4 cylinder TJ info

[brushogger]

I'm going to be buying a jeep as soon as the ex wife's car is paid off.:victory:
From a financial stand point, it looks like I'll be searching for a low mileage 02-05. I've been seeing some pretty good prices on the 4 cylinder jeeps. How does the real world fuel mileage compare with the 6 cylinder jeeps? I won't be towing but it will be loaded pretty heavy on trips. How do the two compare power wise from the perspective of someone who has driven both? I haven't been able to find a "4" to test drive yet. I just need some advice on this before I start traveling on my search for "the one". I usually keep a vehicle for 10-15 years so I want to get it right. Thanks guys for any advice you can give. P.S. This will be driven extensively on long trips in the continental U.S. I will be retiring in a couple of years. :sombrero: I just noticed I messed up the thread title and don't know how to change it. It should have been 4 cylinder TJ information. Sorry, my HUA relay stuck.

 

[NOMADIC_LJ]

with all due respect, if you are concerned at all about gas milage, I would pass on the Jeep. You are basically driving a barn down the road.

4bangers are terrible because the few miles per gallon you gain are not worth the power loss. If you are going to pack it up, a 6cyl is the much better option.
Look for about 15-18mpg.

 

[Bennyhana]

A 4cyl in a loaded jeep will probably get worse mileage if not the same as the 6cyl. Plus i would think there would be more "upgrade" parts for th 4.0.

 

[Hilldweller]

There aren't any 4-cylinder JK's....

But the 4-cylinder YJ's and TJ's that I've wheeled with only have one distinct advantage over their 4L 6-cylinder brothers; they are lighter. The ones I saw that wheeled the best were the ones that chopped and lost all of their excess weight.
I wouldn't buy a 4-banger as a mule.

 

[purdueXJ]

I have driven a 4cyl TJ, it was terribly underpowered. Like it was said up above, you probably won't really gain and MPG's since you will have to mash your foot down just to keep up with traffic.

 

[Scott Brady]

As mentioned above, the JK is not available with a 4-cylinder. If you keep the JK stock, it is easy to get 20mpg driving 60-65 mph on the highway.

 

[Hilldweller]

As mentioned above, the JK is not available with a 4-cylinder. If you keep the JK stock, it is easy to get 20mpg driving 60-65 mph on the highway.

The years he's talking are TJ years though, Scott.

 

[alosix]

I have driven a 4cyl TJ, it was terribly underpowered. Like it was said up above, you probably won't really gain and MPG's since you will have to mash your foot down just to keep up with traffic.

I'll have to agree with this one. Granted the only 4cyl I've driven on the road was in 1997 when out test driving. It was a 5spd, really couldn't get out of its own way. It was EPA stickered @ only 1 mpg better than the 6cyl TJs as well.

Offroad unladen the 4 cyl are fine. The Comp TJ we used to run was a 4 banger. Properly geared they do really well offroad and they are a little better balanced.

Some days I dream of taking the Neon turbo motor and putting it into a TJ. That might be a fun combo. (DD and 'parks'.. not sure how far off the beaten track I'd take that Jeep). But then I remember I'm currenly living in the land of no fun (California) and can't do that sort of swap easily.


If you're looking for somethign that will last you 10-15 years (I'm on 13 with my TJ). The I6 will serve you well.

Jason

 

[brushogger]

I'm going to be buying a jeep as soon as the ex wife's car is paid off.:victory:
From a financial stand point, it looks like I'll be searching for a low mileage 02-05. I've been seeing some pretty good prices on the 4 cylinder jeeps. How does the real world fuel mileage compare with the 6 cylinder jeeps? I won't be towing but it will be loaded pretty heavy on trips. How do the two compare power wise from the perspective of someone who has driven both? I haven't been able to find a "4" to test drive yet. I just need some advice on this before I start traveling on my search for "the one". I usually keep a vehicle for 10-15 years so I want to get it right. Thanks guys for any advice you can give. P.S. This will be driven extensively on long trips in the continental U.S. I will be retiring in a couple of years. :sombrero: I just noticed I messed up the thread title and don't know how to change it. It should have been 4 cylinder TJ information. Sorry, my HUA relay stuck.

I realized after I titled the thread I put JK in the place of TJ. If you take the time to read the whole post that is evident. I immediately edited it and it took a bit for the title change to update. Thanks for the info anyway.

 

[brennanriddle1]

Offroad unladen the 4 cyl are fine. The Comp TJ we used to run was a 4 banger. Properly geared they do really well offroad and they are a little better balanced.



If you're looking for somethign that will last you 10-15 years (I'm on 13 with my TJ). The I6 will serve you well.

Jason

The 4 banger is fine for trail runs, very simple little motor with enough low end torque to power through anything at 5mph.

Axle gearing and t-case also have a big impact on how your driveline functions.

I've been driving my 4 banger TJ since '97 and have never had a major problem with it. I run 35"s and load it up with gear all the time.

Granted, you won't be able to pass a ferrari on the freeway, there is really not THAT much difference when on the trails, IMO.

 

[fiddy]

Stay away from the later ones that have an automatic.

 

[preacherman]

I have a 4cyl 1999 TJ with a 5 speed and most everyone's opinion is correct. Off road in 4 high and 4 low it has plenty of power. On the hwy it's lacking and pulling up long hills it's a turd. I can even tell a difference on the hwy when just another person get in.

Gas mileage was a real surprise to me bc it gets really bad gas mileage. Driving around town with no load I get 14-15mpg. On the hwy I have gotten as low as 12 but never better than 15. Driving up hill in the wind I once got 10mpg but that was a weird situation. How often do you drive up hill in a 60mph windstorm???

Because I use my jeep for 85% off road the 4cy is fine for me, but if you plan on driving to Colorado to wheel once a year you might really consider saving up for the 6cyl.

Just my .02

 

[JeepN95YJ]

I have a 4cyl 1999 TJ with a 5 speed and most everyone's opinion is correct. Off road in 4 high and 4 low it has plenty of power. On the hwy it's lacking and pulling up long hills it's a turd. I can even tell a difference on the hwy when just another person get in.

Gas mileage was a real surprise to me bc it gets really bad gas mileage. Driving around town with no load I get 14-15mpg. On the hwy I have gotten as low as 12 but never better than 15. Driving up hill in the wind I once got 10mpg but that was a weird situation. How often do you drive up hill in a 60mph windstorm???

Because I use my jeep for 85% off road the 4cy is fine for me, but if you plan on driving to Colorado to wheel once a year you might really consider saving up for the 6cyl.

Just my .02

My '01 TJ on 33s and 5.13 gears gets a little better mileage than that, but I agree with most of the posts above.

I've had wranglers with the 4.0, a built 5.0, and currently a 2.5. All ran 33" or above tires. I always changed the gearing to be appropriate. I've put lots of miles on each. The 5.0 was a beast but never got above 14mpg. Usually about 10. The 4.0 gets close to the same mileage as the 2.5 but without the drama. The 2.5 is a solid motor and gets me where I want to go, but I have an '02 4.0 and transmission sitting in the garage. The swap starts next week.

I used to drive a Samurai on 31s with stock gears (the definition of underpowered) and my 2.5 TJ with 5.13 or 4.56 gears on 33s is MUCH more powerful and driveable than that. The samurai always produced 20 mpg plus, though.

My favorite Jeep engine for the TJ/YJ wranglers is the 4.0. It just makes a nice all-round Jeep with power to spare. I plan to take mine on several long (1000+ miles) trips this summer.

I would buy another 4 cyl TJ but only if it were a killer deal or for my kids.