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The chart below shows the most common questions asked by owners of Detroit Diesel® engines 4-71 Natural 2 Valve when trying to troubleshoot why their engines underperform.  It categorizes areas of possible malfunction, likely cause and recommended action to bring your new, rebuilt or used  Detroit Diesel® engine back to proper operation.  The chart will give you confidence when speaking with your Detroit Diesel® engine mechanic or ordering parts.  As a quick reference guide only, the chart must not be thought of as a substitute for the use of your Detroit Diesel® engine 4-71 Natural 2 Valve Owner's operating or service manual.

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PROBLEM

POSSIBLE REASON

CHECK

Engine will not start Lack of air intake or restricted air intake √
Broken blower shaft  
Worn out blower shaft  
Defective fuel pump  
Defective starter  
Discharged battery  
High exhaust back pressure  
Black smoke coming out of engine Defective injector  
Contaminated fuel  
Broken or worn cylinder parts  
Engine overloaded  
Faulty intercooler or aftercooler (for turbo engines only)  
White smoke coming out of engine Broken piston ring  
Incorrectly installed ring set  
Defective injector  
Fuel quality or grade  
Long idle periods  
Broken or bent push rod  
Injector or governor improperly adjusted  
Low engine oil pressure Water in engine oil pan  
Fuel in engine oil pan  
Defective oil cooler  
Engine overloaded  
Crankcase overfilled  
Low engine RPM Improperly working injector  
Governor calibration  
Hi engine RPM Governor calibration  
Engine overheating Defective fresh water pump  
Defective raw water pump (marine engines only)  
Defective thermostat or thermostat seal  
Clogged radiator or heat exchanger (marine engine only)  
Grey smoke coming out of engine Long idle periods  
Defective intercooler or aftercooler (for turbo engine only)  
Restricted air intake  
Defective injector  
Contaminated fuel  
Blower or turbocharger seals leaking  
Geartrain makes noises Low oil level  
Engine driven accesories  
Damage main or rod bearing  

Detroit Diesel 4-71 Usefull Information 

The Detroit 471 engine will last you for many hours with proper maintenance and care. Diesel Pro can help. We have the right supplies to keep these engines running, year after year. Our parts are made out of high quality materials, and guaranteed to last. That is why we offer a one year warranty on our new parts, so you can shop with confidence. We also have a large and diverse inventory of products, including our popular overhaul kit that can get an older engine back to performing like it was new. We also offer the 471 service manual to help you tackle big projects, an essential for any Diesel mechanic, whether you work on engines full time, or have to make the occasional repair. Unsure which part you need? If you have any other questions, need help finding a part, or to place an order, give us a call at 888-433-4735 and we would be happy to help.

All engines in this series will have a serial number that start with 4A (For example, 4A-12345.) Older engines may have a serial number that starts with 471 (For example, 471-RA63.) The model number, which is an eight digit code, will start with 704, and an example would be 7042-7201.


General Information

This Detroit 471 engine is a two-cycle, 4 cylinder engine with a displacement 284 cubic inches and 5 main bearings.

Normal oil capacity is between 15 to 20 quarts. The oil filter should be changed every 100 hours. The oil should be changed every 100 hours as well, for new engines, though this can be gradually increased. For vehicle use, this translates to every 1000 to 3000 miles, with highway use needing less frequent changes than consistent stop and go conditions.

This engine can be referred to by different names, such as GM 471 or 4-71 Detroit Diesel.


Horsepower and Torque

The information below is based on brake horsepower, and a 471T generator set.

Standby: 180 BHP at 1500 RPM, 210 BHP at 1800 RPM.

Prime: 164 BHP at 1500 RPM, 191 BHP at 1800 RPM.

The information below is for marine pleasurecraft, with N80 injectors. The horsepower is measured as shaft-horsepower. Performance is with paragon 2:1 gear and 12 volt, 25 amp generator.

SHP (Power propeller load): 25 at 1200 RPM, 35 at 1400 RPM, 75 at 1800 RPM, 105 AT 2000 RPM, and a maximum of 160 at 2300.

Fuel Consumption (with propeller) is 2.5 gallons per hour at 1400 RPM, 5 gallons per hour at 1800 RPM and 9 gallons per hour at 2200 RPM.


Other Popular Categories

If you have any other projects, be sure to check out these popular categories.

Click Here To Go Back To 4-71 2 Valve Categories


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