4D56T (Pajero 2.5 turbo-diesel) reliability?

baxter · Last edited by baxter on Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:08 am; edited 1 time in total

I'm looking putting a 4D56T (ie the 2.5 turbo diesel engine from a Pajero/Shogun etc) into my Niva.

But I have no idea about the reliability of the Mitsi diesels. My mechanic buddy has a simple rule for diesels "If it starts with an 'M' don't buy it" (and he's a big Mitsi fan).

However, I'm aware some models of diesel are worse than others and wondered how good/bad the 4D56 family was?

If it shits heads anything like as regularly as the Toyota 2.4s etc I'm completely not interested. But if it's the best diesel Mitsi ever made, I sure could be... Please let me know.

PS - also anyone know if the Pajero 2.5 diesel transfer-case has got a centre diff-lock? It'd be pretty useless in the Niva if it hasn't.

paj nut · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:52 am Post subject:

if you want to tow get the 2.8 . 2,5 heads are soft and have timeing belt issues, balance belt snaps then takes the timing belt with it then head ect
i have had a 2.5 for 5years now and onto my 7th engine!! long story lol

but the 2.8 are timing chains better power and more reliable
if you get a short wheel base most dont have rear diff lock but the long wheel base exceed has them as standard you can swap the rear diffs no problem as i did, i used a v6 3tlr petrol one
most pajeros have centre diff lock thats what makes them 4wd other than that they are just rear wheel drive standard
hope this helps mate

baxter · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

Aye cheers, good to know about the centre diff-lock - that will be essential in a Niva install (they don't have/need locking front hubs).

Does the 2.8 have the same bell-housing patter as the 2.5?
Or indeed if the 4G petrol family of engine will bolt on to the 4D housing?

bigt · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:20 am Post subject:

I have got 192,000 miles on my 4D56 turbo.......keep it maintained and it will last forever. Balance belts have been known to take cam belts off......but only if they are not changed every 54,000 miles. Some run them without the balance belts and have no problems.

paj nut · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject:

yeah loads run without the balance belt but they are there for a reason mate, good to see yours is ok running good,
i have fitted the petrol auto box to my diesel swb there the same box but the bellhousing for the 2.8 defo dont fit i tried lol

k4 · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject:

if your going to all the trouble of fitting a big diesel ,i wouldnt bother with the paj unit unlesss its free,its not powerfull the gear box is far to long for the niva and there not to cheap,best route i think would be the fourtrak 2.8 or the trooper 2.8 both are cheaper and more powerfull with smaller gearboxs,the fourtrak one is bigger on the n/s and the trooper is bigger on the o/s of the centre line of the engine .see whats best for your engine bay ,trooper has the best engine and both will run for ever ,good luck

bigt · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:31 am Post subject:

loopyscrew · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject:

padjy · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject:

my 2.5 snapped the belt, theyre good engines if theyre well looked after but like kida says, they are bloody expensive! id got for a land rover diesel if it will fit , theyres plenty of them about, usually because the rest of the landy has fallen to bits first! Laughing

but theyre a lot cheaper for bits and it you go for a 200tdi probably less complicated! Wink

ExtremeDelica · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:14 pm Post subject:

I have the 2.8 unit...

love it..

BUT

if your doing a conversion I'd look at the isuzu or Daihatsu unit as these are commonly used when re-powering vehicles