95Cherokee

I'm looking for a TJ and might consider the 4 banger but know NOTHING about them.

Can the 2.5 push that box down the freeway with 31's?

Longevity, can it go 300,000 mi. like a 4.0?

Are they as reliable as the 4.0? Do they at least get a mile or two better MPG than the 4.0?

Will I lose drag races against kids on mopeds?

mr white

My brother has one on 31s. Its slow as **** and can't go 70 on flat ground.

andrewmp6

The 2.5 makes 120hp and 139 foot pounds.The 4.0 makes 190hp and 235 foot pounds.

95Cherokee

Pretty much what I figured. I'm seeing lifted 2.5 TJ's with 32's an 33's on them for sale, I don't see how they can even keep up with traffic.

PUNISHER

I had a 2000 TJ with a 2.5 for 8 years. 4" lift 33's and had it geared to 4.56 (wish I went 4.88) and it still was a dog on the road. Flat ground no problem but them hills killed it and then it was speed shifting to 4th to try and keep momentum up. I used to cuss that 4 banger all the time and it only had 60K miles on it so the engine wasn't tired.

My wife would give me thunder saying "it's a Jeep, you don't have to go 100mph in it"! I always told her that I wasn't looking for 100mph, just want to go uphill as fast as I went downhill!

When I got the XJ and felt the 4.0 power, the TJ was sold to a friend. To this very day we go out wheeling on occasions and I am always running his butt down with the XJ. Blowing the horn, hanging my head outside the window yelling speed up man!!

Mudstomper99

I had a 95 2.5 auto on 35s. Would not suggest it at all. Hold out for a 4.0

thatXJguy

It does have a longevity to it if maintained properly, although the power is lacking.

My buddy had a 2.5L Cherokee with an AX15 (manual) transmission and it had over 230k miles if I remember correctly. No knocks, no weird sounds, no leaks, ran amazing.

Like others are saying, the 4.0L is a far superior motor, and because it's more common, support for it is better.

x(.)(.)+(l)j

I also had a 2.5 on 35s running 488s. Long story short. I sold it. Got a v8 wj and a 4.0ho xj. Problems solved.

95Cherokee

So after searching CL for weeks, I finally found one for a decent price instead of the 10-15k everyone seems to think these things are worth.

http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/4684572486.html

no rdplz

I'm in the same boat. I'd liek to find a TJ but being in a beach town means prices are insane. People think their worth way more than they really are and simply won't budge, no matter what you tell 'em. The 2.5 is a dog though, especially if it has the auto, If you do get a 2.5, make sure it has the AX-15. Around town it's not bad with that combo. Decent mpg's and with 4.10's it'll turn 31's with no issues. The problem you'll have is freeway stints, especially hills as has been mentioned. You'll be running in 4th just to maintain 50mph on some hills.

As for longevity, it's a great little motor. It was built off the engine that GM used for the S-10's for years and there's a reason it was called the "Iron Duke". It's tough, it can take a beating, and it's easy to work on. But, when compared to the 4.0, it's marginally better mpg ratings and lack of power make the choice a no brainer: hold out for a 4.0 mated to a 5-spd.

Rockfrog

Wrong motor ... The AMC/Jeep 2.5L is not the "Iron Duke" GM 2.5L.
Two completely different motors altogether.
The Jeep 2.5L is an AMC design based off the 199/232/258 designs ... And the 4.0L was actually a 2.5L with two cylinders added.
It is a rock solid motor with a history of longevity. For a 4cyl it puts out plenty of Hp and Torque .... But it's no 6. The 2.5L actually produced more power than most V6s when it was introduced (it was actually an AMC selling point and advertised as such).
But it has its limits, if big tires are in your future plan for 4.88 gearing (even then I wouldn't go over a narrow 33 max), or buy a 6cyl vehicle. If you plan to stay under a 31" Tire a 4cyl will do fine, not stellar, but adequate.

And the real and yell has always had the same milage numbers on the dealer tags I saw when shopping for my 92 back when
... Having driven both 4 and 6 ... Seem about right too.

no rdplz

Never said it was the same motor. GM's iron duke was a predecessor to it. Also, the 4.0 is not simply a 2.5 with more cylinders. They share the same port and bore design, but not much else. It's an updated 4.2 ,which goes back to the 70's btw, long before the 2.5 was developed. Do proper research next time.

holycaveman

I agree with the general concensus here. Off road I think geared it would be fine. Just look at the toys running 37's! But on road it will suck. My buddy had a bone stock one and with a headwind you could not keep it at 75.

Rockfrog

Actually the 2.5L was developed off the 4.2L, and the 4.0L was the second part of a two motor plan, a 4cyl and a 6cyl updating the older 4.2L. So sure I will concede that the one is not really the other is longer form, but being that the 2.5L was devoloped in the late 70's early 80's to be debuted in 84 XJ and Eagles. And the 4.0L started devolpement around 84 to be debuted in 87 .... with both engines being based off the same AMC I6 architecture dating back to the 64 199cid 6.
In this case, the egg came first before the chicken.

And the 2.5 shares a lot with the 4.0 actually

Water pump
Thermostat housing
Cam bearings
Rod bearings
Valves
Valve seals
Rockers (and pivots/bridges)
Valve Springs

Not a lot left really.

no rdplz

Point taken