Production 1972–present | Also called Astron | |
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The Mitsubishi Astron or 4G5 engine, is a series of straight-four internal combustion engines first built by Mitsubishi Motors in 1972. Engine displacement ranged from 1.8 to 2.6 litres, making it one of the largest four-cylinder engines of its time. It became the first Japanese production engine to combine both electronic fuel injection (EFI) and turbocharging.
Contents
- Design
- 4G51
- 4G52
- 4G53
- 4G54
- ECI Multi
- Carburetor
- 4G55
- 4D55
- Non Turbo
- Turbo TC05 non wastegated turbo
- Turbo TD04 wastegated turbo
- 4D56
- Non intercooled Turbo
- Non intercooled Turbo TD04 Turbo
- Intercooled Turbo TD04 water cooled Turbo
- Intercooled Turbo TF035HL2 1st Generation DI D
- Intercooled Turbo 2nd Generation DI D
- Intercooled Turbo 3rd Generation DI D with variable geometry turbo
- References
Design
It employed a hemispherical cylinder head, chain-driven single overhead camshaft (SOHC) and eight valves (two per cylinder). United States passenger car versions had a small secondary intake valve referred to as the "Jet Valve". This valve induced swirl in the intake charge, enabling the use of leaner fuel/air mixtures for lower emissions. It was designed as a cartridge containing the valve spring and seat which simply screwed into a threaded hole in the head, similar to a spark plug but inside the cam cover. The rocker arms for the intake valve were widened on the valve end to accommodate the cartridge, which was equipped with a very soft valve spring in order to avoid wear on the camshaft intake lobe. Modifications to the head were thereby reduced as the Jet Valve negated the necessity for a three-valve-per-cylinder design.
In 1975, the Astron 80 introduced a system dubbed "Silent Shaft": the first use of twin balance shafts in a modern engine. It followed the designs of Frederick Lanchester, whose original patents Mitsubishi had obtained, and proved influential as Fiat/Lancia, Saab and Porsche all licensed this technology.
The 4D5 engine is a range of four-cylinder belt-driven overhead camshaft diesel engines which were part of the "Astron" family, and introduced in 1980 in the then new fifth generation Galant. As the first turbodiesel to be offered in a Japanese passenger car, it proved popular in the emerging SUV and minivan markets where Mitsubishi was highly successful, until superseded by the 4M4 range in 1993. However, production of the 4D5 (4D56) continued throughout the 1990s as a lower-cost option than the more modern powerplants. Until now it is still in production, but made into a modern powerplant by putting a common rail direct injection fuel system into the engine.
4G51
The 4G51 displaces 1.85 L (1,850 cc).
Applications:
4G52
The 4G52 displaces 2.0 L (1,995 cc). Peak power for a 1975 Canter is 100 PS (74 kW), but power increased to as much as 125 PS (92 kW) for the twin-carb version fitted to the Galant GTO GSR and A115 Galant GS-II.
Used a 84.0x90.0mm bore and stroke. In Australia this engine was used in the Sigma, Scorpion, L200 and L300.
Applications:
4G53
The SOHC eight-valve 4G53 displaces 2.4 L (2,384 cc), with bore × stroke at 88.0 mm × 98.0 mm. Peak power is 110 PS (81 kW) at 5,000 rpm, as fitted to the Rosa bus or the Canter cabover truck. This engine shares its dimensions with the contemporary Fuso 4DR1 diesel engine.
4G54
The SOHC eight-valve 4G54 (also known as the G54B) displaces 2.6 L (2,555 cc), with bore × stroke at 91.1 mm × 98.0 mm. The G54B had a cylinder head with additional jet valves to improve emissions (MCA-Jet system). The engine was fitted to various Mitsubishi models from 1978 to 1997 and to the American Chrysler K-cars and their derivatives between 1981 and 1987. It was primarily set up longitudinally for use in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive platforms but also as a transverse engine in the front-wheel drive platform of the Mitsubishi Magna and Chrysler K platform. Chrysler commonly marketed the engine "Hemi", whereas the Australian-made version was marketed as the "Astron II" and featured "Balance Shaft" technology, which was subsequently licensed to Porsche and other automakers. The original engine featured a Milkuni two-barrel carburetor with a secondary vacuum actuator. Later versions adopted EFI and Japan's first production EFI and turbo engine as fitted to the Mitsubishi Starion. Chrysler commonly paired this engine with its A470 3-speed automatic transmission; in Australia, Mitsubishi adapted it to a 5-speed manual transmission and its "ELC" (Electronic Control) 4-speed automatic transmission, featuring electronic overdrive. Chrysler eventually replaced the 4G54 with its own 2.5 L engine, whereas Mitsubishi replaced it with a 2.4 L engine codenamed 4G64.
Specifications:
ECI-Multi
Multi-Point Fuel Injection
Carburetor
Single two-Venturi downdraught carburetor. 85 kW (114 hp) at 5,000 rpm (91 RON), 198 N·m (146 lb·ft) at 3,000 rpm (91 RON). Compression ratio: 8.8:1
Applications:
4G55
The 4G55 displaces 2.3 L (2,346 cc).
4D55
Displacement - 2.3 L (2,346 cc)
Bore - 91.1 mm
Stroke - 90.0 mm
Fuel Type - Diesel
Valves per cylinder - 2
Non-Turbo
Turbo (TC05 non-wastegated turbo)
Turbo (TD04 wastegated turbo)
4D56
Displacement - 2.5 L (2,476 cc)
Bore - 91.1 mm
Stroke - 95.0 mm
Fuel type - Diesel
This engine is also built by Hyundai in South Korea, meaning it also sees use in some products made by their Kia subsidiary.
Non-Turbo
Non-intercooled Turbo
Non-intercooled Turbo (TD04 Turbo)
Intercooled Turbo (TD04 water-cooled Turbo)
Also known as Hyundai D4BH
Intercooled Turbo TF035HL2 (1st Generation DI-D)
Intercooled Turbo (2nd Generation DI-D)
Intercooled Turbo (3rd Generation DI-D with variable geometry turbo)
With manual transmission
With automatic transmission