Help me improve a 2.0 Turbo?

[rogisilva]

Hello All!

I'll start with context and then have the question.

Context:
So here in Australia, the only option for the JL is the 2.0 Turbo with ess. I had a 2019 JL 3.6 and loved it but had to sell it a couple years back.
I'm pretty set on a 2024 model, as the benefits outweigh the cons. The one major con is that I don't like the feel of the 2.0L turbo.
I test drove it, and yeah, in a way it's peppy, but it also vibrates and feels heavy, and hollow, and accelerating to highway speeds felt weak. I might be spoilt due to what I've been driving for the past year, but I recall the 3.6 being much smoother and stronger feeling (even if it wasn't faster).
Anyhow, I will be test driving a 3.6 JL to get a side-by-side comparison, and test driving a 2.0 again. But unless they bring back the V6 to Australia my choice will be the 2.0. I do like the turbo feel and sound, I just don't like the vibration of the 2.0 and the hollow feeling.

So, my question is:
What have you done to improve drive quality of the 2.0 Turbo and what can you recommend to improve the 'butt-feel' power and overall feel of the 2.0?

Notes:

• What I can't do are things like engine swaps. Though a turbo upgrade is not out of the realms of possibility.
• I am open to things like changing the sound through the exhaust, and both ECU flashes and pedal controllers.
• Though I don't mind changing the sound, my preference would be to keep it on the quieter end as I normally go camping and arrive late.
• I actually don't mind the ess, preferred it on the 3.6, but will still keep it on in the 2.0.
• I plan to tow a trailer for camping. Though it will be a lightweight build, about 1000-1500 pounds hopefully.
• I would only be running 35's tops (likely 295/70 R17s), with the bare minimum lift as that is just about pushing legal and I want a street legal build in NSW AND I want to get into our many stupidly low carparks (6'3"). So big wheels aren't a factor.

I am open to any suggestions that you felt improved the driving experience in any way. I know I am stuck with quite a few characteristics of the 2.0.

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[alphawolff]

Hello All!

I'll start with context and then have the question.

Context:
So here in Australia, the only option for the JL is the 2.0 Turbo with ess. I had a 2019 JL 3.6 and loved it but had to sell it a couple years back.
I'm pretty set on a 2024 model, as the benefits outweigh the cons. The one major con is that I don't like the feel of the 2.0L turbo.
I test drove it, and yeah, in a way it's peppy, but it also vibrates and feels heavy, and hollow, and accelerating to highway speeds felt weak. I might be spoilt due to what I've been driving for the past year, but I recall the 3.6 being much smoother and stronger feeling (even if it wasn't faster).
Anyhow, I will be test driving a 3.6 JL to get a side-by-side comparison, and test driving a 2.0 again. But unless they bring back the V6 to Australia my choice will be the 2.0. I do like the turbo feel and sound, I just don't like the vibration of the 2.0 and the hollow feeling.

So, my question is:
What have you done to improve drive quality of the 2.0 Turbo and what can you recommend to improve the 'butt-feel' power and overall feel of the 2.0?

Notes:

• What I can't do are things like engine swaps. Though a turbo upgrade is not out of the realms of possibility.
• I am open to things like changing the sound through the exhaust, and both ECU flashes and pedal controllers.
• Though I don't mind changing the sound, my preference would be to keep it on the quieter end as I normally go camping and arrive late.
• I actually don't mind the ess, preferred it on the 3.6, but will still keep it on in the 2.0.
• I plan to tow a trailer for camping. Though it will be a lightweight build, about 1000-1500 pounds hopefully.
• I would only be running 35's tops (likely 295/70 R17s), with the bare minimum lift as that is just about pushing legal and I want a street legal build in NSW AND I want to get into our many stupidly low carparks (6'3"). So big wheels aren't a factor.

I am open to any suggestions that you felt improved the driving experience in any way. I know I am stuck with quite a few characteristics of the 2.0.

It's already a high strung 4 banger putting out an obscene amount of power. There's a few tunes to bump it up a bit, like the Eurocompulsion one. That's all there really is while staying relatively legal.

Some people might suggest a throttle controller but avoid those. They just change the throttle thresholds and have a tendency to cause CELs and limp mode, especially the pedal commander variant.

 

[Mabe855]

Honestly the best bang for your money is gearing. Lowering the gearing for the 2.0 will increase how quickly you get the RPMs up and into the torque curve. My jeep came already geared lower from the factory with 4:56 gearing. 4:88 would be even better for towing and 35s. Gearing will be money well spent over any performance upgrade you could do to that motor for what you want.

 

[scottijohn63]

Honestly the best bang for your money is gearing. Lowering the gearing for the 2.0 will increase how quickly you get the RPMs up and into the torque curve. My jeep came already geared lower from the factory with 4:56 gearing. 4:88 would be even better for towing and 35s. Gearing will be money well spent over any performance upgrade you could do to that motor for what you want.

I added the 2 in Mopar lift and 35" tires on my Sahra. I had the stock 3.44. I went with 4.88s and it feels so much quicker than stock. Love this setup. Gearing made a huge difference.

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