The 0.5-liter 3-cylinder Mitsubishi 3G81 engine was produced only from 1987 to 1993 and was installed on such popular kei cars of the Japanese concern as Minica, Minicab and Bravo. There are five versions of the unit, many were equipped with a cylinder head with five valves per cylinder.
- 3G81K-6v – Atmospheric SOHC version with carburetor.
- 3G81TK – Supercharged SOHC version with carburetor.
- 3G81K-15v – Atmospheric DOHC version with carburetor.
- 3G81 – Atmospheric DOHC version with injector.
- 3G81T – Supercharged DOHC version with injector.
3G8 family: 3G81, 3G83.
Specifications
| Production years | 1987-1993 |
| Displacement, cc | 548 |
| Fuel system | carburetor (3G81K-6v, 3G81TK, 3G81K-15v) injector (3G81, 3G81T) |
| Power output, hp | 30 – 32 (3G81K-6v) 46 – 50 (3G81TK) 38 (3G81K-15v) 46 (3G81) 64 (3G81T) |
| Torque output, Nm | 41 – 43 (3G81K-6v) 59 – 66 (3G81TK) 43 (3G81K-15v) 46 (3G81) 75 (3G81T) |
| Cylinder block | cast iron R3 |
| Block head | aluminum 6v (3G81K-6v, 3G81TK) aluminum 15v (3G81K-15v, 3G81, 3G81T) |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 62.3 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 60 |
| Compression ratio | 9.8 (3G81K-6v) 8.5 (3G81TK) 10.0 (3G81K-15v) 10.0 (3G81) 8.5 (3G81T) |
| Features | SOHC (3G81K-6v, 3G81TK) DOHC (3G81K-15v, 3G81, 3G81T) |
| Hydraulic lifters | yes |
| Timing drive | belt |
| Phase regulator | no |
| Turbocharging | no (3G81K-6v, 3G81K-15v, 3G81) yes (3G81TK, 3G81T) |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 3.0 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 1 (3G81K-6v, 3G81TK, 3G81K-15v) EURO 2 (3G81, 3G81T) |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Mitsubishi Minica 1990) — city — highway — combined |
5.7 3.9 4.9 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~150 000 |
| Weight, kg | 87 without attachment |
The engine was installed on:
- Mitsubishi Bravo 1 (U14) in 1989 – 1991;
- Mitsubishi Minicab 4 (U11) in 1987 – 1991;
- Mitsubishi Minica 5 (H11) in 1987 – 1989; Minica 6 (H21) in 1989 – 1993.
Disadvantages of the Mitsubishi 3G81 engine
- Many versions of the engine are equipped with a Mikuni carburetor, and you need to be able to tune it.
- Owners on specialized forums most often complain about lubricant consumption due to the occurrence of rings.
- Even from a short drive with a low oil level, it turns the crankshaft liners.
- Watch the cooling system, the cylinder head gasket breaks here from any overheating.
- Also check the condition of the timing belt, as when it breaks, the valves always bend.
