Only manufactured between 1987 and 1993, the 0.5-liter, three-cylinder Mitsubishi 3G81 engine was found in popular Japanese kei vehicles like the Minica, Minicab, and Bravo. The device comes in five different versions, many of which have 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
You must be able to tune the Mikuni carburetor that comes with many engine versions.
Because of the occurrence of rings, owners on specialized forums most frequently complain about lubricant consumption.
It turns the crankshaft liners even with a short drive and low oil.
Keep an eye on the cooling system because any overheating can cause the cylinder head gasket to break here.
Additionally, make sure the timing belt is in good condition because the valves always bend when it breaks.