There is a lot of lying in this thread about gas mileage. Following it up with statements like, well maintained, 28” tires, only heighten the incredulity.
I don't really understand the hate around the 4 cylinder
- Thread starter 4 banger TJ
- Start date
Even with open diffs and trying to get stuck...nothing, right?Mine had 31x12.500x15 swamper ssr locked front and rear. I never broke anything on the trail and could creep as slow as I wanted
I pay zero attention to gas mileage in my Jeep. I'm sure it's not good but I didn't buy it for the fuel economy. One thing I like about the Rubicon though is the gearing. I live in the mountains so I spend a lot of time going uphill and I really appreciate the push the 4.10's give me. Revs high out on the highway - 2500 at 65mph - which probably drains the tank pretty quickly but I don't care.
My first Jeep was a CJ5 with a very warmed up 304 V8. Too much engine in too light a vehicle with a really short wheelbase. I have no idea what kind of mileage it got as I was still in my early 20s and didn't care about gas mileage. (The pickup that replaced it was a LWB '65 Chevy with a '71 GTO 400ci engine in it.)
My second was another CJ5 that came factory with a GM 2.5 4 banger and "high speed" axles. I used it for a daily driver for years and kept it stock with skinny tires. Yes, I offroaded the heck out of it on weekends. On the highway, I could get around 26mpg. Offroad much much much less. Still, other than having to get creative at putting anything in it, I loved that little Jeep and still kick myself for letting go of it.
When I was looking for my current Jeep, I was looking for one with a straight six and longer wheelbase. I got that in my stock LJ. According to Ultragauge reading the ECM, I'm getting about 19mpg on the highway. Around town, it's dismal. But as they say, it's smiles per gallon, not miles per gallon.
My second was another CJ5 that came factory with a GM 2.5 4 banger and "high speed" axles. I used it for a daily driver for years and kept it stock with skinny tires. Yes, I offroaded the heck out of it on weekends. On the highway, I could get around 26mpg. Offroad much much much less. Still, other than having to get creative at putting anything in it, I loved that little Jeep and still kick myself for letting go of it.
When I was looking for my current Jeep, I was looking for one with a straight six and longer wheelbase. I got that in my stock LJ. According to Ultragauge reading the ECM, I'm getting about 19mpg on the highway. Around town, it's dismal. But as they say, it's smiles per gallon, not miles per gallon.
I have no hate or dislike for the 2.4 or 2.5. They are cost effective rigs and you could build one to my liking around 32’s.
Tray Burge
TJ Addict
I have a 97 TJ with the 4 banger, there is no power, the gas mileage still sucks so I've learned not to push it hard and this has improved my mileage greatly. It will climb a brick wall and has been totally maintenance free with the exception of general maintenance. I love it.
I Bought my 03 brand new. Didn’t realize I was buying a four cylinder at the time. Didn’t know Jeeps had anything other than the 4.0 mistake made.
I liked it, believe it was just as tough as the 4.0l. And the 4.11 gearing ratio is an awesome bonus I just found out about while building the replacement dana44 for the Dana 35. I never put any extra weight in it. Just ran it stock with 31” BFG Mud terrains
I liked it, believe it was just as tough as the 4.0l. And the 4.11 gearing ratio is an awesome bonus I just found out about while building the replacement dana44 for the Dana 35. I never put any extra weight in it. Just ran it stock with 31” BFG Mud terrains
So what you're saying is, it's slow.
You give me enough space and I can get a Yugo up to 75mph.
xackley
TJ Enthusiast
One does need to be a better operator to appreciate the 4 cylinder.
I got terrible mileage with it (15 mpg) and it rarely used 5th, only when the wind was right. I owned one, and still can't believe they put that sad engine in anything like a Wrangler. 
Mumblewood
TJ Enthusiast
One of my friends has a YJ with the 2.5. For close to 2 years he ran 36” TSL’s with a welded Dana 35 Before he broke a shaft. He never took bypasses but never really beat on it, just drove it really well. That thing was a champ. We figured the low HP and big tires he just didn’t have the power to break anything. It was a slow pig, but fun to wheel with. He’s almost done rebuilding it, same motor but now with a 60 rear and 44 front and 39” Iroks.
So basically I have no problems with the 4cyl. And if I had one I’d wheel it till it blew then either put the 4.0 or bigger.
So basically I have no problems with the 4cyl. And if I had one I’d wheel it till it blew then either put the 4.0 or bigger.
Well , if fuel mileage is really important, I have no idea why a Jeep would even be in the conversation.
If getting about anywhere you want to anytime you want to is important.... Then we're talkin about the right vehicle.
No, a four cylinder in a TJ is not a stellar powerplant. I didn't say bad, it just hasn't won any trophies...but it's carried a lot of people around with a smile on their face so that's worth something. Oh, and it's helped to save the world a couple of times.
The inline 6 is really an odd engine in the scheme of things... You will not find an engine that is praised much more ... And if it's known for anything is known for durability but here's the rest of the story...so is practically every in-line engine that has ever been produced.
The 252/258/ 4.0 inline 6 is archaic... Produces horrible numbers for its displacement... But it has been an engine that owners can count on for decades .
It is tolerable on the highway and very effective in most off-road situations.... It's smooth predictable bottom-end torque helps maintain traction when larger engines would break the tires loose or damage the drivetrain. It gets the job done. Usually for a long long time.
All in all the 4.0 configured TJ is the better move .. they are more sought-after and have better resale.... and they can hold their own in most traffic situations.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King.
Now....this doesn't mean if you have a 4-cylinder you've made bad decisions or that you're a bad person or that you can't run with the big boys or that we are all saying poo poo on your Jeep.
If you have any model of Jeep TJ Wrangler, this is the best forum to learn about , care for, and enjoy that vehicle more
If someone starts slamming your 4 cylinder... They may not realize you may make $250,000 a year and they may can barely buy gas.
or they may not realize that that was all you can afford and you're really proud to have it.
7 years ago I was about $200,000 in debt .. beyond my home and personal liabilities ... And I climbed my way out and bought myself a TJ Rubicon as a reward for hanging in there....but if I gave you cash in 2011, you would need to hold it for two or three days before you spent it . My own wife would not take a check on me.
Nobody needs to be too proud or put anybody down... If you drive one of these it's no less than 13 years old.
When you drive by most people say... Oh cool there goes a Jeep.
They don't say , "oh my it's a 4-cylinder." Four cylinders were all they ever were to start with.
If getting about anywhere you want to anytime you want to is important.... Then we're talkin about the right vehicle.
No, a four cylinder in a TJ is not a stellar powerplant. I didn't say bad, it just hasn't won any trophies...but it's carried a lot of people around with a smile on their face so that's worth something. Oh, and it's helped to save the world a couple of times.
The inline 6 is really an odd engine in the scheme of things... You will not find an engine that is praised much more ... And if it's known for anything is known for durability but here's the rest of the story...so is practically every in-line engine that has ever been produced.
The 252/258/ 4.0 inline 6 is archaic... Produces horrible numbers for its displacement... But it has been an engine that owners can count on for decades .
It is tolerable on the highway and very effective in most off-road situations.... It's smooth predictable bottom-end torque helps maintain traction when larger engines would break the tires loose or damage the drivetrain. It gets the job done. Usually for a long long time.
All in all the 4.0 configured TJ is the better move .. they are more sought-after and have better resale.... and they can hold their own in most traffic situations.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King.
Now....this doesn't mean if you have a 4-cylinder you've made bad decisions or that you're a bad person or that you can't run with the big boys or that we are all saying poo poo on your Jeep.
If you have any model of Jeep TJ Wrangler, this is the best forum to learn about , care for, and enjoy that vehicle more
If someone starts slamming your 4 cylinder... They may not realize you may make $250,000 a year and they may can barely buy gas.
or they may not realize that that was all you can afford and you're really proud to have it.
7 years ago I was about $200,000 in debt .. beyond my home and personal liabilities ... And I climbed my way out and bought myself a TJ Rubicon as a reward for hanging in there....but if I gave you cash in 2011, you would need to hold it for two or three days before you spent it . My own wife would not take a check on me.
Nobody needs to be too proud or put anybody down... If you drive one of these it's no less than 13 years old.
When you drive by most people say... Oh cool there goes a Jeep.
They don't say , "oh my it's a 4-cylinder." Four cylinders were all they ever were to start with.
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why wont this post just die so we can rehash it again in a month?
Just to keep it alive......
Only 4 banger I drove was a rental on St. John. I didn't think it was going to make the steep climb up the mountain when crossing the island.
For milage, my 4.0 with 33s and 3.73 gears will get an easy 39 miles to the gallon! Of course it has to be on a flatbed tow truck for two thirds of the trip to do that. Yes, gears would help but I don't know if it's worth the money for as little as I drive it.
Some of us say that. I don't like the power of the 4.0. No way I'd be happy with less.
Fughuert
TJ Enthusiast
Bad gearing?I got terrible mileage with it (15 mpg) and it rarely used 5th, only when the wind was right. I owned one, and still can't believe they put that sad engine in anything like a Wrangler.
I’m straight to 5th by 45mph.
Why do I have the six? Because they don't come in eights. Who buys a four pack of beer?