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1985 Mitsubishi Mighty Max

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1985 Mighty Max.

The 1985 Mitsubishi Mighty Max, built on Mitsubishi’s mid‑size pickup platform, is equipped with an engine that requires 4.6 qt of oil and can operate on a range of viscosities—from 20W‑20 up through 20W‑50—providing flexibility for varied climates. In the limited data available, owners reported only two complaints overall, with the most frequent issue centered on engine and engine‑cooling components, and the model recorded zero recalls, underscoring a solid baseline of dependability. Although the broader complaint history for the Mighty Max series spans 1990‑1996, the 1985 year sits at the early end of the line, where its low complaint count suggests it remains one of the more reliable iterations in the model’s overall reliability record.

Model year1985 1984 1983

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type20W-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50OEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses 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.

Tire size4WD:P225-75R15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	MZ690116 alt MD069783
Engine air filter	MD604887 alt MD604880
Fuel filter	MB129591 alt MB220900
Spark plug	MS851188
Front wiper blades	MB415739
Serpentine belt	MB076213 alt MZ690276
Thermostat	MD094120 alt MD972903

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.6 qt of 20W-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 engine oil, 85W-90 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3 · DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	85W-90 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.2 Pints,
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	ABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	4.6 qt
Engine Oil	ABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	3.7 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 3,000 mi.

Every 3,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 5,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 mi	Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 10,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 mi	Throttle Position Sensor (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Intake Duct (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level)
Every 50,000 mi	Air Injection System (inspect) · Air Injection System Solenoid Control Valve Air (replace) · Carburetor (inspect) · Distributor Assembly (inspect) · EGR Valve (replace) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect)

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 federal record for the Mitsubishi Mighty Max shows a complaint peak of 11 in 1991, followed by a steady decline to just 3 by 1996, with recalls limited to one each in 1990 and 1991 and no investigations across any year. The 1985 model year itself registers only two complaints—one in Engine & Engine Cooling and one in Fuel System, Gasoline—with zero crash or fire incidents, though the data does not specify root causes. Since the available record begins in 1990, the 1985 model predates the complaint peak and subsequent decline, but its own minimal reporting suggests it may have avoided the issues that surfaced in later years. The absence of recalls and investigations for the 1985 model year, combined with the overall downward trend in complaints after 1991, implies a relatively trouble-free vehicle. This appears to be a good year to buy, but given the age, a pre-purchase inspection is still advisable.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’94 ’95 ’96

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Fuel System, Gasoline1

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 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TT253	2019-11-26	Equipment	This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-19-00-008	2019-07-30	Equipment	This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes…
TT237	2018-02-26	Equipment	This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-13-42A-002	2013-01-29	Structure	This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section…

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 Mighty Max. 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.

Vehicles taking 4.6 qt Engine oil filter MZ690116 Engine air filter MD604887 Fuel filter MB129591 Spark plug MS851188

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1985 Mighty Max take?

4.6 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-20, 20W-40, 20W-50, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30, 10W-40, 10W-50, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-20, 5W-30, 5W-40, per the factory manual.

Does the 1985 Mighty Max have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.