, but you do need to use the proper oil filter or you'll be defeating the purpose.
Using a by-pass filter, you can dramatically extend changes, and/or, just clean the oil better than the full flow filter, helping the engine last longer.
I've always used cheap Copper core Autolites, set at .050" to keep my Jacobs Ignition happy. The Jacobs died, so I'm going to Bosch 4418's, the 4-spoke Platinum. Should last at least 100,000 miles, which is what you should expect from Platinum plugs.
You said clean, but in case you meant change; generally speaking, the after market cleanable air filters are better. You want to filter the smallest particles and have the most air flow.
Be sure to take proper care of the cooling system. Only use distilled water in it and your washers, (No minerals)and remember, radiator shops love it when we use stop-leak.
Don't forget transmission and differential fluids.
I have gone past 560,000 miles, on the original engine and transmission, using Amsoil (Steve....the one that gets all the vile comments by the synthetic atheists, is who to contact) and I think it will get you pretty far down the road.
Happy trucking.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
4/12/2007
23:27:16
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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Shatto. I heard that Arco was some very GENERIC gasoline compared to Chevron, Texaco, etc etc!
It may be cheaper at teh pump, but as you noticed, you pay for it!
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shatto
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2007
00:05:07
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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Guess so.
GENERIC?
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2007
04:38:25
| RE: A bit too late, but I'll ask anyway
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01 Motorsport...
"My '01 4.7 has 163K, and just dynoed 211rwhp and 286rwtq with mods."
Remind me again what mods?
I was 227rwhp, and 300rwtq, with very few mods.
01 Quad Cab (2 piece drive shaft), manual tranny, LSD rear
4.7,
homebrew 'true' CAI, w/ K&N ~$30
ported 68mm TB -free
HO intake -$140
HO cams-$53 each
NO belt driven fan clutch or fan- free
NO third cat -$30 muffler shop
SuperChips tuner ~$200- charter deal
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