MitsubishiGalant20093.8L/mitsubishi/galant/2009/3-8l/

2009 Mitsubishi Galant — 3.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Galant 3.8L. Covers both the standard and High Output 3.8L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 3.8LTransmission Automatic (S5)

The 2009 Mitsubishi Galant 3.8L is a passenger car equipped with a 3.8L engine and Automatic (S5) transmission capable of EPA estimates of 16/25/19 mpg. Routine care for this setup involves 4.9 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-20 API oil, and the model year proceeded with 0 recalls despite 16 total owner complaints centered on Air Bags. When viewed against the model's 1990-2012 complaint history, this figure places the 2009 variant far below the 1994 high of 263 complaints while remaining above the 2011 low of 3, indicating a moderate reliability standing within the lineage.

Model year2010200920082007200620052004

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-20 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 MZ690072. 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-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMZ690072
Engine air filterMR571396
Fuel filterMN176269 alt 1770A122
Spark plugMN163236 alt MN158596
Front wiper bladesMZ693021 alt MZ690946
Serpentine beltMN187015 alt MN187016
ThermostatMD315301 alt MD350415

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S5)

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 2009 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 10W-30 / 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidMitsubishi Diamond Queen SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.9
Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity4.9 qt
Power Steering FluidGenuine Mitsubishi PS fluid
Power Steering FluidUse Mitsubishi PS fluid

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts136 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts54 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsBolts: 18 ft-lbs, nuts: 15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts33-39 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts29-37 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts29-37 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)680 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.30-1.38 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.70 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature187-193 °F
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
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.33 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 5 stages
158 ft. lbs.58 ft. lbs
2Loosen all bolts completely in reverse order.
315 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
490 degrees.90 degrees
590 degrees.; Replace any cylinder head bolts that exceed the maximum length 99.4 mm (3.91).90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
176-84 ft. lbs.76–84 ft. lbs
2Loosen all bolts.
376-84
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
176-84 ft. lbs.76–84 ft. lbs
2Loosen all bolts.
376-84

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; spark plugs at 105,000 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) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Timing 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 2009 Mitsubishi Galant represents a notable low point in complaints within its generation, with only 16 reported—significantly below the 24 seen in 2006 and 2007 and a sharp decline from the 2004–2005 average. Unlike the 2004 model year (61 complaints) or the 2010 refresh (9 complaints), the 2009 saw no recalls or investigations, aligning with the broader trend of diminishing federal activity as the generation aged. Air bag-related issues dominate the complaint profile (10 of 16), though the data doesn’t specify root causes, and crash-related complaints (3) remain modest. The absence of fire-related incidents further distinguishes the 2009 from earlier years with sporadic thermal events. Positioned near the end of its lifecycle, the 2009’s record suggests Mitsubishi had largely resolved earlier reliability concerns, though the air bag complaints warrant pre-purchase inspection. **Takeaway: This is one of the stronger years to buy, provided the air bag system is verified functional.**

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
39
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
16
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 16 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags8
Structure2
Air Bags,Seat Belts,Wheels1
Air Bags,Structure1
Structure,Unknown Or Other1
Tires,Wheels1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Power Train,Wheels1
Tires1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 39 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-11-66-001REV2023-03-07Electrical SystemThis Technical Service Bulletin contains technical information and troubleshooting for…

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

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VIN
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Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 2009 Galant 3.8L take?

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

Does the 2009 Galant have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 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.