Specs, fluids & service · 1986–1999
Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon (L300 4WD) specs, fluids and service intervals
The numbers you need in the garage, on one page: spec sheet, capacities and service intervals, wheels and tires, and the parts to order. Sourced from owners, specialists and the factory; tags marked confirm in manual haven't been checked against a factory source yet.
Spec sheet
| CHASSIS CODES (4WD) | P23W 2.0 petrol · P24W 2.4 petrol · P25W diesel · P35W diesel high roof |
|---|---|
| PRODUCTION | June 1986 – October 1999 (Japan catalogue) |
| ASSEMBLY | Nagoya, Japan |
| ENGINE (DIESEL) | 4D56 2,476 cc SOHC turbo-diesel I4, no intercooler |
| OUTPUT | 85 PS (63 kW) at 4,200 rpm · 196 N·m (145 lb-ft) at 2,000 rpm |
| TRANSMISSION | 5-speed manual · 4-speed automatic (from August 1988) |
| DRIVE | Part-time 4WD, two-speed transfer case, auto-locking front hubs |
| SUSPENSION | Double wishbone + torsion bars front · leaf-sprung live axle rear |
| WHEELBASE | 2,240 mm (88.2 in) |
| LENGTH × WIDTH × HEIGHT | 4,485 × 1,695 × 1,975 mm (Aero Roof) / 2,090 mm (High Roof); 4,460 mm long before August 1990 |
| CURB WEIGHT | 1,600–1,960 kg (3,530–4,320 lb) by engine, roof and gearbox |
| STOCK TYRES · WHEELS | 215SR15 on 6J x 15 · 6 x 139.7 mm |
By year
| YEARS | PLATFORM | ENGINE | OUTPUT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1986 – Aug 1988 | P23W · P25W | 2.0 G63B petrol / 2.5 4D56 turbo-diesel | 115 PS / 85 PS | Five-speed manual only. Aero Roof and High Roof, 4,460 mm long. |
| Aug 1988 – 1990 | P25W · P35W | 2.5 4D56 turbo-diesel | 85 PS · 196 N·m | Four-speed automatic added for the 4WD diesel; automatic diesels get a twin-tank 75 L fuel system. |
| Aug 1989 – May 1994 | P24W | 2.4 4G64 MPI petrol | Not confirmed | Replaced the 2.0 in the 4WD range. Gulliver's catalogue repeats the 2.0's 115 PS figure, which we couldn't verify. |
| Aug 1990 – May 1994 | P25W · P35W | 2.5 4D56 turbo-diesel | 85 PS · 196 N·m | Facelift to 4,485 mm long. Super Exceed added; Chamonix and Jasper specials. |
| May 1994 – Oct 1999 | P25W · P35W | 2.5 4D56 turbo-diesel | 85 PS · 196 N·m | Sold alongside the Space Gear as GLX and X diesels (the X also in 2WD), plus Active World specials in 1996–97. |
| 1987–1990 (US) | Mitsubishi Van / Wagon | 2.4 4G64 petrol | 107 hp | The only version sold new in the US: two-wheel drive, petrol, left-hand drive. LS Wagon added for 1990–91. |
Fluids, capacities & service intervals
Treat any imported Star Wagon as unserviced until you see receipts, and don't take an importer's 'fully serviced' at face value. GearJunkie notes that good importers do the timing belt, water pump, hoses, glow plugs and fluids. The capacities below come from Liqui Moly's lookup, which uses European data for the L300 2.5 TD 4WD (1987–94). Confirm them in the workshop manual for your frame number, because automatics, twin-tank vans and Japanese-market specs differ.
| ITEM | SPEC / CAPACITY | INTERVAL | NOTES & PARTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | Diesel-rated 15W-40 (among the grades Liqui Moly lists) · 4.9 L plus 0.7 L for the filter | Every 5,000 km (3,000 mi) or 6 months | That's Liqui Moly's normal interval, and the one veteran Delica.ca owners use. Some owners quote a larger total fill, so use the dipstick.Oil filter by frame number · Megazip ↗ |
| Timing belt, balance-shaft belt, tensioners & water pump | 4D56: two belts, change together | 100,000 km on a sound engine; owners use 70,000–90,000 km on old ones | No receipt means do it now. The balancer belt part number changed in May 1993.Balancer belt MD310484 (May 1993-on) · Megazip ↗Balancer belt MD363481 (earlier) · Megazip ↗ |
| Glow plugs | 6 V plugs for the super-quick glow system: Mitsubishi MD092392 or NGK 2161 | When starting gets slow, or on any van without records | Generic 6 V plugs often don't work with the factory controller.Mitsubishi glow plug MD092392 · Megazip ↗ |
| Fuel filter & injection-pump inlet screen | confirm in manual | Fuel filter on purchase, then per manual | Bleed the system afterwards. One Delica.ca thread traces high EGTs and a sluggish van to a clogged banjo filter at the injection pump inlet.Fuel filter by frame number · Megazip ↗ |
| Air filter | Panel element; the housing is under the driver's seat | On purchase, then per manual | Delica.ca's first advice for low power is to check the air filter (and battery terminals).Air filter element by frame number · Megazip ↗ |
| Coolant | ≈10 L (10.6 US qt); ≈10.5 L with rear heater | Every 40,000 km or 48 months | The cooling system protects the head gasket. Check the radiator, fans, thermostat and hoses, not just the coolant.Thermostat, hoses and radiator cap by frame number · Megazip ↗ |
| Automatic transmission fluid & screen | Dexron II per manual (Dexron III is the usual substitute) · ≈4 L pan drop, ≈7 L total | Drain-and-fill on purchase; change the screen if shifts are harsh | An owner who tried Dexron VI went back to Dexron III. Pan bolts are only about 4.5 N·m.AT oil strainer and pan gasket by frame number · Megazip ↗ |
| Manual gearbox oil | ≈2.0 L · 75W-85 GL-4 (manual; 75W-90 listed for Europe) | Check 20,000 km; change every 80,000 km | One owner reports better shifting with a GL-4 than a GL-5 gear oil.Drain and fill plug gaskets by frame number · Megazip ↗ |
| Transfer case | ≈2.2 L · 75W-85 GL-4 per the manual quoted on Delica.ca (Liqui Moly lists 75W-90 GL-4/5) | On purchase, then with the gearbox | Rarely changed on imports.Transfer case plug gaskets and seals by frame number · Megazip ↗ |
| Front & rear differentials | Front ≈1.1 L, rear ≈1.8 L · GL-5 85W-90 (or 80W); LSD-rated oil in a limited-slip rear | Change every 80,000 km (40,000 km in severe use) | Spin-test the rear axle to find out whether you have an LSD before you buy oil.Differential plug gaskets by frame number · Megazip ↗ |
| Power steering fluid | ATF · ≈0.9 L | Flush on purchase | Power steering hoses and reservoir parts by frame number · Megazip ↗ |
| Brake & clutch fluid | DOT 3 or DOT 4 | Every 40,000 km or 48 months | The hydraulic clutch shares the fluid type.Brake pads, shoes and hydraulic parts by frame number · Megazip ↗ |
| Automatic locking hubs | Clean and regrease | About as often as you change brake pads | Advice from a long-time Delica.ca member. Hubs that gum up fail to lock when you need them.Free-wheel hub parts by frame number · Megazip ↗ |
| Front end & subframe nuts | Grease ball joints with nipples; check the 17 mm rear-subframe nuts | At every oil change | Loose subframe nuts cause 'the classic L300 clunk'.Upper ball joint MR241623 · Megazip ↗ |
Capability
| Towing | No factory figure found Owners tow light trailers, typically up to about 1 tonne; one says no more than 3,000 lb for long distances |
|---|---|
| Fuel tank | 60 L (15.9 US gal) or 75 L (19.8 US gal) 75 L on automatic diesels, which use a twin-tank system, and on some later petrol vans (Gulliver; Delica.ca) |
| Ground clearance | 210 mm (8.3 in) GLX and up on 215SR15; 185 mm on base grades with 14-inch tyres |
| Curb weight | 1,600–1,960 kg (3,530–4,320 lb) From a 2.0 petrol manual GLX to a Super Exceed Crystal Lite automatic |
| Dimensions | 4,485 × 1,695 × 1,975 / 2,090 mm Aero / High Roof, after August 1990; 4,460 mm long before |
| Wheelbase | 2,240 mm (88.2 in) |
| Turning radius | 5.0 m (16.4 ft) minimum 1990 Exceed catalogue figure |
| Fuel economy | ≈10–12.8 L/100 km (18–23 US mpg) Real-world owner reports, diesel |
| Top speed | ≈140 km/h (87 mph) Per Crankshaft Culture; owners cruise at 60–65 mph |
Wheels & tires
| Factory tire | 215SR15 on 6J x 15 steel or alloy wheels (4WD GLX and up) · 195SR14 on base XL / X 4WD grades with lower ride height |
|---|---|
| Bolt pattern | 6x139.7 (6x5.5") |
| Center bore | 110 mm |
| Lug thread | M12x1.5 |
| Biggest tire · Stock | 30x9.50R15 (or 235/75R15) |
| Biggest tire · 2 in | 31x10.50R15 |
| Biggest tire · 2 in+ | LT235/85R16 |
Open the Delica Star Wagon (L300 4WD) in the tire fitment tool →
Common Delica Star Wagon (L300 4WD) repairs
- Timing and balance-shaft belts (4D56)DIFFICULTY 3 / 5
- Head gasket or cracked cylinder headDIFFICULTY 4 / 5
- Glow plugs and the 'super-quick glow' controllerDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Valve cover gasket and half-moon sealDIFFICULTY 1 / 5
- Automatic transmission filter screen and fluidDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Find and seal footwell water leaksDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Front-end clunk: subframe nuts, anti-roll bar bushes and upper ball jointsDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Fit a LOKKA front lockerDIFFICULTY 4 / 5
Always confirm torque figures, fluids and capacities against the factory service manual for your VIN. See the disclaimer; some parts links are affiliate links.