Mitsubishi 4D56 engine (Hyundai D4BH/D4BF)

Characteristics of 4D56/D4BH/D4BF engine

4D56, D4BH and D4BF engines are manufactured at Kyoto Engine Plant and Hyundai Ulsan Plant. These engines are known for their durability and efficiency. They are widely used in various car models due to their excellent performance and reliability.

Design and main parameters

These engines feature a cast iron cylinder block for high strength and durability. They are diesel, in-line engines with four cylinders. Depending on the modification, the engine can have two or four valves per cylinder, which improves the filling and mixture release process.

The piston stroke is 95 mm and the cylinder diameter is 91.1 mm. The engines have different compression ratios: 21.0, 17.0 or 16.5, which allows you to vary its power and economy. The engine displacement is 2477 cubic centimeters, which provides a good balance between power and fuel consumption.

Performance

4D56/D4BH/D4BF engines are available in various modifications, which differ in power and torque. Depending on the specific model, engine output ranges from 74 to 178 horsepower and torque from 142 to 400 Nm. This allows the engine to be adapted to different operating conditions and requirements of car owners.

Economy

One of the important aspects of these engines is their fuel efficiency. For example, for the Mitsubishi L200 with a 4D56 engine, fuel consumption is 10.7 liters per 100 kilometers in the city cycle, 7.5 liters on the highway and 8.7 liters in mixed mode. This makes the engine quite economical for its class.

Oil characteristics

Engines consume up to 1000 grams of oil per 1000 kilometers of mileage. It is recommended to use oils of different viscosity grades such as 5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40 and 15W-40. The volume of oil in the engine is 6.5 liters, and oil change is recommended every 7500 kilometers, although the factory interval is 15000 kilometers.

Reliability and operation

The operating temperature of the engine is 90 degrees Celsius, which is optimal for most diesel engines. In practice, the engine life exceeds 350 thousand kilometers, which confirms its high reliability.

Turbochargers

To improve performance and economy, the engines are equipped with various models of turbochargers such as IHI RHF4, MHI TD04-09B, MHI TD04-11G and MHI TF035HL. This allows for better performance under different engine operating modes.

Environmental Standards

These engines meet various environmental standards including Euro 2, Euro 3, Euro 4 and Euro 5. This makes them suitable for use in countries with different emission requirements.

Auto applications

The 4D56/D4BH/D4BF engines are widely used in various car models. They are installed in Mitsubishi L200/Triton, Pajero, Pajero Sport/Challenger, Delica, Space Gear, Strada, as well as Hyundai Galloper, Grace, Porter, Starex, Terracan and Kia Bongo. The wide range of applications for these engines is a testament to their versatility and reliability.

Reliability and repair of the engine 4D56 (D4BH, D4BF)

The engine was launched in May 1986 and the first car with it was Mitsubishi Pajero 1st generation. This engine replaced the 2.4-liter 4D55. The cylinder block of the new at that time 4D56 is cast iron, has 4 cylinders and in-line arrangement. Cylinder diameter is 91.1 mm, and there is a forged crankshaft with a piston stroke of 95 mm and 2 balancer shafts inside the block. The connecting rods are 158mm long and the compression height of the pistons is 48.7mm. As a result, we got 2.5 liters of working volume.

We covered the block with an aluminum cylinder head with swirl combustion chambers, with one camshaft and with 2 valves per cylinder. The intake valves are 40mm in diameter, the exhaust valves are 34mm, and the valve stem is 8mm thick.
Adjustment of valves for 4D56 is necessary every 15 thousand kilometers. On a cold engine the clearances are as follows: intake and exhaust 0.15 mm.

The camshaft rotates through the timing belt, it serves 90 thousand kilometers, then the timing belt must be replaced. If this is not done, the risk of its breakage with subsequent destruction of the rockers increases.

The 4D56 engine has Korean analogs from the Hyundai model range.

The first modifications of this engine were atmospheric and had 74 hp at 4200 rpm and 142 Nm of torque at 2500 rpm. Hyundai put them on its cars under the name D4BA and D4BX.

Then the production of turbo version of the 4D56 diesel began, where MHI TD04-09B was used as a supercharger. This increased power to 90 hp at 4200 rpm and torque to 197 Nm at 2000 rpm. The analog from Hyundai was called D4BF and was found on the Hyundai Galloper and Grace.

For Mitsubishi Pajero 2 used turbine TD04-11G.

After that, an intercooler was added and the power was increased to 104 hp at 4300 rpm, and torque reached 240 Nm at 2000 rpm. The second name of this engine is Hyundai D4BH.

In 2001, a model with common rail, with MHI TF035HL turbine and with intercooler was introduced. It also used new pistons and compression ratio was reduced from 21 to 17. This allowed to increase power to 114 hp at 4000 rpm, and torque to 247 Nm at 2000 rpm. These models received the designation DiD and they meet the requirements of environmental class Euro-3.

Since 2005, versions with DOHC head with 4 valves per cylinder and Common rail fuel injection of the 2nd generation have been available. The diameter of the intake valves here is 31.5 mm, the exhaust valves 27.6 mm, and the thickness of the valve stem is 6 mm.

Here you also need to adjust the valves every 90k miles. Valve clearances for 4D56 DOHC on cold are as follows: inlet valves 0.09 mm, exhaust valves 0.14 mm.

The first version was equipped with an IHI RHF4 turbine and developed power of 136 hp at 4000 rpm, and torque of 324 Nm at 2000 rpm.

The second version received IHI RHF4 turbine with variable geometry and pistons for compression ratio of 16.5. Power increased to 178 hp at 4000 rpm, and torque up to 400 Nm at 2000 rpm. (350 Nm at 1800 rpm for the automatic transmission). The exhaust of both engines fits into Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards, depending on the year of manufacture.

In 1996, this engine was removed from some cars and instead of it began to install 4M40. Production of the 4D56 is almost finished, it is put only on cars for certain countries. The successor came out in 2015 – it became the 4N15 engine.

Korean D4BH since 2001 was replaced by 2.5 CRDi D4CB.

Problems and disadvantages of Mitsubishi 4D56 diesel engines

• Extraneous Noises. One of the main causes is a dying crankshaft pulley that needs to be replaced.
• Oil leaks. Usually flow valve cover gasket, balancer shaft oil seals, crankshaft oil seals, camshaft oil seal, oil pan gasket, oil sensor. Oil leaking problems are classic for Mitsubishi 4D56 and its Hyundai D4BH, D4BF and D4BA counterparts.
• Smoke from the engine. For 4D56 most often the problem is unburned fuel (the smoke smells like diesel), the problem is usually in the injector atomizers, which need to be replaced.
• Cracks in the cylinder head. If you have bubbling antifreeze in the tank, then most likely, your head has come to an end. You need to buy a new one, without cracks, other options work worse.

It is important to check the condition of the balance shaft belt every 40-50 thousand kilometers and replace it in time. Breakage of this belt is fraught with its getting under the timing belt with all the consequences. To remove the balancer shafts is not the best idea, the probability of breaking the crankshaft at high revolutions increases.

The turbine here serves normally, about 300+ thousand kilometers. EGR valve is quickly clogged with carbon deposits, it should be cleaned after every 30 thousand kilometers or so.

You should also pour normal fuel here, especially for the 178-horsepower version, it will prolong its life.
In general, it is an ordinary old diesel, the resource of 4D56 almost always exceeds 300 thousand kilometers and with normal maintenance can go even 400+ thousand kilometers.

Tuning of 4D56 engine

Chip tuning

Such an old motor from the 80’s is not worth touching and trying to increase power, it is good that it drives at all. But you most likely will not stop it, so go to the tuning office, which will take chip tuning 4D56 and pour more evil firmware. The 115 hp version can be pumped up to 140-145 hp and add about 70-80 Nm of torque. The 136 hp 4D56 engine is chipped to 170-175 hp at 3700 rpm, and the torque increases to 350+ Nm at 1800-2400 rpm. The top-end model at 178 hp can give up to 210 hp at 4000 rpm and torque of 450+ Nm at 2100-2300 rpm.

ENGINE RATING: 4-