The 1.5-liter Mitsubishi 4G15 engine was produced by the Japanese concern from 1985 to 2012, and then its assembly continued in China, where it is still installed on many local models.
The 4G15 of the Orion series appeared in the mid-80s on the models of the Mirage line. It was a motor with a cast-iron block, an aluminum cylinder head without hydraulic lifters and a timing belt. The first versions were equipped with a carburetor and had a simple 8-valve SOHC block head, then 12-valve modifications with ECI-MULTI multiport fuel injection appeared. The most advanced versions of this 1.5-liter engine had a 16-valve DOHC head, and the internal combustion engines after 2000 were equipped with a MIVEC intake phase regulator and hydraulic lifters. There was also a rare modification with GDI direct injection and a supercharged 4G15T unit.
4G1 (Orion) family: 4G12, 4G13, 4G15, 4G15T, 4G18, 4G19.
Specifications
| Production years | 1985-2012 |
| Displacement, cc | 1468 |
| Fuel system | carburetor (G15B Carburetor SOHC 8v) distributed injection (4G15 ECI-multi SOHC 12v) distributed injection (4G15 ECI-multi DOHC 16v) direct injection (4G15 GDI DOHC 16v) |
| Power output, hp | 70 – 73 (Carburetor SOHC 8v) 80 – 95 (ECI-multi SOHC 12v) 97 – 110 (ECI-multi DOHC 16v) 105 (GDI DOHC 16v) |
| Torque output, Nm | 110 – 115 (Carburetor SOHC 8v) 115 – 125 (ECI-multi SOHC 12v) 130 – 140 (ECI-multi DOHC 16v) 140 (GDI DOHC 16v) |
| Cylinder block | cast iron R4 |
| Block head | aluminum 8v (Carburetor SOHC 8v) aluminum 12v (ECI-multi SOHC 12v) aluminum 16v (ECI-multi DOHC 16v) aluminum 16v (GDI DOHC 16v) |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 75.5 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 82 |
| Compression ratio | 9.0 (Carburetor SOHC 8v) 9.4 (ECI-multi SOHC 12v) 9.5 (ECI-multi DOHC 16v) 11.0 (GDI DOHC 16v) |
| Timing drive | belt |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30, 5W-40 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 3.6 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 1 (Carburetor SOHC 8v) EURO 2/3 (ECI-multi SOHC 12v) EURO 3/4 (ECI-multi DOHC 16v) EURO 4 (GDI DOHC 16v) |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Mitsubishi Lancer 1995) — city — highway — combined |
9.4 5.9 7.5 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~300 000 |
| Weight, kg | 133 (with attachments) |
The engine was installed on:
- Mitsubishi Colt 2 (C1), Colt 3 (C5), Colt 4 (CA), Colt 5 (CJ) in 1985 – 2003;
- Mitsubishi Lancer 6 (C6), Lancer 7 (CB), Lancer 8 (CK), Lancer 9 (CS) in 1988 – 2010;
- Mitsubishi Dingo 1 (CQ) in 1998 – 2003;
- Proton Arena 1 in 2002 – 2009;
- Proton Saga 1 in 1985 – 2008;
- Proton Satria 1 in 1994 – 2005;
- Proton Wira 1 in 1993 – 2009;
- Hyundai Excel 1 (X1), Excel 2 (X2) in 1985 – 1995;
- Dodge Colt in 1989 – 1994;
- Eagle Vista in 1988 – 1992.
Disadvantages of the Mitsubishi 4G15 engine
- The trademark problem of the Orion engine family is throttle wear, which is expressed in increased or, most often, floating idle speeds. And several organizations at once sell remanufactured dampers for such units.
- Thin oil scraper rings usually lie at 100,000 km and oil consumption appears. Sometimes decoking is enough to get rid of the oil burner, sometimes a simple replacement of the rings, but by 200,000 km piston wear is often encountered and one cannot do without a major overhaul.
- According to the regulations, the timing belt changes every 90,000 km, but it can burst even earlier, which often ends not only with bent valves, but also with cracked pistons.
- In specialized forums, they regularly complain about a short-lived catalyst, a weak rear support, not the most reliable ignition system, and the fact that candles are flooded when starting in cold weather. And do not forget to adjust the valves, units before 2000 do not have hydraulic lifters.
Frequently asked questions about the Mitsubishi 4G15
How much power does the Mitsubishi 4G15 make?
Power output of the Mitsubishi 4G15, hp: 70 - 73 (Carburetor SOHC 8v); 80 - 95 (ECI-multi SOHC 12v); 97 - 110 (ECI-multi DOHC 16v); 105 (GDI DOHC 16v). Torque, Nm: 110 - 115 (Carburetor SOHC 8v); 115 - 125 (ECI-multi SOHC 12v); 130 - 140 (ECI-multi DOHC 16v); 140 (GDI DOHC 16v).
How much oil does the Mitsubishi 4G15 take and which one?
Engine oil capacity: 3.6 liters. Recommended oil: 5W-30, 5W-40.
Does the Mitsubishi 4G15 have a timing belt or chain?
The Mitsubishi 4G15 uses a timing belt.
Is the Mitsubishi 4G15 turbocharged?
No, the Mitsubishi 4G15 is naturally aspirated.
How long does the Mitsubishi 4G15 last?
The typical lifespan of the Mitsubishi 4G15 is ~300 000 km with proper maintenance.
What is the fuel consumption of the Mitsubishi 4G15?
Mitsubishi Lancer 1995: city 9.4, highway 5.9, combined 7.5 L/100 km.
What cars was the Mitsubishi 4G15 installed on?
Mitsubishi Colt 2 (C1), Colt 3 (C5), Colt 4 (CA), Colt 5 (CJ) in 1985 - 2003; Mitsubishi Lancer 6 (C6), Lancer 7 (CB), Lancer 8 (CK), Lancer 9 (CS) in 1988 - 2010; Mitsubishi Dingo 1 (CQ) in 1998 - 2003; Proton Arena 1 in 2002 - 2009; Proton Saga 1 in 1985 - 2008; Proton Satria 1 in 1994 - 2005 and 4 more (see the full list above).
What are the common problems of the Mitsubishi 4G15?
The trademark problem of the Orion engine family is throttle wear, which is expressed in increased or, most often, floating idle speeds. And several organizations at once sell remanufactured dampers for such units. Thin oil scraper rings usually lie at 100,000 km and oil consumption appears. Sometimes decoking is enough to get rid of the oil burner, sometimes a simple replacement of the rings, but by 200,000 km piston wear is often encountered and one cannot do without a major overhaul. All known problems.
