Dodge Engine 5.2 Specs
by Dan Ketchum
The term "Dodge 5.2" is shorthand for 5.2-liter Dodge engines. These eight-cylinder engines have been used by Dodge---a company under the Chrysler brand---since the mid-1980s. The 5.2 is equipped in many pickup trucks, though it has appeared in vans and even sedans. While specifications may vary per specific year and model, most of the 5.2-liter engines' baseline specs remain consistent.
Basic Specifications
Dodge's 5.2-liter engine features a V-type eight-cylinder construction with a 318-cubic inch displacement. The 5.2-liter 318 CID is a lightweight, single cam engine with hydraulic roller tappets. Its cylinder blocks and cylinder heads are made of cast-iron, and its camshaft is made of nodular cast-iron. The engine's bore is 3.91 inches with a 3.31-inch stroke, and its compression ratio is 9.1: 1 with a throttle body bore of 50 millimeters. Dodge's 5.2 produces 230 horsepower at 4,400 rotations per minute. Its torque clocks in at 300 ft.-lbs. at 3,200 RPM. The cylinders fire in 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 order. This engine holds up to five quarts of oil. For cooling, the 5.2 relies on a liquid-cooled, forced-circulation system. The engine runs on unleaded fuel with a minimum octane rating of 87; in terms of fuel efficiency, most vehicles equipped with a Dodge 5.2-liter engine average 11 to 18 miles per gallon.
Valves
The 5.2-liter features overhead valves with 0.017 maximum allowable inches of stem-to-guide clearance. At face angle, intake and exhaust valves rest between 43.25 and 43.75 degrees. Seat angle intake and exhaust valves are 44.25 to 44.75 degrees. The intake valves feature a head diameter of 1.916 inches while exhaust valves measure 1.624 inches in diameter.
Crankshaft
Dodge's 5.2-liter 318 CID's crankshaft uses a connecting rod with a diameter of 53.950 to 53.975 millimeters. The shaft's maximum out-of-round measures 0.0254 millimeters as does its taper. Its maximum allowable clearance is 0.0635 millimeters. The crankshaft's main bearings have a diameter of between 63.487 and 63.513 millimeters, with maximum out-of-rounds and tapers coming in at 0.0254 millimeters.
Models
Dodge uses the 5.2-liter engine in a variety of vehicle models. During the mid- to late-1980s, Dodge equipped the 5.2 in the Ramcharger truck, the Diplomat sedan, the W-Series pickup, the B350 minivan and the Ram Maxivan full-sized van. In the 1990s and 2000s, Dodge put the 5.2 engine in its Ram and Ramcharger trucks and the Durango sport utility vehicle.
Writer Bio
Dan Ketchum has been a professional writer since 2003, with work appearing online and offline in Word Riot, Bazooka Magazine, Anemone Sidecar, Trails and more. Dan's diverse professional background spans from costume design and screenwriting to mixology, manual labor and video game industry publicity.
