MitsubishiGalant20063.8L/mitsubishi/galant/2006/3-8l/

2006 Mitsubishi Galant — 3.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Galant 3.8L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 3.8LTransmission Automatic (S4)

The 2006 Mitsubishi Galant is a midsize passenger car built on the long‑running Galant platform and powered by a 3.8‑liter engine paired with an S4 automatic transmission, delivering EPA ratings of 16 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined while requiring 4.9 qt of 5W‑20 or 10W‑30 oil. Its modest total of 24 owner complaints—most frequently centered on the electrical system—and a single recall place it well below the model‑line peak of 263 complaints in 1994 and near the low point of just three complaints recorded in 2011. Consequently, the 2006 model sits in a relatively stable portion of the Galant’s reliability timeline, offering researchers a reference year that reflects the brand’s gradual improvement after its earlier trouble spots.

Model year2010200920082007200620052004

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/25/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 550 CCA battery, OE oil filter MZ690116. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHEADOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-60R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMZ690116 alt MZ690072
Engine air filterMR571396
Fuel filterMN176269
Spark plugMN158596 alt MN163236
Front wiper bladesMZ690946 alt MZ693021
Serpentine beltMN187015 alt MN187016
ThermostatMD350415 alt MD315301

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S4)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189.8 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase107.1 in
Curb weight3351 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 61 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 25 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume99 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

No 2006 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

6.1–7.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.10 sec — 2007 Ralliart Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2007Ralliart Sedan 3.8L V66.10 sec14.80 sec258 hpFWD
2007Ralliart Sedan 3.8L V66.10 sec14.40 sec258 hpFWD
2007Ralliart Sedan 3.8L V66.40 sec14.90 sec258 hpFWD
2004GTS Sedan 3.8L V66.70 sec15.30 sec230 hpFWD
2004GTS Sedan 3.8L V67.20 sec15.35 sec230 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.9 qt of 5W-20 / 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0-29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidMitsubishi Diamond Queen SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.9
Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.9 qt
Power Steering FluidGenuine Mitsubishi PS fluid
Power Steering FluidUse Mitsubishi PS fluid

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts134-140 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts54 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts33 ft-lbs
Main Bearings54 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0-29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs10 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Gap0.028-0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0-21.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.06-1.15 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity2.0 L
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance28
Engine Compression162
Engine Oil Pressure4.3 psi @ Idle, 43-100 psi @ 3500 rpm psi
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25-31 ft-lbs / 28-36 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle67-81 ft-lbs / 42-48 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0016 in / 0.0039 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.394 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.394 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.33 in / 0.96 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-9420 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
180 ft. lbs.80 ft. lbs
2Loosen all bolts.
380

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
At 105,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2006 Galant sits within the ninth generation (2004–2012), which opened with a spike of 61 complaints and 94 TSBs in 2004, then rapidly improved. By 2006, complaints had dropped to 24—matching the 2007 model and far below the generation’s peak—while recalls fell to just one, a pattern that continued through the generation’s end. The top complaint areas for 2006 are electrical (6), air bags (3), and visibility (2), but the data does not specify root causes. With only 4 crash complaints and 1 fire complaint, and no investigations, the 2006 Galant represents a mature point in the generation’s quality arc, offering a notably lower problem rate than the launch year. This year is a good buy, as it avoids the early teething issues while still being early enough to benefit from the generation’s overall decline in complaints and recalls.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
41
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
24
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 24 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System6
Air Bags3
Visibility2
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting1
Structure1
Electrical System,Equipment1
Air Bags,Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08V454000Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank AssemblyReported 09/09/2008

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 45,988 MY 2005-2007 ENDEAVOR, GALANT, ECLIPSE COUPE, AND MY 2007 ECLIPSE SPYDER VEHICLES. THE BRACKET THAT IS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAP MAY HAVE BEEN… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK STRAP MOUNTING BRACKET HAS SPLITTING BEYOND A SPECIFIC LIMIT. VEHICLES WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE SPLITTING WILL BE REPAIRED…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 41 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DEALER LETTER2023-07-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-23-00-0042023-04-24StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for…
TSB-23-00-0012023-04-24EquipmentThis Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the…
DEALER LETTER2023-04-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-22-54-0032022-04-07Exterior LightingThis Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Galant. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2006 Galant 3.8L take?

4.9 qt of BELOW 100 degreesF 5W-20 SM API, ABOVE 0 degreesF 10W-30 SM API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2006 Galant have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.8L get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 25 highway / 19 combined mpg.