GDI Maintenance Information and Experience

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tin
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I don't yet own a Pajero iO, but one is on the way from Japan. I a little bit concerned with the GDI engine and wanted to know your experience and wisdom about caring and maintaining this engine. I am particularly interested in what engine oil you are using, what octane of fuel, what spark plugs. How you are dealing with carbon build up especially on the intake valves. Do you use any special cleaning methods, detergents? Have any of you installed an oil catch can? I have read a lot of mixed reviews and experiences and it is always difficult to understand in what circumstances are at play in the successes and failures of these engines. Please share your wisdom.

Valentin 

fordem
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I have a 98, 1.8 GDI

The answers to some of your questions will be dictated by where you're located and what vehicle you get - spark plugs for example - Mitsubishi did not spec a single plug for the 1.8 GDI engine, it varies by year - I can't tell you that one works better than another, but I might be able to tell you what plug is correct for your car based on the chassis number.

Oils - from memory, Mitsubishi specs a 10w30 oil, nothing special - having said that, there are a couple of companies, Shell being one that blend GDI specific oils which may or may not be available in your neck of the woods - they aren't in mine, and even if they were, I wouldn't be willing to pay the price - I have chosen to run a conventional (ie - non synthetic) 15w40 "all fleet" oil - all fleet meaning rated for use in both diesel & gasolene engines - I would have preferred a 10w40 but can't find one in that weight.  10w40 because of ambient temperatures - I am in a year round "summer" climate where daily temperatures can run into the high '90's, and I prefer the extra protection over a 10w30.

The reason behind chosing an all fleet is that diesel engine oils have higher levels of detergents & soot dispersant additives, I feel these are beneficial in a GDI application which, like a diesel, injects fuel directly into the combustion chamber - you will find that the GDI "stratified charge" system creates quite a bit of soot and oil darkens rapidly.  The 4G93 (1.8) and 4G94 (2.0) engines are also prone to lifter clatter, and hopefully the detergent properties of the oil will reduce sludging of oil galleys and clogging of lifter passages - I run the all fleet only in the GDI engine, other vehicles run on a 10w40 conventional oil.

Carbon buildup - I have not yet had to deal with - one suggestion is that you block the EGR passage with a blanking plate as EGR is one of the main sources of carbon in the intake - this may or may not result in a check engine light.

Fuel - use the highest grade you can get - the engine has a knock sensor and will retard the timing to suit lower grades, but the GDI engines were designed for premium low sulphur fuels - we only get one grade where I am, so I have no choice.

tin
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Thanks for all that

Thanks for all that information! The iO that I have ordered is also 1998 1.8 GDI 4G93 (we can import 15 years or older vehicles to Canada only).

That being said I will have to use two different viscosities of oil, probably something like 5w40 and 10w40 (winter and summer). It's a very interesting point you make about the similarities of GDI to a DI diesel system. If there is more soot and grime is a problem then the diesel oils should keep the engine cleaner. How long have you used the "all fleet" oil and what result have you had? Also I wonder how the GDI specific oil is different?

Blocking the EGR valve seems like a good idea. Have you done this on your iO? Blocking EGRs on 1990s inderect injection diesels certainly helps with economy and cleans up the exhaust. I will definately give it a go when the iO arrives. If there is a check engine light, it can be turned off with a resistor is the circuit easily enough.

Have you heard anything about oil catch cans and GDI? It's usually reserved for high performance (turbo) engines, but all engines have a little blowby and oil getting past the piston rings, maybe its a good idea to try it out and see how much oil it will collect?

I know that in Japan the premium grade gasoline is 100 RON, premium in North America is 91/92 AKI which is about 97 RON, we also have 94 AKI or 101 RON but it's more difficult to find. Both 97 and 101 would run fine, but I wonder if the higher octane would make a difference in economy with this engine. I know that the compression in the 4G93 is 12:1 which is quite high, but is it high enough to make use of 101 octane fuel? What octane fuel do you have where you live and what kind of milage do you get on this fuel?

Again thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience. It seems that there is a specific and correct way to treat these GDI engines to ensure that they last and operate like they were meant to and I'd like to know it. There should be some kind of GDI exploitation manual, but the manufactureres assume we're too dumb to understand...

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