Walker wrote:
>A 4.7L is a small engine for a full size pick up, especially a Dodge Magnum.
>My metric math may be slightly off but that's only about 270 cu in. The only
>advantage it gets is the purchase price over the operational cost. A
>$2,000.00 (I'm guessing) savings up front will go a long way to pay for
>extra fuel. It may not mean much without a load but if you were pulling a
>trailer and getting 6 - 8 mpg an extra 4 mpg would be as much as a 50% fuel
>savings and well worth the extra money for a large diesel that gets 10 mpg
>all of the time.
>
>The Dodge is a very large truck and I'm assuming that you have an extended
>cab and possibly a full size bed and maybe oversize tires. That's a lot of
>weight to move from a stop or to accelerate quickly for passing etc. A heavy
>foot and using the brakes a lot will lower it as well. If you've got any add
>ons they will increase the weight and possibly increase the drag as well.
>You're probably lucky to be getting 12 mpg.
>
>Bob Walker
>
>
>
>"mwaidley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>
>>I have a Dodge 1500 4x4 with the new 4.7L magnum V8 that was supposed
>>to get better gas mileage than the 318!!... I only get 12 MPG!!!!!
>>
>>Anyone else having the same problem?!
>>
>>Id also like to hear what you have to say about the sloppy steering.
>>I think the steering on the 2003's is much better than the botched
>>steering on the 2002's.
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
According the the EPA, the 4.7 will only get 1-2 mpg better than the
5.2. Not much of a difference. One of the big problems with the 4.7 is
the odd power band. Pull out that glossy sales brochure you got when
you were shopping for the truck, or check the Dodge web site. Take a
close look at the power curve for the 4.7. Look at the torque curve;
the HP curve means nothing here. Notice that sharp peak? Right at the
top is where the engine will be most efficient, and therefore make the
best power. So you need to run your engine around 3K rpm to be near the
torque peak.
OK, so what's my point, you ask. The point is, if you're operating
the engine too far off that point of maximum efficiency, your mileage
will suck.
A truck needs torque to work. Peak torque is somewhat important
but the shape of the torque curve is more important, you need area under
the curve. The more under the curve you have, the more versatile the
engine will be. That goes for pretty much all engines - gas or diesel,
large or small. My 5.9 gets about 12 around town, and 14 on the highway
(80 mph). Two lane blacktops at 65 or so it will get around 18. I've
only done light towing for long distances, so can't say much about
that. But a 1,000# pound trailer doesn't seem to change much.
---------
..boB
97 H-D FXDWG - Turbocharged!!
01 Dakota Quad Sport, 5.9/Auto/4x4
83 GMC Jimmy (beater)
66 427SC Cobra Replica - Project
66 Mustang coupe - Daily Driver
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