MitsubishiStarion19862.6L/mitsubishi/starion/1986/2-6l/

1986 Mitsubishi Starion — 2.6L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 Starion 2.6L.

Engine 2.6LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1986 Mitsubishi Starion is defined by its 2.6L engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, returning EPA fuel economy of 17 city, 22 highway, and 19 combined mpg and supported by a 4.6-quart oil capacity that accepts 20W-20, 20W-40, or 10W-30 viscosities. That mechanical package sits atop a notably sparse complaint record, with only two owner reports filed overall, seat belts emerging as the single concentrated problem area, and just one recall issued against the model year. For a researcher mapping the Starion's reliability history, the 1986 stands out as one of the lightest-touched entries in the lineup, an important marker of where the nameplate's quality story paused on solid ground.

Model year1989198819871986

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 / 10W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/22/19 mpgEPA · 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 filterMZ690116
Engine air filterMD620001 alt MD607648
Fuel filterMB504732
Spark plugMS851188
Front wiper bladesMB382526
Serpentine beltMD180581 alt MZ690276
ThermostatMD972903 alt MD184011

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 22 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent published road-test results.

8.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.10 sec — 1986 ESI-R Coupe
176 hpHorsepower (as tested)
223 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1986ESI-R Coupe 2.6L Turbo I-48.10 sec16.50 sec176 hpRWD
1985ESI Coupe 2.6L Turbo I-47.50 sec16.00 sec145 hpRWD
1985ESI Coupe 2.6L Turbo I-48.00 sec16.10 sec145 hpRWD
1983LS Coupe 2.6L Turbo I-48.62 sec16.54 sec145 hpRWD
1983LS Coupe 2.6L Turbo I-49.00 sec17.00 sec145 hpRWD
1983LS Coupe 2.6L Turbo I-49.20 sec17.00 sec145 hpRWD

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 / 10W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-20 · 20W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.6 qt
Power Steering FluidUse 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 3,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 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 3,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 6,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect)
At 15,000 miThrottle Position Sensor (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Jet Valve (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 50,000 miAir Intake Duct (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miClutch Hydraulic System (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1986 Mitsubishi Starion dominate in one area — the seat belts, 1 of 2 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the seat belts are also the target of recall 95V-103 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the seat belts pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
5
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Seat Belts1
Fuel System, Gasoline1

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 5 of 5 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TT2532019-11-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-19-00-0082019-07-30EquipmentThis is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes…
TT2372018-02-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-13-42A-0022013-01-29StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section…
TSB97110031997-05-01Unknown Or OtherVALVE LASH ADJUSTER PROCEDURES - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TW

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 Starion. 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 1986 Starion 2.6L take?

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

Does the 1986 Starion have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 2.6L get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined mpg.