10 Of The Most Reliable Mitsubishi Engines Ever Made, Ranked

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Mitsubishi can hint its automotive manufacturing historical past again over 100 years, but it surely first made a reputation for itself on the worldwide stage in postwar Japan. Like all Japanese producers, Mitsubishi’s chief enchantment was that its automobiles have been each inexpensive and dependable, undercutting what many overseas rivals may provide whereas beating them on longevity. It’s a status that Mitsubishi has carried via to at the present time, with its SUVs, pickups, and industrial vans nonetheless favorites with consumers all around the globe.

The engines of Mitsubishi autos are, generally, a secure guess, with many racking up lots of of hundreds of miles of service with minimal points. However, a number of stand out from the remainder, both as a result of they’ve proved to be higher than different rivals of their phase or as a result of they’re merely robust sufficient to face up to no matter a driver can throw at them. Often, it is a mixture of each. Many of Mitsubishi’s hottest fashions wouldn’t have had the identical affect had they not featured these 10 dependable mills underneath the hood.

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Mitsubishi’s diesel engines have a status for having the ability to stand up to years of arduous use, and the 4N14 lives as much as that status. It will not win any awards for efficiency — actually, in most functions, it is precisely the alternative — but it surely stays comparatively environment friendly in addition to being reliable. The four-cylinder engine has featured in Mitsubishi’s ASX crossover for the previous decade and has been obtainable within the present era Delica minivan in Japan. It’s additionally obtainable within the Outlander SUV in territories the place diesel continues to be in demand (so, not within the U.S.).

The Delica is probably the most distinctive automobile the place the 4N14 could be discovered because it’s now in its fifth era and nonetheless options the identical off-road capabilities that made earlier generations a cult basic each in its residence territory and overseas. It’s a disgrace that Mitsubishi has by no means provided the automotive Stateside — in any case, America primarily invented the minivan phase with the launch of the Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager, and the present market proves that off-road capabilities are nonetheless a fascinating characteristic for a lot of drivers. Nonetheless, the Delica stays a forbidden fruit for now, as does the 4N14 underneath its hood.

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One of the most important variants of the 4G household, the 4G94, was utilized in a wide range of Mitsubishi fashions all through the ’00s. The 2.0L four-cylinder made as much as 144 horsepower in its strongest type and was obtainable in fashions together with the Lancer, Galant, and Montero/Pajero. indicator of whether or not an engine is dependable is whether or not the design is snapped up by one other producer after manufacturing by the unique producer ends; the 4G94 was one such engine. It loved a second life after its authentic Mitsubishi manufacturing run, with Chinese carmaker Hawtai persevering with to supply it till 2015.

Like a lot of Mitsubishi’s most dependable engines, it is not at all a efficiency powerhouse. In reality, it is much less highly effective than many equally sized engines from rivals, however with some aftermarket help, it is doable to extend its output by a major quantity. However, for engine longevity, that is not really helpful — maintaining it inventory and correctly maintained, in fact, is the important thing to profiting from this on a regular basis workhorse mill.

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One think about figuring out engine reliability is how lengthy it has been in manufacturing. The longer it has been round, the extra time the producer could have needed to kind out any weak factors and tweak the design if want be. The Mitsubishi 4G69 has been in manufacturing since 2003 and continues to be getting used at the moment in varied types. It was produced by Mitsubishi till 2012, that includes within the likes of the Galant, the Lancer, and the Eclipse. When it is taken care of accurately, homeowners reported getting as much as 300,000 miles out of the engine, typically with different components of the automotive failing earlier than the engine ever gave out.

Tightening emissions, altering design necessities, and the arrival of a brand new era of engines meant that the 4G69 was finally retired by Mitsubishi. But it continues to characteristic in a variety of Chinese-manufactured automobiles and vans. As the world’s largest automotive market, Chinese customers have a wider vary of fashions to select from than another territory. So, it is telling that there are nonetheless a number of new Chinese automobiles and vans on the market with this now 20-year-old engine. Among others, Great Wall, Maxus, and CMC Mitusbishi (a Chinese Mitsubishi three way partnership) all at present produce autos sporting the 4G69.

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The 6B31 has solely been put in on two Mitsubishi fashions: the Outlander and the Pajero Sport. It first appeared within the Outlander in 2006 and within the Pajero Sport in 2010. It stays in manufacturing in each automobiles at the moment in sure markets. Its inventory energy is comparatively modest, however due to its strong construct high quality, it is a good candidate for upgrades. However, it needs to be famous that performance-boosting aftermarket components typically run the danger of reducing reliability in the long term.

The engine is not with out its flaws — there have been reviews of oil leaks and carbon buildup, however like all engines, common and complete upkeep ought to forestall points typically. Its 3.0-liter displacement additionally means it is not as fuel-sipping as a few of its rivals, however most homeowners are prepared to take the hit for the additional reliability. Like a lot of Mitsubishi’s finest engines, the 6B31 just isn’t in the stores for U.S. prospects, because the USDM Outlander’s sole engine configuration for 2024 is a smaller 2.5L four-cylinder.

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Another long-running Mitsubishi engine is the 4G64, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that is been round since 1985. It has appeared in the whole lot from the Outlander and L200 to the ’97-’05 Eclipse, sporting an output of 165 horsepower in its most potent type. It was additionally constructed underneath license by Hyundai between 1998 and 2006, with the designation G4JS. In addition, Mitsubishi’s partnership with Chrysler noticed it seem in a variety of Plymouth, Dodge, and Eagle automobiles, making components simple to seek out and inexpensive in case something goes fallacious.

Average lifespans various between fashions, however generally, racking up greater than 200,000 miles was achievable with correct upkeep. The engine is intently associated to the 4G63, which can be thought-about one of many model’s finest engines ever made, with the first distinction being displacement. The 4G64 is the bigger of the 2 by round 400cc. Much like its smaller counterpart, the engine is ripe for upgrading, and loads of recommendation is on the market on homeowners’ boards for anybody considering of taking up such a mission.

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Mitsubishi has been making six-cylinder engines because the ’60s, and the 6G72 is taken into account to be among the many better of them. It boasts an impressively lengthy manufacturing run, with the primary examples showing in 1986 and manufacturing persevering with till 2008. During that interval, it appeared in a lot of Mitsubishi’s best-selling fashions, together with the Pajero/Montero, the Delica 4, and the L200 pickup truck. It additionally appeared in a number of Chrysler and Dodge fashions due to the American automaker’s partnership with Mitsubishi on the time.

The first three generations of the Dodge Caravan all featured the three.0-liter V6, together with the Chrysler New Yorker and Town & Country. Engine lifespans over 250,000 miles will not be unusual, assuming upkeep is saved updated. Alongside Chrysler, Hyundai additionally had a longstanding partnership with Mitsubishi and produced a licensed model of the 6G72 referred to as the G6AT all through the ’90s and into the early ’00s. The engine appeared in each the Hyundai Galloper SUV and the Sonata sedan.

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The 4M41 was developed as a bigger variant of the 4M40 whereas fixing a number of of the gremlins its stablemate suffered from. Displacement was elevated from 2.8-liter as much as 3.2-liter, all whereas enhancing emissions to adjust to rules each in Japan and export markets. Fuel consumption was additionally lowered by round 25% in comparison with its predecessor, in line with Mitsubishi.

It was primarily used within the Pajero and L200, each of which have been anticipated by homeowners to rack up excessive mileage with out subject. The 4M41 delivered on that promise, with an estimated lifespan of greater than 250,000 miles.

Various tweaks have been made to the engine within the years it has been in manufacturing, with newer variants sporting a 200 horsepower output, a substantial enchancment over the 165 horses obtainable from earlier variations. These later variations are additionally usually probably the most dependable and value paying a premium for on the used market.

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One of Mitsubishi’s most dependable diesel engines is the two.5-liter 4D56, which has been featured within the Delica, L200, and Pajero. Owners peg its anticipated lifespan at greater than 300,000 miles earlier than needing vital work, though, like several engine, this may range from automobile to automobile and largely rely on the upkeep and kind of driving performed by earlier homeowners. And there might be a listing of earlier homeowners — the oldest autos with the engine rolled off the manufacturing line within the mid-’80s.

The 4D56 remained in manufacturing till 2016 when it was retired in favor of extra environment friendly, highly effective engines. However, its comparatively modest energy as normal could be simply improved upon, as there’s a strong aftermarket and loads of fanatics on homeowners’ boards with expertise in extracting extra ponies out of this workhorse powerplant. Alongside its look in Mitsubishi autos, the 4D56 was additionally tailored by Hyundai to be used in a variety of its autos between 1991 and 2007.

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If 4 cylinders aren’t sufficient, then one other of Mitsubishi’s high engines is the 6G74. Over its lengthy lifespan, a number of enhancements have been made by the producer, together with enhancing its gas economic system and energy output. It appeared in a variety of Mitsubishi fashions however is probably finest recognized for its look within the Pajero/Montero and L200. Like lots of the Japanese automaker’s finest engines, Hyundai additionally constructed it underneath license to be used in a variety of SUVs and sedans, albeit with a barely decrease anticipated lifespan.

Owner reviews are, generally, glowing for the engine. Its utility within the Pajero and L200 signifies that towing and off-road driving are widespread necessities, and it is recognized to deal with each with aplomb. It’ll take loads of punishment, however consumers of used examples needs to be conscious that these engines aren’t indestructible. Nonetheless, on the uncommon event they do break, they’re normally inexpensive and easy to repair.

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The 4G63T is considered among the finest four-cylinders of its form, largely due to its position in powering 9 totally different generations of the model’s iconic Lancer Evolution. The non-turbo 4G63 had been round because the begin of the ’80s, and the 4G63T was initially developed so Mitsubishi may enter the World Rally Championship. It debuted within the Galant VR-4 with combined outcomes however actually hit its prime when the automaker pivoted its WRC efforts to the Lancer in 1992.

The Lancer proved to be a dominant pressure, profitable a string of drivers’ titles with Tommi Mäkinen behind the wheel, together with the producers’ title in ’98. The buyer model of the 4G63T was similar to its racing counterpart, which meant it proved to be bulletproof even when homeowners pushed it to its limits.

It additionally proved it may deal with enormous quantities of additional energy, making the Evo Lancer a tuners’ favourite and main Mitsubishi to finally launch factory-backed variations with larger energy outputs, just like the UK-only FQ-400. Today, you could find builds making over double their inventory output whereas nonetheless remaining dependable.