XJ 2.5 TD
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Joined: Feb 2026
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From: Ukraine
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 2.5 TD
Good afternoon!After two years of operating the jeep, my 2.5 TD engine broke down, parts for which are very difficult and even impossible to find in Ukraine to repair the car I drive during missions.Therefore, I have a question - which engine for this car is reliable and strong?I am interested in the name of the engine and the possibility of replacing it, that is, removing the old one and installing a new one.The engines in our country are so worn out that there is nothing to buy!Is it possible to buy a good engine from you?
Parts are plentiful in the US for the 4.0L inline 6, but in Europe, I don't think the 4.0L was used much. It was apparently used in some EU Grand Cherokees from 1999-2005. It was also used in some EU Cherokees and Wranglers. I suspect it was not a common option though. Anyhow, if you can find a 4.0L, that would be one option. You would need an ECU from 4.0L Cherokee which you could easily source from the US. You'd need an XJ 4.0L wiring harness too. Seems like a challenging job.
Availability aside, this motor has a few things that need to be maintained to be reliable. The crank position sensor can become unreliable after perhaps 100,000 km, and when that happens, the engine can stop running with no warning, so its important to start with a fresh one. The other issue is that these motors tend to run hot if the cooling system is not well maintained.
If I were you and really wanted to keep the Cherokee, I'd be looking for a carbureted motor or a diesel motor that doesn't rely on an ECU. Seems far easier to deal with physical fitment of a motor than dealing with adapting electronics.
Overall, I wonder how much sense it makes to be taking a 4.0L Cherokee out on missions in Ukraine. I'd trust my 2009 Honda Civic more than my 4.0L Cherokee in a critical situation. Are vehicles that hard to find?
Availability aside, this motor has a few things that need to be maintained to be reliable. The crank position sensor can become unreliable after perhaps 100,000 km, and when that happens, the engine can stop running with no warning, so its important to start with a fresh one. The other issue is that these motors tend to run hot if the cooling system is not well maintained.
If I were you and really wanted to keep the Cherokee, I'd be looking for a carbureted motor or a diesel motor that doesn't rely on an ECU. Seems far easier to deal with physical fitment of a motor than dealing with adapting electronics.
Overall, I wonder how much sense it makes to be taking a 4.0L Cherokee out on missions in Ukraine. I'd trust my 2009 Honda Civic more than my 4.0L Cherokee in a critical situation. Are vehicles that hard to find?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Ukraine
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 2.5 TD
Thanks for the clarification on the engine, for me personally and for my friends it is desirable to have a diesel engine, since in Ukraine gasoline is very bad and parts often fail.Therefore, there is a desire to choose the least problematic diesel, the simplest, not dependent on electronics, with a mechanical fuel system and combine it with a gearbox from Cherokee, for me this is not a problem, but it is necessary to choose which diesel engine is suitable for replacement, that's the question!) And the next question - where can I buy such an engine in good condition?
Thanks for the clarification on the engine, for me personally and for my friends it is desirable to have a diesel engine, since in Ukraine gasoline is very bad and parts often fail.Therefore, there is a desire to choose the least problematic diesel, the simplest, not dependent on electronics, with a mechanical fuel system and combine it with a gearbox from Cherokee, for me this is not a problem, but it is necessary to choose which diesel engine is suitable for replacement, that's the question!) And the next question - where can I buy such an engine in good condition?
Last edited by Sergii; Feb 3, 2026 at 03:25 AM.
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