2002 Mitsubishi Pajero Pricing and Specs

Engines are amazing things, Renee. Neglected, they can fall to bits in a surprisingly short space of time. But treat them properly with the correct preventative maintenance and you’d be surprised how far they’ll go before they wear out.

What you haven’t told me is whether your vehicle is diesel or petrol powered. That said, both the diesel and petrol engines fitted to this model Pajero are well regarded in the trade and capable of going the distance if, as you claim, the servicing has been by the book. Over the distance you’ve quoted, I’d expect the diesel to have needed possibly a new turbocharger and definitely new fuel-injectors, while the petrol V6 can cover this distance without any major work.

But while the engine might, indeed, have lots of life left in it, what about all the other components? The brake rotors, shock absorbers, transmission and many other intrinsic parts of the vehicle wear out, too. So, just because the engine is fit and healthy, doesn’t mean the rest of the car will be so tip-top and ready for another 300,000km.

They’re generally a solid transmission and don’t give too much trouble. As for your car it is still relatively young and really should have 100,000 km or more in it without any major troubles, so it’s well worth considering keeping it, particularly if it has been trouble free apart from the transmission glitch. Buying a new Pajero is by far the most expensive option, and I would only suggest you do that if you have lost confidence in your current car. Before buying new I would certainly suggest you look at the used option, as a one to two-year-old car is almost as good as new and you would save a lot of money on the purchase, and of course the person who bought it new would have copped the massive initial depreciation.

It is using too much oil as you suggest, but you don’t say how much it was using back when you first noticed it, or if you brought it to the attention of the dealer. A dealer is unlikely to know when an engine is using oil unless the owner tells him or her. It’s too late now to do anything about it, the issue should have been addressed when the vehicle was under warranty, and the initiative has to come from the owner.