The AMC 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine
Not to be confused with the Chrysler 2.5 liter engine.
by Robert Clark
The Jeep 150 cubic inch four-cylinder engine was introduced by AMC in 1982, for the 1983 model year. The engine used a carburetor until given throttle-body fuel injection in 1986 (except in the Wrangler, which switched in 1987); in 1991 it switched to multiple-port fuel injection, and in 1993 moved to sequential multiple-port fuel injection. The major change over the years has been the different fuel delivery methods, though minor changes and refinements were made as well.
The I4 uses overhead valves with hydraulic lifters and a cast iron head and block. It is said to be a 258 ci AMC straight-six with two cylinders lopped off, bored to 3.88", and de-stroked to 3.19". The head's chamber and port design were later used with the perennial favorite Jeep engine, the 4.0L Straight-6.
While clearly superior in power to the Plymouth-Dodge 2.5 liter engine, which produced at most 100 hp and 135 lb-ft of torque, the AMC engine co-existed with its corporate sibling; it did not even make it into the Dodge Dakota until 1996, when it replaced the 2.5 liter four-cylinder (a stroked 2.2 liter engine) which was no longer cost-effective to manufacture, since the cars that used it had been discontinued. The 2.5 would eventually be replaced by the corporate 2.4 liter engine (producing only a little more power). The Dakota dropped its four-cylinder option entirely.
W. Paul Tippett, president of AMC, was quoted by the New York Times as saying that it had made sense to buy four-cylinder engines from GM at first, because demand was low, but with the public using more of the engines, it made more sense to develop and build their own. The popularity of GM's new four-cylinder cars may well have made supplies questionable as well.
While some believe there were no cars made with this engine, a very small number of early Eagle Premiers - modified Renault Medallions - were built with the 2.5 in 1988 and possibly 1989. However, most found their way into the CJ7/Wrangler, AMC Eagle, Cherokee, Comanche, and Dakota.
In 1997, the Dakota's 2.5 liter adopted a "quarter-wave" tuning chamber in the intake duct and a Helmholtz resonator mounted atop the throttle body to reduce induction noise and provide a pleasant sound. (Click for details.)
The 2.5, as used by AMC, used a General Motors bellhousing pattern, instead of the AMC bolt pattern, because it was a replacement for the Pontiac "Iron Duke" four-cylinder purchased by AMC while they adapted their straight-six into a four-cylinder.
Specifications
Generations
* The Cherokee and Comanche gained fuel injection in 1986, bringing it to 117 hp.
In 1997, the engine was noted as having flat followers and hydraulic lifters. The redline came at 5,550 rpm. Fuel was standard 87-octane unleaded. Oil capacity was 4.0 quarts, coolant 9.0 quarts; emission controls included three-way catalyst and dual heated oxygen sensors. Gas mileage in the Wrangler was 19/21 manual, 17/19 automatic.
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Not to be confused with the Chrysler 2.5 liter engine.
by Robert Clark
The I4 uses overhead valves with hydraulic lifters and a cast iron head and block. It is said to be a 258 ci AMC straight-six with two cylinders lopped off, bored to 3.88", and de-stroked to 3.19". The head's chamber and port design were later used with the perennial favorite Jeep engine, the 4.0L Straight-6.
While clearly superior in power to the Plymouth-Dodge 2.5 liter engine, which produced at most 100 hp and 135 lb-ft of torque, the AMC engine co-existed with its corporate sibling; it did not even make it into the Dodge Dakota until 1996, when it replaced the 2.5 liter four-cylinder (a stroked 2.2 liter engine) which was no longer cost-effective to manufacture, since the cars that used it had been discontinued. The 2.5 would eventually be replaced by the corporate 2.4 liter engine (producing only a little more power). The Dakota dropped its four-cylinder option entirely.
W. Paul Tippett, president of AMC, was quoted by the New York Times as saying that it had made sense to buy four-cylinder engines from GM at first, because demand was low, but with the public using more of the engines, it made more sense to develop and build their own. The popularity of GM's new four-cylinder cars may well have made supplies questionable as well.
While some believe there were no cars made with this engine, a very small number of early Eagle Premiers - modified Renault Medallions - were built with the 2.5 in 1988 and possibly 1989. However, most found their way into the CJ7/Wrangler, AMC Eagle, Cherokee, Comanche, and Dakota.
In 1997, the Dakota's 2.5 liter adopted a "quarter-wave" tuning chamber in the intake duct and a Helmholtz resonator mounted atop the throttle body to reduce induction noise and provide a pleasant sound. (Click for details.)
The 2.5, as used by AMC, used a General Motors bellhousing pattern, instead of the AMC bolt pattern, because it was a replacement for the Pontiac "Iron Duke" four-cylinder purchased by AMC while they adapted their straight-six into a four-cylinder.
Specifications
Bore x Stroke | 3.88" x 3.19" |
---|---|
Displacement | 150.4 ci 2.5L |
Main Bearings | 5 |
Valve Configuration | Overhead valve (8 valves), flat followers, hydraulic lifters (1997) |
Construction | Cast iron block and head |
Redline | 5,600 rpm |
Gas needed | Regular (87 octane) |
Generations
Jeep 2.5 engine | 1996-2002 | 1991-1995 Wrangler | 1991-1995 All But Wrangler | 1987*-1990 | 1982-1986* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 9.1:1 | 9.2:1 | 9.2:1 | 9.2:1 |
Horsepower | 120-125 @ 5,200 rpm | [email protected] RPM | 130 @ 5,250 | 117 @ 5000 RPM | 105 @ 5000 RPM |
Torque | 140-150 @ 3,250 | [email protected] RPM | 149 @ 3,250 | 135 @ 3500 RPM | 132 @ 2800 RPM |
Fuel Delivery Method | Sequential Injection | Multi Point Injection | Multi Point Injection | Throttle Body Injection | 1 Barrel Carburetor |
* The Cherokee and Comanche gained fuel injection in 1986, bringing it to 117 hp.
In 1997, the engine was noted as having flat followers and hydraulic lifters. The redline came at 5,550 rpm. Fuel was standard 87-octane unleaded. Oil capacity was 4.0 quarts, coolant 9.0 quarts; emission controls included three-way catalyst and dual heated oxygen sensors. Gas mileage in the Wrangler was 19/21 manual, 17/19 automatic.
Home •
Engines •
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Chrysler 1904-2018 •
Upcoming •
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Cars
Spread the word via <!--Tweet or--> Facebook!
We make no guarantees regarding validity or accuracy of information, predictions, or advice - .
Copyright © VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved. Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, and Mopar are trademarks of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.