Is the 4 Cylinder 420A engine in an eclipse GS reliable?

Question

compared to a GS-T engine, they're different I'm just not sure if it makes a huge difference.

Answer 1

there is no real difference in reliability wth either engineFollow scheduled maintenance, and religiously change your timing belts!!! If you do get a turbo, co not forget to give the motor a 1-2 minute cool-down period. the turbo bearings are liquid cooled and oil lubricated and need this time so it does not cook the bearings. When changing the timeing belt on either engine, change the hydraulic automatic belt tensioner. it is often overlooked and can cause the timing to jump and junk your engine!

Answer 2

The 420a is a Chrysler engine. It's fine. Non-turbo, pretty slow, pretty reliable when taken care of. If you're wondering why Mitsu was using a Chrys engine, look up what DSM means. Basically a joint partnership.

The gst/x engine is the 4g63. It's a better engine. Turbo, pretty fast with mods, pretty reliable when taken care of. It's Mitsu made.

The oil coking theory with turbo cool down times hasn't been validated. Doesn't mean it's not a good idea, just that it's not gospel.

The timing belt needs to be changed on schedule with dealer parts. I've only ever done the 4g63 timing belt, but I sucked out and called over a friend 'cause I couldn't figure it out. There's a write up for it on vfaq, fyi. If your t-belt snaps you're buying a new set of valves, and that's a much more common reason for your car to be inop than crankwalk.

Crankwalk is over played. One in a several hundred 4g63s will walk.

The 4g63 is the better engine to buy.

Answer 3

In my opinion, the 420a was a very reliable engine compared to the crankwalk-prone 4g63. I had a 95 Eclipse with the 420A and auto tranny, with nearly 180K miles on the ticker. Never had a single engine-related problem. If you're going for power, you're gonna be pretty depressed with the 420a, unless you turbocharge it of course. However, if you're going for fuel mileage, the 420a N/A is leagues ahead of the 4g63 turbo. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

i think the 420A engine is great as long as you keep it maintained. the 420 is diff than the 4g63(gst) beacause the 420 is 140 hp and the 4g63 is turbo'd with 120 hp. overall the 4g63 is a better stronger engine. but it depends on what u look for in your car. i have a 420a in my 99 gs. and i have no problems with it because i have more of a "show" car than a "go" car. i would reccommend changing the timing belt if it has more than 60K miles on it. trust me on that eclipse are notorious on that.

Answer 5

I'd say more relaible. It doesn't have a turbo so it has less moving parts and less parts to break. In general though, it is a Mitsubishi, so its going to be ok in terms of reliability.