Is the 3.7L engine good in the Dodge 1500

Asked by brownhunter Jan 05, 2013 at 10:45 PM about the 2008 Dodge RAM 1500

Question type: General

Looking at buying a Dodge 1500 SXT with the 3.7L V-6.
Is this a good engine?  Are there any major faults with this truck?

26 Answers

925

other than the fact that its severly underpowered and you would probly get the same or better fuel milage with a v8 its not a bad engine as far as ive heared

10 people found this helpful.
3,845

Good motor and truck. Going to the grocery store thats about it

9 people found this helpful.
250

I just bought a 2008 Ram with a 3.7 and a 6 speed. I only need it for light duty. I drove it around town for prolly 40 miles and then took it on the road. Mileage was 22 mpg. When I get my lightweight boat, i expect to be in fourth or even third gear up hills. I'm very satisfied so far.

25 people found this helpful.
150

Every one I have talk with tells me that the 3.7 and the 4.7 was junk and I believe them cause my friend bought on a it was no good it had no power

15 people found this helpful.
260

the problem with 3.7 and 4.7 is, they have single valve springs, and are prone to dropping seats, rockers arms falling off, and broken springs. dual valve springs are a must in any American car driven in USA. our highway speeds, roadways, and traffic situation demands it.

26 people found this helpful.
120

Don't get the 3.7 stick with a 4.7 or the Hemi they both have enough power and tow capacity the 3.7 can only tell about 3,000 pounds if that sluggish no power whatsoever you do better Towing something with a Jeep Liberty I mean it is the same engine

12 people found this helpful.
630

My 3.7 2003 ram 1500 has 232000 on it and still runs great...oil consumption is becoming an issue ...Never a single engine problem ever... mine is a single cab with a short bed..(lighter than a 4 door/long bed) ,factory towing package...power is excellent (and I am a X drag racer)...fuel mileage has always sucked (maybe the tow package get's a lower gear?)..First Dodge I have ever owned and I would buy it again....had 148000 on it when I bought it....I do change my oil every 3000 miles without fail....

63 people found this helpful.
240

I absolutely love my 2007 Dodge Ram 1500. I bought it with 50,000 miles on it and I'm just about ready to turn 200,000 miles. Not one issue ever! And I hold my horses everywhere in a 2 horse bumper pull. I do have the factory tow package and that's all I've Ever Needed great gas mileage!

24 people found this helpful.
270

280k and have beat the absolute crap out of this truck. Owned since new and has never had an easy day, it pulls my 16ft form trailer, and trailer with concrete equipment more than it’s been unhook. So far I’ve replaced the battery. Ol gal starting to burn oil pretty good now, hate to see her go.

27 people found this helpful.
430

I own a 2004 Ram 1500, 3.7L with 324,000 miles on it. Never had any engine problems. Slight oil leak on passenger side valve cover. Just replaced the gaskets. Will buy another, if this one ever goes. Part of the Mopar Brotherhood since 1988.

43 people found this helpful.
270

original owner 2004 ram quad cab 1500 3.7 with 180,000 miles on work truck. Ladder rack and tool box put me at 1/2 ton before I fill the bed. I upgraded suspension to 1 ton and still on the overloads 50% of the time.I have replaced 2 input shaft pilot bearings and one universal joint went out.Spark plugs and oil are the only times a wrench has touched the engine.Pulls Ozark foot hills fully loaded fine if shift out of overdrive.If you want to go fast and support your local mechanic buy a himi. Want a slower but reliable work hoarse?Buy a magnum.

25 people found this helpful.
210

I have a 2005 single cab 3.7 V6. It has110,000 miles on it. I'm a contractor and have built many homes and jobs with it. Hauling equipment,loading it with debris, concrete, garbage etc. I work it hard . Had to replace the ball joints of course a Ram thing. Interior is still top-notch . No cracks in the dash . A slight tear in the seat but that's to be expected . Other than that basic maintenance. No major issues. Great truck

21 people found this helpful.
320

I have a 08 ram with 3.7 and 6 speed. I get 25 mpgs if I upshift. I've hauled over 5000lbs no struggling. Even though it's rated at only 3750 lbs. Great engine. Plenty of power.

32 people found this helpful.
70

I own a 2008 1500 3.7L. motor runs great but has no power up hills,even on the highway I have to down shift just to get up the hill. Would I buy another? no way! Also had to rebuild rear end housing after only 35 thousand miles.

7 people found this helpful.
80

do you know if they put a different ratio in the diff. stock is 3.21. if so then a 3.92 or even a 4.11depends on where you drive it. Check with the mechanic who rebuilt the diff see if they can help. would make a lot of difference

8 people found this helpful.
70

good to hear people putting high miles on them. 2 co workers with 3.7s dropped valves within months of each other. both at about 110,000 miles. I have 108k, worried a little, lol.

7 people found this helpful.
200

If your lifters gets to dirty you may get valve train tap replace the lifters before the rockers pop off.DO NOT let the motor run hot! That's the death of these motors. Valve seats fall out, oil pressure drops,springs snap,radiators crack,all kinds of mean nasty things happen when they get hot. Apparently some of the water pumps were sub-par and fail as soon as 60k (see the do not get hot clause). Other than that it is a bullet proof motor.

13 people found this helpful.
120

I have a 2004 dodge Dakota 3.7l 5 speed and i have beaten the absolute dog shit out of this truck no engine work ever done never had any problems universal joints due to my beaten shocks nice and bumpy i love the truck its and absolute beast plenty of power for the dakota single cab ive overheated it 2 times and it is absolutely fine to this day did i mention it has 172000 miles wich isnt much but i assure you they have been very hard driven miles

12 people found this helpful.
90

I have a 2007 dodge ram 3.7 v6 with 75000 miles does great so far not happy with gas mileage but I drive mostly city miles 13-14 mpg but have gotten better than 20 mpg on hwy It may blow up tomorrow but plan on keeping it!

9 people found this helpful.
40

I've owned 3 different 3.7 ram 1500s a 02 a 05 and now a 06 all with the 3.7 l magnum my thing with all of them is they are reliable and all have over 165000 miles but I've had to replace valve covers 2 times on the 06 but that's it great truck but no power and shifts weird up hills on all 3 trucks so you can go reliable and slow/underpowered or go with a V8 and have more power but maybe more.engine.work that's up too you.

4 people found this helpful.
40

So I'm guessing the guys on here claiming the Dodge V6 Magnum 4.7L is underpowered or good for only hauling light shit have never owned one. I bought my 2001 Ram four years ago with about 105K miles on her. Since then I've put on another 40K and used it for my landscaping business. Hauling rocks, mulch, dirt, etc. Usually 800-1300 lb loads. I'd estimate I've hauled loads that size about 25 times. Also have driven it on long trips, hiway miles, of up to 3_4 hours solid at 70 mph. Never had a single engine issue. Nada. I've spent nothing on it, save a new battery and new front brake pads last month. Truck is awesome. My next truck will be a Dodge too.

4 people found this helpful.
200

Guru954CRP who/what are you referring too? Docs v6 4.7 was a type O from v6 3.7 or v8 4.7. I have put 200,000 miles on my 3.7 ram 1500 with 1000lbs of tool boxes and ladder racks. Just put a wrench to the motor for the first time other than tune ups. The passengers valve cover was weeping a little oil. Only tIme I felt short on power was last year, hauling a camper,3 canoes,gear and food for 16 people for a week up the ozark mountains. Never had a problem before but I had put 315/70 tires on that robbed my torque.285/70 is a better ratio.

3 people found this helpful.
10

i have a 2009 dodge Ram 1500 3.7 regular cab 3.91 gears, it has 366000 miles on it, was originally a delivery truck ware i work, oil changes every 5000 miles, still original drive line, i bought it 5 years ago from my company , it pulls my car trailer just fine set the cruise at 70 , empty i get 24 mpg on the highway, will drive it untill its dead

1 people found this helpful.
10

Hey everyone, I own a 2008 Dodge Dakota AT 3.7 V6 bought it new, nowhas 220,000 miles, runs great, no oil consumption, no exhaust smoke, and I drive it 50+ miles per day 78 mph -- I attribute the engine life to the fact that I've changed the engine oil every 2,500 miles. Auto transmission died @150,000 mi, replaced it; Power Steering pump good, AC blows cold! So far so good, good luck!!! Phil

1 people found this helpful.

I think we talking apples to apples here as far as the motor goes on a 1500 vs my 2006 Dakota 4 spd auto 3.7 SLT (I named my slut , SLT get it?) 2WD club cab w/165K I bought a few weeks ago. Very happy with the 3.7 and the tranny so far. I know the Dakota is lighter and I have only towed my fairly loaded larger jon boat, but no issues on hills etc. Yep I wish it had more motor cause I really don't care much about MPG but still happy as is. Got a good deal on it, no regrets.

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