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4 or 6 cyl????

2K views 27 replies 13 participants last post by  05GT-O.C.D. 
#1 ·
I'm looking to buy a YJ! What is better?? A 4 cyl or 6 cyl engine??

I just want it to drive off road on some trails, get a little muddy, no rock climbing...
 
#7 ·
The only way I would ever get another 4 banger is if it were strictly a trail rig. The 4 bangers simply don't have the power for comfortable highway driving.
 
#9 ·
i have a 4 and it does just fine in the woods but on the road its terrible, no power after at low rpms unless in 1st or 2nd. if your planning on doing mud a 6 or bigger would be the best bet. you want more power for that
 
#10 ·
Yeah I thought a 6 would be better (especially for on the road 2) but...they r hard to come by!! All I see in the area is 4's! But I just found a 6 that I'm going to look at today! Its a 94 for $3500. I'm excited. I hope it isn't ANOTHER let down...
 
#11 ·
Thanks for all of your responses! I needed some more input!
 
#12 ·
I have the 2.5 in my YJ, better gas mileage and a lot less problems than the 4.0 had, also more reliable. Once I got used to less power on the highway, and told myself it's a jeep thing and not a sports car, it was enjoyable. As far as off road and mud, I have had no problems.
 
#13 ·
If I where buying a YJ today. I would look for a 1991(1st year for Fuel Injection) or newer 6cyl auto or 5 spd depends what you like best. Fuel Injection in a YJ is far better than the mess of vacuum line's you have to deal with the pre 91's.
 
#14 ·
Yeah I definitely want fuel injected. Someone told me that since a 6 is bigger than a 4, it will have more power and be able to get thru a lot more...is this true?
 
#17 ·
Sorta, that statement is pretty vague though. Its obvious the 6 had 2 more pistons making power. But driver skill off roading most likely will benefit you more than raw power.

Regarding FI vs Carbed, Fuel injection will not run fuel bowls dry at steep inclines, so hill climbs n stuff will be more fun. Although a good working carb wont wither, but there is tuning involved when the carb starts to get old and tired. Personally, I like my 4.2(258 CI) 6 / Carb / Auto trans set up. I get the bigger block, I like the carb becuase there are more options for power upgrades to the carb itself. With a throttle body you can bore it....but thats it really. Auto trans.....I like it for offrading, less to worry about while driving. For example......going up a hill and you start to bog, down shifting will not happen fast enough, i dont care how fast you shift, and you tires will spin and be hard to gain traction again from a dead stop. Where as the auto trans downshifts fast enough to not think about that problem.


to each his own though. I bought my jeep to put a V8 in, but not until the 6 explodes.
 
#15 ·
Here's the deal.

I found a 1993. 4 cyl, 140,000 miles. The engine works good BUT the TRANSMISSION needs a gear synchronizer!! It grinds going into 2nd and 3rd gear. They wanted $5000 but went down to $4600 since it needs a gear sync.




I also found a 1994. 6 cyl, 135,000 miles. I'm going to look at it tonight. It needs a little body work...but thats minor! Comes with a hard top and soft top. He wants $3500. I'm am going to look at it around 4...


What do you guys think?

(Oh and it will be drove everyday..)
 
#16 ·
Look at it this way

4CYL pros

slightly cheaper
comes with 4.11 gears

4cyl cons
no power for anything larger than stock tires, even with a regear
bad fuel economy
and in the case of a stick a very very very fragile tranny that will take a dump on you REPEATEDLY

6cyl pros
the same or better fuel economy
plenty of power particularly with the 4.0
much stronger transmission

6cyl cons
more expensive to buy
goofy 3.08 or 3.55 gears in a Jeep

I personally wouldn't buy a 4 banger, I've driven one and found the lack of power appalling and borderline dangerous. If I had one I would treat it like a moped and stay of the Interstate.

BUT a 4cyl YJ has it's merits, because of their lower gearing they make a better candidate for a engine swap jeep, Because that's one less thing to need to do.
 
#19 ·
i've had all three motors. the 4.0 is the best. the 2.5 is a work horse and lasts just as long but on the street, not fun to be in traffic. on the trail it is fine, doesn't like sand though. the carb sucks on yj 6's. they had crazy emissions crammed on them, and very problematic. 4.0 is the best way to go.

that 4 cylinder posted is way overpriced.
 
#20 ·
I kinda like the carbs on them but then again i am a cherokee guy who just got the YJ. Mine has an engine from a later model cherokee and the carb from the 4.2 but most of the emission crap is gone. due to the year of my YJ (88) in PA you dont have to worry much about it since it already came with a carb. I looked at one pryor to this one and it had a lift and 33s on it but was a 4 cyl. had little power and 5th was unusable unless i would drive 75 mph. SO i guess it depends on what you are going to be doing with it, where you live and what you plan on doing to it in the future.

how did those jeeps go that you went to see?

sean
 
#25 ·
Unless you were driving into a head wind. Boy does your calf get tired doing that on a long highway trip. Been there.
 
#27 ·
I just bought a 4cyl. I wanted a 6cyl but the mileage on mine made me go for it (<50K on a '95). I wish I had driven a 6cyl before I bought mine though. IMO, hold out for a 6cyl 4.0L. I'm feeling very constrained right now. A 4cyl Honda is fine, a 4cyl Jeep is weeeaaaak. I am considering larger tires but I'm concerned the 4cyl won't be able to push them. I'm guessing that mountain passes will be <30mph as it is. Also, the 4cyl only gets 1 or 2 more mpgs. The 6cyl is worth it.
 
#28 ·
Oh gosh, I remember trying to get my Jeep 4cyl through WV mountains. 4th gear, foot permanently pressed to floor, still losing speed and getting passed by semi's.
 
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