4.0L Wrangler??

"Benzed92" (zoomzoom6) 12/20/2013 at 09:05 • Filed to: None

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I'm going to look at a 2002 Wrangler Sport this weekend to scratch an itch that has been for some time. In any case, have any of you owned one or have experience with them? This specific example has 85k miles which is very low compared to the other ones I've found. Thanks, and here's a sideways Gumpert for you troubles!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Benzed92 12/20/2013 at 09:10

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From what I hear 85k would be low mileage on a 4.0. Shit those crazy guys with the 2dr Cherokee turbo'd one with over 240,000k miles and raced it, haha. Haven't driven one personally. A friend of mine recently commented that they are more so a toy than a daily driver. But that's more up to personal preference.

Party-vi > Benzed92 12/20/2013 at 09:13

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The 4.0L is dead simple to work on and (from my experience) cheap to keep running. Depending on transmission choice you might see close to 20mpg on the highway if you keep some reasonably-sized tires on it. Make sure you get on the ground and look under the vehicle for any abuse on the drivetrain. Check for leaky differentials or yoke seals on the axles, engage 4Hi and 4Lo and make sure it works correctly, ask where the owner went off road (if they did at all), test the lights, turn signals, go for a test drive and see if it pulls to either side when braking, see if there's any vibration at highway speeds, ask if any engine work has been done (water pump, radiator, etc.), and pull up the carpet and look for water damage. There shouldn't be too much rust because the tub was galvanized before painting at the factory. If it's an automatic check the transmission fluid, too.

Good luck!

Sn210 > Benzed92 12/20/2013 at 09:21

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I had a 93 YJ with the 4.0 for my first car. Tons of fun but I had to dump it because I couldn't afford the gas on my Burger King salary. My father bought it off me and still drives it, 10 years later.
My sister had a 97 Tj. She never had issues with the engine, but her's had rust problems. Check the frame, the tailgate hinges and surrounding areas, and the front fenders. 85k miles is barely broken in. Good luck!

dinobot666 > Benzed92 12/20/2013 at 09:26

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All 4.0 engines will experience a cracked exhaust manifold at some point in time. They're cast iron, so you can't really weld the crack very well. Most people just ignore it, or slap on a set of headers. Great engine overall.

Nibbles > Benzed92 12/20/2013 at 09:27

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The 4.0 is one of the most indestructible engines ever produced. Go for it

Sn210 > dinobot666 12/20/2013 at 09:30

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I forgot about this! Both my 93 and sister's 97 had this issue.

Mattbob > Party-vi 12/20/2013 at 09:33

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seconded. 4.0 the win.

dinobot666 > Sn210 12/20/2013 at 09:36

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Chrysler/Jeep never changed the design of the manifold in years. I guess it's probably a pretty tricky thing to design as it's a really long and heavy manifold that hangs down and exposed to lots of elements, heat and vibration. A perfect way to crack as cast iron design.

Mine cracked on my Comanche, but I just left it be, like most people do.

crown victor victoria > Benzed92 12/20/2013 at 09:37

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I have been considering a TJ, too. A lot of the ones I see are well over 100k miles and of similar vintage, so 85k miles would be on the lower side compared to what's in my neck of the woods.

I had a ZJ Grand Cherokee with the 4.0 in it and it's a great engine. Like Party said, easy and cheapish to work on and repair.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Benzed92 12/20/2013 at 09:42

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Had a GC with the 4.0. The engine itself is bulletproof. I put something like 125k on it while attending university and then sold it to my 16 y.o. nephew who put many more miles on it before selling it to his brother who drove it to university and put a ton more miles on it. Not sure how many miles were on it before it ended up getting pretty bashed up, but I think over 200k. And what did it in were tranny or transfer case issues. The second nephew ended up selling it to someone who was going to redo the tranny on it. But either way, it survived three high school / college age guys driving it, so that says something about reliability.

Who needs sway bars anyway > dinobot666 12/20/2013 at 10:27

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Mine cracked, I replaced it, within 6 months it was cracked again. Fortunately, you really couldn't notice it over the flowmasters so I said fuck it.

Who needs sway bars anyway > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 12/20/2013 at 10:31

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85k is break in period for the 4.0. Mine was at 250k and still running like a champ. I got 16mpg easy with 33's and shitty gearing and the original plugs and wires at 225k the only motor work I had to do besides maintenance was the manifold which doesn't even matter. It also doesn't hurt that they are crazy easy to wrench on and you can get a stroker/cam kit that makes this motor a torque monster.

dinobot666 > Who needs sway bars anyway 12/20/2013 at 10:37

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Haha. I put a Thush glasspack behind mine. Sounded so good.

Benzed92 > Sn210 12/20/2013 at 10:52

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From what I can see, there's no rust, but I surely will check around. I've also heard so many great things about this engine I'm excited for only 85k miles :)

Benzed92 > crown victor victoria 12/20/2013 at 10:52

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That's what I've found too, for under $10k this is by far the lowest mileage one around. Good to hear about the motor too, thanks for the help.

Benzed92 > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 12/20/2013 at 10:53

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Great to hear, I hope the driveline holds up for me cause my Mazdaspeed 6 doesn't do that too well.. but thank for the info!

Benzed92 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 12/20/2013 at 10:55

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I probably wouldn't DD it, but certainly for winter as my Mazda is currently a little over 2" off the ground. but that's awesome to hear, it sounds like this will be a great car to have.

Benzed92 > Who needs sway bars anyway 12/20/2013 at 10:55

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Excellent, thanks for the info and I have already accepted the manifold will need to be replaced lol, but other than this motor just sounds fantastic.

Benzed92 > dinobot666 12/20/2013 at 10:56

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I have heard about the manifold issues, but not too big a deal, otherwise I've heard nothing but good things.

Benzed92 > Party-vi 12/20/2013 at 10:58

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Thank you for the info, I will certainly check all of those when I test drive, and I have heard many great things about the motor as well.

Who needs sway bars anyway > Benzed92 12/20/2013 at 11:01

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unless the manifold is horrible and you are requiring oxygen tanks to drive, I wouldn't even bother with the manifold. Just drive and enjoy.

Benzed92 > Who needs sway bars anyway 12/20/2013 at 11:28

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Fair enough, I already have a small exhaust leak on my Speed 6 so I think I can handle it, but I sure will enjoy it :)

GRawesome > Benzed92 12/21/2013 at 03:42

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Can't go wrong with the 4.0. I had one in my 2000 Wrangler and didn't have a single issue for 13 years.
Not much to add to what everyone else has already said - cheap to maintain and fun to drive. Most of the issues I have heard of have been with the computer, but those are relatively inexpensive to replace and aftermarket ones can be found for cheaper.

GRawesome > Benzed92 12/21/2013 at 03:42

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Can't go wrong with the 4.0. I had one in my 2000 Wrangler and didn't have a single issue for 13 years.
Not much to add to what everyone else has already said - cheap to maintain and fun to drive. Most of the issues I have heard of have been with the computer, but those are relatively inexpensive to replace and aftermarket ones can be found for cheaper.

JoelA237 > Benzed92 12/25/2013 at 14:59

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My last jeep had the 4.0 stait 6... It had nearly 300k miles on it, still ran like a top, got decent mpg for a lifted cherokee, had enough power to get through anything and to spin the jeep into donuts on blacktop with 31-10.5s-15s. Mine was a 96, so bit older than what you are looking at, but I rarely see a 4.0 of any year around here with less than 150k and have seen them upwards of 400-500k

Benzed92 > JoelA237 12/26/2013 at 10:56

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That's pretty awesome to hear! I actually went to go pick a different '02 with 121k but she's in great condition. Already have a K&N cold air and MBRP catback on their way. :)

EDIT for picture

JoelA237 > Benzed92 12/26/2013 at 14:37

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Awesome! I see you have a hard top on it. Those are nice in the cold. Cloth doors and roof in winter = frost bite. Have fun with her!

Benzed92 > JoelA237 12/26/2013 at 15:51

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Thank you, sir! and it is very nice in the cold, the heater works too well at times!