MitsubishiGalant20053.8L/mitsubishi/galant/2005/3-8l/

2005 Mitsubishi Galant — 3.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2005 Galant 3.8L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 3.8LTransmission Automatic (S4)

The 2005 Mitsubishi Galant, a passenger car powered by a 3.8L engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, delivers an EPA-rated 17 city/25 highway mpg and requires 4.9 quarts of 5W-20 or 10W-30 oil. Within the model’s broader 1990–2012 reliability history—where owner complaints peaked at 263 in 1994 and bottomed at just three in 2011—the 2005 model year recorded 26 total complaints, with structure as the top concern, alongside three recalls, placing it in a moderate position that researchers should note as a transitional point before the line’s later, more reliable years.

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 economy17/25/19 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-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMZ690072 alt MZ690116
Engine air filterMR571396
Fuel filterMN176269
Spark plugMN163236 alt MN158596
Front wiper bladesMZ690946 alt MZ693021
Serpentine beltMN187016 alt MN187015
ThermostatMD315301 alt MD350415

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 / combined17 / 25 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume101 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 2005 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
2004GTS Sedan 3.8L V66.70 sec15.30 sec230 hpFWD
2004GTS Sedan 3.8L V67.20 sec15.35 sec230 hpFWD
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

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
Automatic Transmission FluidMitsubishi Diamond Queen SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.7
Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.9 qt

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
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
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 Bracket28 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle74 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle44 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0039 in / 0.0016 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; 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 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (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 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.

Federal filings show a steep downward arc from the elevated activity of 1999-2003, when complaints ranged from 139 to 237 and recalls reached as high as 11 annually, into a sustained low-activity phase beginning in 2004. The 2005 model lands firmly in that quieter period, with only 26 complaints—less than half the 61 filed in 2004 and well below the triple-digit figures of the prior era—alongside 46 TSBs and zero investigations. Yet 2005 registered three recalls, exceeding the single recall recorded for 2004, 2006, and 2007, even as surrounding years maintained similarly muted complaint volumes. Leading complaint categories for 2005 include structure and hydraulic service brakes, with two reports each for tires and air bags, plus one crash-related and one fire-related complaint, though the federal data does not specify root causes. Given its position in the low-complaint tail of the record, the 2005 Galant is a relatively favorable used-car prospect, provided a buyer verifies that the three recalls have been addressed.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
46
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
26
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 26 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Tires2
Air Bags2
Steering2
Suspension,Unknown Or Other1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Engine & Engine Cooling,Equipment1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 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…

08V276000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 20/06/2008

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 73,000 MY 2004-2006 GALLANT PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING VEHICLE USE, THE IGNITION KEY INTERLOCK CABLE (WHICH IS A COMPONENT OF THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM) MAY ALLOW THE INTERLOCKING CAM TO FALL FORWARD… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CORRECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE REPORTED CONDITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 46 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 2005 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 2005 Galant have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.8L get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 25 highway / 19 combined mpg.