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MotorFiable

Skyactiv-D vs 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) carries less risk than the Skyactiv-D: 20/100 (low risk) versus 55/100 (high risk). The Skyactiv-D has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations»; the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

Skyactiv-D

55

High risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

20

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

21 sourcesHow we work

Is the Skyactiv-D reliable?

The Skyactiv-D is a modern and generally reliable diesel, but across its three displacements (1.5, 1.8 and 2.2) it shares oil dilution with diesel fuel during diesel particulate filter regenerations, which means you need to watch the oil level and not stretch oil changes, especially on short journeys; the older 2.2s (2012-2014) also accumulate more turbo and carbon build-up cases.[1][2][3][4]

See the 4 of the Skyactiv-D faults

Is the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) reliable?

No serious mechanical faults are documented in the European sources we were able to open: AutoBild saw the 2.8 as more robust than the 3.0 it replaced, although it points to glow plugs that fail early. Its best-documented weak point is the particulate filter, with a lawsuit in Australia but no equivalent recall or legal action in Europe, and there are barely any high-mileage examples from which to judge long-term reliability.[5][6][7]

See the 4 of the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Skyactiv-D and 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)
Skyactiv-D2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement——
TimingChainChain
Power105–184 hp150–204 hp
Productionsince 2012[1][8][9]since 2015[10][11][12][13]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)55High risk20Low risk
Documented faults44
Of high or critical severity30
Worst severityCritical severityMedium severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Oil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations
  2. High severity: Turbo wear or failure from lack of lubrication
  3. Critical severity: Oil pump chain breakage and camshaft wear
  1. Medium severity: Blocked particulate filter (DPF) due to incomplete regenerations
  2. Medium severity: Variable geometry turbo (VNT) seized by soot
  3. Medium severity: Diesel dilution of the engine oil from interrupted particulate filter regenerations
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNone
  • 2.8 D-4D 204 (1GD-FTV, 204 hp, from 2020)[14]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175 (SH-VPTS, 2012-2017)[2][15][16]
  • 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175/184 (SH-VPTS, 2017-2021)[3][17]
  • 1.5 Skyactiv-D 105 (S5-DPTS, 2015-2018)[4][18]
  • 1.8 Skyactiv-D 116 (S8-DPTS, 2018-present)[4][19][20]
  • 2.4 D-4D 150 (2GD-FTV, 150 hp, from 2016)[14][21]
  • 2.8 D-4D 177 (1GD-FTV, 177 hp, 2015-2020)[5][6][14]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

Skyactiv-D

See the 7 models with the Skyactiv-D

2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

Other comparisons

With the Skyactiv-D

With the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

Compare other engines

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. SkyActivWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 (2012-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Fiabilité Mazda 6 (2012-2022)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Fiabilité Mazda CX-3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. Toyota Land Cruiser 150: Gebrauchtwagen-TestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 20 January 2020 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
  6. Toyota Faces Up To $1.5 Billion Payout To Owners Over Diesel Lawsuit In AustraliaCarscoops · Motoring press · published 7 April 2022 · consulted 9 October 2026
  7. DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 9 October 2026
  8. Mazda CX-5Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  9. Mazda3Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  10. Toyota GD engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
  11. Toyota HiluxWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
  12. Allgemeine Daten zum Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8 D-4D (5-Türer) (10/20 - 08/24)ADAC Autokatalog · Technical documentation · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
  13. Allgemeine Daten zum Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.4 D-4D Duty 4x4 (08/16 - 09/20)ADAC Autokatalog · Technical documentation · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
  14. Toyota upgrades DPF system, no change on dust issuePractical Motoring · Motoring press · published 27 August 2020 · consulted 9 October 2026
  15. Aviso a todos los propietarios de Mazda CX-5 Dieselkm77 · Motoring press · published 22 May 2013 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. Mazda6Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  17. Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 II (2017-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  18. Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2013-2019)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  19. Fiabilité Mazda CX-30Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  20. Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2019-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  21. DPF regeneration: your questions answeredToyota UK Magazine · Manufacturer · consulted 9 October 2026