Jeep TJ 4 Cylinder vs. 6 Cylinder Wrangler Comparison
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- Comparing a Jeep 4 Cylinder TJ and a 6 Cylinder TJ Jeep. Which is better? Do you need more power from the Jeep's 6 Cylinder? Does the 4 Cylinder's lower gearing pay off? Are you looking at a used TJ Wrangler? Don't miss this comparison video.
More from Toledo Cars here: / @toledocars
I love how every owner has a unique vision for how to build the ideal Jeep. I go to Jeep week in Daytona every year, and the place is crawling with 1000's of Jeeps where no two are alike. You mentioned carpet as pro for the 6 cylinder Jeep a couple of times, and that was one of the 'must remove' items on my list. I run top off year around (in Florida), so I get caught in the rain a few times a year.
Anyway, nice review!
My neighbor has the same year TJ as mine except his black and the 4 banger. Mine is a white 4.0 six speed. I always see him look over at mine with the sad puppy dog eyes.
🤣
For the money I saved buying my 4 banger I could have v8 swapped it and still made out ahead. But I ended up liking the 4 banger so for now it stays. I even have a rebuilt 289 on an engine stand but I easily get 18 to 19 mpg and it just works. It’s easy to work on and at this point I’ve put 10k miles on it with no problems. If it acts up I’ll swap it. But until then I don’t think it’s that bad.
It probably has more to do with it being another Jeep than the engine in it. If he owns a Jeep he obviously likes them.
Every time I see the same vehicle as mine I always look. It doesn't mean I've got sad puppy dog eyes but if thinking he's jealous makes you feel good then go ahead and roll with it.
Pulling jet skis or a small trailer, the 6-cyl will be worth it. It's always nice to have extra power.
AC and cruise control make a HUGE difference for road trips. I own a TJ “4 banger”, if you think its slow in the highway, just try to get a moderate lift and 12.5 width tires (i have 33’s x 12.5 on mine). Is it extremely slow? No, but then again i never drive fast, i am able to get highway speeds, drove to OBX in a 6 hour road trip in it and it felt fine... but you just gotta remember, its a jeep not a miata. If i could go back and buy my jeep again i would buy the 6 cyl. The engine is suppose to be eternal, best resell value, better tow capacity and imagine faster in the highways... having a 4 cyl jeep is like having a 6 cyl charger....
Right on. I do enjoy the AC and cruise control. It is much nicer on the highway. Still liked my 4 cylinder for what it was. Glad you are out there enjoying yours!
@@ToledoCars yes for what its worth, its great! They normally cost less. I bought mine as second vehicle, couldnt make the Jeep the daily commuter.. insurance on it is $20 a month with Progressive, so def keeping the 4cyl till the frame rusts out or the car passes away
I have the same setup 4 inch lift hardly pull 60mph lol
very nice review! i own a '97 2.5L on 31" and wish to be more performant on the road. interesting would also be a gas-mileage comparison between 2.5 and 4.0.
My favorite thing to do with my 4 cyl is put it in 4lo, get out, and walk next to it. Its something I do to impress my friends. I call it "Taking her for a walk"
I've been tempted to do that for fun, but every time I do I think of that guy who got ran over by his squatted truck. j/k I'm glad you are out enjoying your Jeep. Thanks for watching.
I just bought my wife a 03 TJ with a 4.0. All it needs is a new blinker switch ( it’s causing the fog lights come on by them selfs) and replace the front fenders. Plus I want to get a new cover just because of the age of the stock TJ cover. Private owner wanted $6500,00. I got it for $5000,00. Runs great and handles well
Nice work! Sounds like you got a good deal.
The fog light issue has a fix without replacement. It is on TH-cam, a small divot in plastic needs to be filled in with JBWeld.
@@randyholcombe4234 Thanks for the tip but I already changed out the unit. Took all of 15 minutes. Thanks agin.
Don’t forget the blinker guild when you replace it it’s crucial
Thank you for this comparison! I know nothing about cars, jeeps, trucks, etc. but had always wanted one when I was a kid (I am not 39). Maybe it is time to give it a go with an oldie model!
The 2.5 four banger is so under rated for offroad use. In mud holes you don't need extra weight.
If I lived say in a desert area where I could rock crawl and mud is only about 3 or 4 inches deep then the extra power would help with the 6.
Excellent video.
Thanks Dave! You're spot on. I did get a chance to take the newer 6 cylinder Jeep to Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Wasn't blown away by the power difference. With the larger tires and taller ratio, it felt about the same power wise. And, I can definitely feel the extra weight from heavier bumpers and the winch off road.
Heck of a lot more comfortable getting there and back though.
But, if I'm only evaluating the off road stuff, the 4 cylinder does very well in a stock-ish form. Maybe better. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one again as a second vehicle. Thanks for watching!
Good comparison. My 4 banger will climb and go over just about anything, but awful on the road. Unfortunately, now I need a new motor
Every blown motor is an opportunity to swap in a small LS based motor! I was looking into it for a while when I owned the 4 cylinder. 4.3 LS can be had on the cheap and would work well in a TJ.
4.3 LS? Can you provide were to get those? The 2.5L is a good engine. Mine did die but it has 244,000.00. I would almost be afraid to put anything else in it.
The real comparison would be to put them both on 33’s or 35’s, turn on the AC, and drive up any sort of grade while maintaining highway speed so you aren’t a safety hazard. I couldn’t imagine having to climb Donner pass or the grapevine here in California in a 4 banger. At least with my 4.0 I can maintain 65-70 on the mountain passes and don’t have to worry about impeding traffic. Or creating a hazardous situation where cars have to navigate around me because I’m going 10-15 mph below the speed limit.
I wouldn't want the 4 cylinder for highway driving in the mountains. Flat stuff, there's no reason to do under the speed limit on 31s with the 5 speed and stock 4.10s.
Many people are trailering anyway. And, that circumstance is pretty extreme for a lot of folks that just want something to drive around town.
@@ToledoCars that’s true. I know I’m the weirdo that daily drives a TJ, but because of that I’m thankful I have the 4.0 lol. If it was a dedicated trail rig I’d have no problem with the 2.5 or even a 1.8 tdi conversion.
Awesome video thanks for sharing
i love the 4 banger, its more of an army feel.
Right on. I did like that. Not complicated and simple. Has its advantages!
It feels true to form.
I can’t believe you think 2.5 is almost the same as the 4.0.I think you like your 2.5 more then the new rig.
I’m looking at a 98 tj 4cyl . Personally I want to criuse around , beach and some light trails maybe a little mud here and there so I might be ok with it
Same here
Most 4 cylinders don't have A/C, which might be nice at the beach (especially if you get stuck in traffic). Performance wise, 4 cylinders really shine on the trails and will do just fine on the beach too. Made it around Silver Lake Sand Dunes just fine and up the test hill there. You won't find a beach with more challenging conditions. I'd go with a wider tire with a taller sidewall (31s on 17s from a JK are cheap and will fit the need well with no lift, or you can keep the 15s and have even more sidewall). This will help you on the beach and as long as you don't go crazy you won't need to regear.
At this point, condition matters more than whether you get a 4 or 6 cylinder, IMO. I'd much rather have a clean 4 cylinder manual than a rusted out 6 cylinder. Good luck have fun!
Yes my 2.5 is so slow and yes AC doesn’t work but heater works.
You need to do the comparison with both Jeeps having the same set up.
Wish I had the funding and time for that. It would be ideal and fun to compare them side by side on the same trail. That said, these two Jeeps are relatively close in terms of comparison. They are the same year, both manual transmission, tire size is within 2 inches, ran the same wheel size, lift was within 2 inches, both running Dana 35/30 combo with axle ratios of 3.73 (6 cylinder) and 4.10 (4 cylinder), ran similar types of tires. And, I got to spend a lot of time behind the wheel of both. So, although the comparison is imperfect, it's still valid and useful for someone in the market for a TJ.
@@ToledoCars the 6 cylinder,in any version ,will always be the favorite. But I have a lot of fun in a 4 cylinder. 4 wheel low helps with the lack of horsepower
@@4-bangerYJ I prefer the price of the 4. I bought one last year with the intention of swapping in a v8. I saved $3k to $4k over comparable 6cyl Jeeps. After driving it for a year I like it. I’m actually going to leave the engine in there unless there’s some kind of major failure. I have a 289 waiting to go in.
It all depends on where you go wheeling. For rock crawling and trail riding, the 4 cyl. works great.
For sand and deep mud the 6 cyl. would be the choice. My 95 4 cyl. YJ engine is stock, but have a 4 inch lift, 33” tires, 4.88 gears, Trutracs f+r and the trac bars removed. It’s fully capable for the type of wheeling I do in the Sierras, and not too bad on the road. The key is the gearing. 31” tires needs 4.56 gears, and 33” needs 4.88 to get back to the correct gearing.
@@edrodrigues3333I have the 4cyl with the ax5 chromoly 30 spline rear axles with an ox locker out back stock front 33” tires 4:88 gears 2-1/2” rubicon suspension lift 3” body lift
Does just fine. The ax5 is cheap enough to replace if I blow it up. Because no one likes them.
My 4 banger is the best vehicle I’ve ever owned (have a/c fortunately).
Right on! Really liked the 4 cylinder I had. I would have kept it for sure if things stayed stable over the last couple years. New jeep was a really good deal, so I snapped it up. Glad you like yours! Thanks for watching!
Love my 2.5 but man do I wish I had power on the hwy lol
That's the biggest issue with it. The 6 cylinder is better in that regard, but it's not night and day. I just now use 4th and 5th instead of 3rd and 4th. I end up going the same speed while using less engine RPM. Which, if you don't drive on the highway a lot, isn't a huge problem to have for the 4 cylinder.
Bryan Rodriguez I am glad I'm not the only one with the four banger. I bought mine in Arkansas where I am from brand new in 2000 and now live in Louisiana so no rock crawling for me just mud holes so the lighter engine was a consideration but damn it sux at 70 and 75 mph screaming at damn near 3000 rpms. But hey two lane backroads are a little more relaxing anyway and a lot less traffic.
The comparison was great but can’t knock the 4cyl for no belly clearance compared to the 6cyl if one had a spacer lift and the other had nothing.
My TJ 2005 2,4 sport as a daily driving on road is enough in France..i can go often riding on the beach and have fun)
Good stuff
Thanks Tyrone!
Where does this guy live that he can get a TJ and all the parts for so cheap ? A hard top where I live in Oregon is no cheaper than $1000
I have the same 4cylinder, I want to get it lifted with a 4inch lift and 33s or a 6 inch lift with 35s, do you think I’d lose a lot of power
You would need to re-gear your axles at that point. If you are trying to run 35s you probably want to ditch the rear Dana 35 axle any way. I've seen people anecdotally say online that the re-gear helps tremendously and that they can reasonably run 33s or 35s with the 4 cylinder and a short (numerically higher) ring and pinion gear. I wouldn't hesitate to do it for an off roader. But, if I was doing any highway driving or road trips, I'd want some more research and maybe go for a ride in a similar rig before I made the jump. The 33's on the new Jeep are noticeably heavier than the similarly configured 31s I had on the old Jeep. I think they would definitely be difficult to live with on a 4 cylinder with stock gearing. Thanks for watching! Good luck with your build!
My buddy had the 4 cylinder and it had a hard time turning 31" ltb's in the mud. It's way too weak.
Did he have the auto? It's a taller ratio overall. Or, maybe he wasn't giving it the beans?
Yeah I have no problem turning 31s in mud with my 4 banger.
Gracias por la traducción
De nada! Disfruta tu Jeep!
I owned a 4 cylinder TJ. The worst thing about it was the Dana 35 rear end. I believe the 6 cal models came with a Dana 44. The 35s are notorious for breaking.
Some 6 cylinders do come with a Dana 44. However, not all do and only a small portion of them were optioned that way. So, you are probably getting the Dana 35 if you are just picking a random 6 cylinder.
The Sahara comes with the 44
@@joshuaspencer9006Rubicon as well
@@ToledoCars In Australia all were sold with 6 cylinders and Dana 44's. In base spec. No 4 cylinders and no 35's. I guess Chrysler realised the 4cyl and dana 35's wouldn't cut it around here heh.
@@joshuaspencer9006 In Australia even the base model had 44's and the 6 cylinder.
Do you experience a lot of body roll without your front sway bar
It's absolutely the ticket off road. I do notice it when on pavement though. It isn't ideal for highway driving. An abrupt lane change like the moose test would be pretty terrifying. And, you do get more body roll in corners.
It isn't that bad though. I make a few driving adjustments. Mostly just go a little slower, leave more room, and corner more smoothly. Other than that, I don't think about it too much.
I think a lot of people turn the lack of a sway bar into some sort of boogie man. I've basically daily driven the jeep for most of this year and haven't been motivated enough to install the bar that's in my garage.
Yes I have no sway bar and it leans badly.
If you would have gotten a RUBICON , it has the 6 cyl and 4:10 gears and 4:1 low range and lockers ..... i dont know why anybody that wants to go off road dont buy a RIBICON. No mods necessary .... but almost everybody does, just add a small lift and 33" or 35" tires and call it a day.
All the rubicons I looked at were more expensive than I wanted to spend. I owned the jeeps one at a time, so I don't have two to sell. Long term (like a few years from now) I'd like to stretch it and put it on tons. So, this is a hold over for now. I'll go with a different lift and call it a day for now.
I like the rubicons, I just didn't want to spend that much.
"more desirable motor" to people that only drive on pavement, maybe. the 4 cyl will outperform the 6 cyl off road. a lot less weight over the front axle.
Right on. Absolutely correct.
Depends how much you want to build. For instance if I had a 2.5 idt it could pull my 38.5s even with 5.13 gears. If you are talking about jeeps with 31s and 33s then ya the 2.5 is better…
I’m new to driving stick but I was told not to go much past 3000 rpm so seeing you go way up seemed interesting. Is it bad for the engine?
No, engines are designed to be run under their red line. There's an argument that it's more wear and tear on internal components (bearings, lifters, etc.). However, there can also be problems from excessive carbon build up if the engine is never heated up properly and run.
I'm not saying you should run it at the redline for hours or do it all the time, but there's nothing wrong with running an engine through the gears all the way up to the redline and shifting to merge.
Brah I be hitting 4500 to get on the freeway just fin once I’m in third
Get an xj lmao. Seriously the xj daily driving is better. Plus the longer wheel base will help.
XJs are cool for sure! Good rigs off road. More usable storage space. Also, they are usually cheaper on the used market too. They are my go to recommendation for someone who wants to give off roading a try and for those that want to build a sweet trail rig.
The wrangler has it's pros too. I like being able to take the sides and doors off. No leaf springs. Maybe holds its value a little better.
The 4cyl is fine off road. It’s the on road that is terrible.
On road over 55 really. I imagine it's much worse with the auto trans too. The gearing is different. The ratios seem to put the motor in a bad place a lot of the time.
Highway is bad. It can be done. But, it's not great. Around town is fine though.
Lol you stalled it so hard.
You’ve got some really bad rust on the frame of the 6cyl😬
Comes with the territory in the rust belt I'm afraid. I've had a metal hammer on most of the frame and the important bits of the frame are solid. Good for now, but always something to keep an eye on in my area of the US.
And sell both jeeps you now have to help pay for the rubicon. BOOM! DONE!😁
The way you talk makes me think that your playing for the other team.
Just want people to get the best Jeep for them and being straightforward about pros and cons.
If you meant some other type of team, not my thing lol.
「ビデオコンテンツはとても素晴らしいです、おめで
I don't know how to translate that, but thanks for watching!
horrible review dude! you should have made them equal as for lift and tires!
Lol. Let me just hop in my time machine, go back in time to when I owned the first one, and fix that for you.
@@ToledoCars LMAO