We’ve written extensively about the Japan-made Mitsubishi Outlander, its capabilities, and various features on this blog. Today, we will talk about what fuel this SUV needs and what fuels are strictly prohibited. Let’s start with a quick answer:
All Mitsubishi Outlander manufactured from 2003 onwards with a 2.0 hybrid drivetrain or a 2.4L or 2.5L gasoline engine take regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87. Outlanders with a 3.0L gasoline engine take premium gasoline with an octane of 91. However, these models can also temporarily use 87 octane if premium gasoline is not available.
However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Below we’ve outlined recommendations and requirements for different kinds of fuels and fuel additives. We’ll also go into detail about the compatibility of the Outlander with oxygenated blends. Furthermore, we discuss the tank size of these generations. Read on!
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Also read: How Many Miles Can A Mitsubishi Outlander Last? (Answered)
Premium Gasoline
The use of premium gasoline is always a hot topic. Many people believe that premium gasoline should always be used regardless of if the car manufacturer recommends regular gasoline. However, we strongly advise you to stick to the recommendations mentioned above of the Outlander.
This is because premium gasoline only has benefits for engines that are designed to make use of them. In this case, only the 3.0L engine is designed to make use of this fuel. Pouring premium gasoline in an engine designed for 87 octane will not have any performance or durability benefits for this car.
The same goes for using 93 or 95 octane in an engine that’s designed for 91 octane. Yes, the car can still use this gasoline safely, but it will only be more expensive to you without the additional benefits.
Reformulated Gasoline
Another point is the use of reformulated gasoline. Reformulated gasoline is gasoline that was introduced in California two decades or so ago. Reformulated gasoline is the gasoline that’s designed to burn more cleanly and have fewer emissions. For this reason, California made it mandatory to increase the air quality in the state.
At this point, this gasoline is mandatory in 19 areas of the United States. Therefore it’s good to know if your Outlander can use this kind of fuel. The answer to this is yes. The Outlander can take reformulated gasoline. This goes for all generations.
Mitsubishi recommends the use of reformulated gasoline over non-reformulated gasoline whenever it’s available. This will have no effect on the car’s performance, economy, or durability, but it will improve the air quality in your region.
Oxygenated Blends
The use of oxygenated blends is also something we need to talk about. Oxygenated blends of gasoline are blends that make use of ethanol or methanol in one way or the other. These gasoline are also designed to burn more cleanly, but they are certainly not compatible with the Outlander in all forms. The rules you should follow are stated below:
- All generations of the Mitsubishi Outlander are compatible with gasoline that contains a maximum of 10% ethanol. E-10 is therefore safe to use whereas E-15 and E-85 are not. Using more than 10% ethanol will result in knocking of the engine (more on that in a subheading below), severe engine damage and the check engine light coming on.
- No generation of the Mitsubishi Outlander is compatible with fuel that contain methanol. The use of methanol in the Outlander will result in the symptoms stated above.
Gasoline With Additives
These days a lot of additives are available which you can put in your fuel. These additives supposedly help you increase your car’s performance or are designed to clean the engine more thoroughly. The question is whether or not you should use these additives in fuel for the Outlander.
Mitsubishi strongly advises against the use of additives for the Outlander. Additives that aren’t already mixed in the gasoline itself can contain materials such as silicon or metallic that will damage the engine and the fuel system and increase, instead of decrease, the number of deposits.
Gas suppliers in North America are required by law to add suitable additives for the fuel before being sold. For this reason, a fuel usually should have all the suitable additives already. However, it’s advised you make use of gasoline from TOP TIER gas retailers. These retailers are held to a certain standard so that you can be sure the fuel is safe to use. Find these retailers on toptiergas.com.
Knocking Sound After Refilling
A slight knocking sound of the engine is never something to be worried about. A slight engine knock normally occurs when the car is performing at peak levels such as when towing or driving up a hill. However, if the knock becomes very loud and happens right after refilling, you may have a more significant problem.
In this case, you’ve likely used fuel with an octane rating that’s lower than recommended. If you hear a loud knocking noise, it’s recommended you immediately stop the car and contact the dealer. You will need to drain the car of fuel, replace the fuel filter, disconnect, and reconnect the battery to reset the car’s memory.
Outlanders that have 91 octane fuel recommended can also temporarily use 87 octane when premium gasoline is not available. However, if this results in a loud knocking noise, it’s strongly advised to take the steps mentioned above.
Fuel Tank Size Per Generation
All generations of the Mitsubishi Outlander manufactured from 2003 onwards with all-wheel drive have a fuel tank capacity of 15.8 gallons (60 liters). All Outlanders with front-wheel drive have a fuel tank capacity of 16.6 gallons (63 liters).
Sources
- https://ownersmanuals2.com/get/mitsubishi-outlander-2010-owners-manual-30985
- https://ownersmanuals2.com/mitsubishi/outlander-2015-owners-manual-30975
- https://carmanuals2.com/get/mitsubishi-outlander-2020-owner-s-manual-114512
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.
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