2.0l DOHC 4g63 V. 4g63t

[tikiman7]

Anyone with an opinion/observation on these engines as far as reliability goes. I'm not looking to modify anything. Stock power is 158hp/228hp respectively. The extra hp would be nice but gas is $2.80/gal. here!

Thanks.

[Str8in]

turboed version much better. theres no point in a 63 if ur not goin to turbo it!!

[EvoZero]

The 4G63 is a great engine with a couple of Achilles heels. The first is the bolt for the cam belt tensioner, which can back off, causing the belt to slip and subsequently making your valves all bendy. Later models (from the second-gen DSMs) have a crank-walk problem, where the crank will actually start to move back and forth. This will make your engine go kaboom, although it is relatively uncommon. The final one (and this applies mostly to older 1G versions) is leaky valve seals. It'll cause a lot of oil smoke and consumption, but isn't really dangerous to the car's operation. It will cake your turbo with oil, though, and ruin it after a while.

Those are the main problem areas. Despite that, they're actually great engines, and the stock bottom end on the turbos can handle 400 hp without breaking a sweat.

[tikiman7]

Originally Posted by EvoZero

The 4G63 is a great engine with a couple of Achilles heels. The first is the bolt for the cam belt tensioner, which can back off, causing the belt to slip and subsequently making your valves all bendy. Later models (from the second-gen DSMs) have a crank-walk problem, where the crank will actually start to move back and forth. This will make your engine go kaboom, although it is relatively uncommon. The final one (and this applies mostly to older 1G versions) is leaky valve seals. It'll cause a lot of oil smoke and consumption, but isn't really dangerous to the car's operation. It will cake your turbo with oil, though, and ruin it after a while.

Those are the main problem areas. Despite that, they're actually great engines, and the stock bottom end on the turbos can handle 400 hp without breaking a sweat.

Thanks for the reply. My car is a JDM RVR - minivan w/ VR4/EVO drivetrain. It's a '95 model and is slightly detuned (225hp v 250hp) from EVO specs. I'm not sure what "G" the engine corresponds to, but it faces right when viewed from the front. Any recommended upgrades/fixes?

[EvoZero]

Open up the intake and exhaust as much as you can. If it has a 4G63 turbo in it, it wants to breathe. Seriously, you'll get a good dose of power just from a good intake and 2.5-in. exhaust system. Around 30 hp at stock boost. From there it's the usual stuff for turbos: bigger intercooler, better intake piping, more air and fuel and boost, etc.

For the problems I mentioned, the only one you can really do anything about is the cam belt tensioner. Have a good mechanic weld a bead onto it. That'll keep it in place. For crank walk, you either have it or you don't...pray you don't. And for the smoke, your van sounds like it's a later model, so that's probably not much of a problem.

BTW, that sounds like an interesting van. Any pics?