The Mitsubishi TD04 Turbocharger is one of the most widely used small-frame turbos ever built, showing up on everything from diesel pickups and SUVs to marine and industrial engines for the better part of four decades. If you turn wrenches for a living, you have almost certainly held one in your hands. At PT Turbo, where we have been rebuilding and supplying turbochargers since 1978, the TD04 remains a steady mover because it is compact, reliable, and used across a huge range of applications.
This guide covers what the TD04 family actually is, where it lives, the specs that matter, how to spot a failing unit, and what to consider when you replace or rebuild one.
What Is the Mitsubishi TD04 Turbocharger?
The TD04 is part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ TD series of turbochargers, sitting between the smaller TD03 and the larger TD05 and TD06 frames. It uses a journal-bearing center housing rotating assembly (CHRA) and is available in wastegated, non-wastegated, and later variable-geometry configurations depending on the application.
What makes the TD04 so popular is its flexibility. The same basic frame supports a wide range of compressor and turbine wheel trims, letting manufacturers tune the exact same casting for a small 1.6L diesel or a 2.5L industrial engine. Common designations you will see stamped on the compressor housing include TD04L, TD04HL, and TD04-13T through TD04-19T, with the number referring to the compressor wheel size.
If you want a refresher on how turbos work in general, the turbocharger overview on Wikipedia is a solid technical starting point.
TD04 Applications: Where You Will Find It
The TD04 has one of the broadest application lists of any turbo in the Mitsubishi catalog. It has been fitted to passenger vehicles, light trucks, marine engines, and stationary industrial power units. Below is a representative sample of where the TD04 and its close relatives show up.
- Mitsubishi: Pajero/Montero, L200/Triton, Delica (4M40, 4M41 diesel engines)
- Subaru: Legacy, Forester, Impreza WRX (petrol TD04L variants)
- Volvo: 850, S70, V70, 940 turbo (TD04HL variants)
- Hyundai/Kia: various CRDi diesel platforms
- Marine and industrial: small Yanmar, Mitsubishi, and Isuzu diesel gensets and propulsion engines
- Construction and ag: compact excavators, skid steers, and utility engines in the 2.0L to 3.0L range
Because the TD04 spans gasoline and diesel, always verify the exact part number and wheel trim before ordering. A TD04L off a Subaru is not interchangeable with a TD04HL off a Volvo even though the frame name is the same. If you are cross-referencing a hard-to-find number, our team can help you match it correctly, just contact PT Turbo with your casting numbers.
Mitsubishi TD04 Turbocharger Specifications
Exact specs vary by variant, but the TD04 family shares a common architecture. Here are the typical ranges you can expect across the platform.
| Specification | Typical TD04 Range |
|---|---|
| Compressor wheel inducer | Approx. 36 to 50 mm depending on trim |
| Turbine wheel | Approx. 41 to 47 mm |
| Bearing system | Journal (floating) bearing |
| Wastegate type | Internal, pneumatic actuator controlled |
| Typical airflow | Up to roughly 35 to 40 lb/min on larger trims |
| Realistic power support | Roughly 200 to 280 hp depending on variant |
| Cooling | Oil-cooled, some variants water-cooled |
The larger TD04-19T and TD04HL-20T trims are popular in the performance world for exactly this reason: they bolt into a compact package but flow enough air to support meaningful power gains without lag. On the diesel side, the wastegated TD04 on the 4M40 and 4M41 engines is prized for its durability and quick spool.
The Role of the Pneumatic Actuator
Most wastegated TD04 and TD03 units rely on a pneumatic actuator to regulate boost. The actuator uses a spring-loaded diaphragm that opens the wastegate flap once boost pressure hits the set threshold, bleeding off exhaust gas to prevent overboost. When this actuator fails or leaks, you get overboost codes, boost creep, or inconsistent power.
These actuators are a common wear item and are far cheaper to replace than the whole turbo. PT Turbo stocks genuine replacement units, including the Mitsubishi Turbocharger Pneumatic Actuator TD03 – 49S3118761 for $104.33 and the closely related 49S3118651 actuator, also $104.33. For applications that call for it, the Mitsubishi Pneumatic Actuator 4918918935 is available for $83.99. Always confirm the calibration and rod length against your original before installing.
Symptoms of a Failing TD04 Turbocharger
The TD04 is durable, but no turbo lasts forever. Oil starvation, contaminated oil, foreign object damage, and worn actuators are the usual culprits. Catch problems early and you often save the CHRA. Ignore them and you risk taking out the engine.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Blue/gray exhaust smoke | Failing shaft seals, oil in exhaust | Moderate |
| Whining or grinding noise | Worn bearings, shaft play | High |
| Loss of boost / low power | Leaking actuator, cracked hose, worn wheels | Moderate |
| Overboost code / boost creep | Stuck or failed pneumatic actuator | Moderate |
| Oil leaking from turbo | Failed seals, blocked drain, high crankcase pressure | High |
| Excessive shaft play (visible) | Worn thrust or journal bearings | Critical |
A quick field check: with the engine off and cool, pull the intake pipe and wiggle the compressor wheel. Slight rotational play is normal. Any wheel-to-housing contact or noticeable in-and-out (axial) movement means the bearings are gone and the unit needs a rebuild or replacement.
Replacing vs. Rebuilding Your Mitsubishi TD04 Turbocharger
When a TD04 fails, you have three practical paths: install a brand-new unit, fit a remanufactured unit, or rebuild the one you have. The right call depends on the condition of your core, your budget, and how fast you need the vehicle back in service.
| Option | Typical Cost Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| New OEM turbo | $$$ (highest) | Late-model warranty work, no core available |
| Remanufactured turbo | $$ (mid) | Best value, most applications, fast turnaround |
| Rebuild your core | $ to $$ (lowest if core is good) | Original-fitment purists, rare part numbers |
| Actuator/seal repair only | $ (lowest) | Boost control issues with a healthy CHRA |
For most owner-operators and fleets, a quality reman unit hits the sweet spot. Every turbo in our remanufactured turbochargers catalog is disassembled, cleaned, inspected, fitted with new bearings and seals, and balanced to OEM tolerances. That means you get near-new reliability at a fraction of the dealer price.
If your core is still sound and you want it rebuilt to spec, our turbocharger rebuild service handles TD04 units regularly. And if you just need parts, you can shop all turbos and components directly.
Installation Tips for the Mitsubishi TD04 Turbocharger
Turbos rarely fail for no reason. Before you bolt on a replacement, find out why the old one died or you will be doing the job twice.
- Flush the oil feed line and confirm strong, clean oil flow before startup.
- Always use a new oil feed gasket and never reuse crush washers.
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Cross-Reference & Superseded Part Numbers
The turbochargers covered in this article match or supersede the following OEM and manufacturer part numbers. If you are searching by part number, these are the units stocked by PT Turbo for this application:
172-784-0001 • 172-784-0008 • 172-784-0042 • 172-784-0043 • 172-784-0046 • 172-784-0050 • 172-784-0055 • 172-784-0056 • 172-784-0064 • 172-784-0069 • 172-784-0073 • 172-784-0080 • 172-784-0081 • 172-784-0087 • 172-784-0098 • 172-784-0099 • 172-784-0100 • 172-784-0101 • 172-784-0102 • 172-784-0104 • 172-784-0108 • 172-784-0115 • 172-784-0117 • 172-784-0119 • 172-784-0459 • 172-784-0460 • 172-784-0461 • 172-784-0462 • 172-784-0469 • 172-784-0471 • 172-784-0481 • 172-784-0490 • 172-784-0491 • 4913118224 • 49136-59500 • 4917218203 • 4917708020 • 4917708302 • 4917708505 • 4917708541 • 4917708550 • 4917708630 • 4917709500 • 4918209040 • 4918209060 • 4918508210 • 4918508300 • 4918508520 • 4918509110 • 4918509210 • 4918708020 • 4918708050 • 4918708060 • 4918708500 • 4918808110 • 4918808710 • 4918908020 • 4918908054 • 4918908100 • 4918908110 • 4918908301 • 4918908526 • 4918908536 • 4918908551 • 4918918712 • 4918918935 • 4918918945 • 4937708121 • 4937708301 • 4937708311 • 4937709120 • 4937717991 • 4937718732 • 4937718943 • 4937782001 • 4938908001 • 4938908219 • 4938908270 • 4938908600 • 4938908950 • 4938909303 • 4938909720 • 4938918501 • 4947700800 • 4947700830 • 4947702530 • 4947702610 • 4947708000 • 4947709510 • 4957709500 • 49S3118651 • 49S3118761 • 49S7703142 • 49S7703152 • 49S7703172 • 49S7703186 • 49S7703194 • 49S7703243 • 49S7703254 • 49S8900501 • 49S8900550 • 49S8900570 • 49S8900924 • 49S8900942 • 49S8900953 • 49S8900973 • 49S8900983 • 49S8902721 • 49S8902750 • 49S8905212 • 49S8908506 • 49S8918651 • 49S89A0000 • 49T7701504 • 49T7701513 • 49T7701551 • 49T7701650 • 49T7701700 • 49T7701710 • 49T7701720 • 49T7701800 • 49T7701850 • 49T7704372 • 49T7704555 • 49T7706262 • 49T8900305 • 49T8900405 • 49T8900630 • 49T8900640 • 49T8900910 • 49T8901043 • 49T8903002 • 49T8903012 • 49T8903620 • 49T8907001 • 49U7700170 • 49U7700850 • 49U7702017 • 49U7702040 • 49U7702233 • 49U7702411 • 49U7702500 • 49U7702510 • 49U7702540 • 49U7702620 • 49U7703150 • 49U7703250 • 49U7703350 • 49U7703450 • 49U7703720 • 49U7703820 • 49U7704000 • 49U7705001 • 49U7705012 • 49U7705101 • 49U7705112 • 49U7705201 • 49U7706010 • 49U77A0000 • 812080-0001 • F41CAT-S0088C • JT12068 • JT12601 • JTC11593 • JTC12069 • JTC12164 • PTT-TBO-024 • PTT-VEVO-008 • PTT-VEVO-158 • PTT-VEVO-159 • PTT-VEVO-189 • PTT-VEVO-200 • V41VAT-S0022C • V41VAT-S0079C • V50VAT-S0024C • V50VAT-SA012C
Can’t find your number above? Contact PT Turbo — our team has been matching part numbers since 1978.
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