Mitsubishi›Mighty Max›1987›2.6L/mitsubishi/mighty-max/1987/2-6l/

1987 Mitsubishi Mighty Max — 2.6L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Mighty Max 2.6L.

Engine 2.6L

The 1987 Mitsubishi Mighty Max is a 2.6L pickup whose engine lubrication specs stand out for their flexibility, calling for 4.6 quarts of oil and accepting viscosities across 20W-20, 20W-40, and 20W-50. Owner feedback for this model year is sparse—just five total complaints, with seat belts the leading area, and a single recall on record. Set against the model's broader complaint history from 1990 through 1996, which ranges from a high of 11 complaints in 1991 to a low of 3 in 1996, the 1987 sits comfortably toward the quieter end, indicating that this early 2.6L example carries solid reliability credentials for researchers.

Model year1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 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
Engine air filter	MD604880 alt MD604887
Fuel filter	MB433774
Spark plug	MS851188
Front wiper blades	MB415739
Serpentine belt	MB239498 alt MZ690276
Thermostat	MD972903 alt MD184011

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
Power Steering Fluid	Use Mitsubishi PS fluid

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 every 60,000 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Jet Valve (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level)
Every 50,000 mi	Carburetor (inspect) · EGR Valve (replace) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Air Injection System (inspect) · Air Injection System Solenoid Control Valve Air (replace) · Distributor Assembly (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Thermostatically Controlled Air Cleaner Assembly (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 1987 Mitsubishi Mighty Max carries 5 federal complaints, with zero crash or fire incidents, and a specific concentration in Seat Belts (4 of 5 complaints), though the data does not specify the root cause. Because the provided federal record begins in 1990, the 1987 model predates the documented baseline, but its complaint volume is favorably lower than the 7 complaints recorded for the 1990 model year. Across the 1990-1996 generation data, complaints trend upward to a peak of 11 in 1991 before steadily declining to 3 by 1996, while recalls are limited to 1990 and 1991 and TSBs progressively increase from 5 to 19. The 1987 model sits before this mid-generation complaint peak, implying it sidestepped the most heavily flagged production years. Given its low complaint count and lack of severe incident reports compared to subsequent years, the 1987 Mighty Max is a relatively safe used purchase, provided you thoroughly inspect the seat belt assemblies.

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 5 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Seat Belts4

Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V103004Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 24/05/1995

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY. Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD…

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 MD604880 Fuel filter MB433774 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 1987 Mighty Max 2.6L 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 1987 Mighty Max have open recalls?

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