Mitsubishi Pajero Engine Problems

I don't believe there is a way of detecting the problem before it actually happens, except maybe to remove the EGR valves and manifolds and clean them, and that's probably worth doing if you're concerned about it happening on your car. I do also think Mitsubishi should come to the party and cover at least part of the cost of repairs.

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.

You can't blame the dealer for not picking it up if the vehicle wasn't playing up when it went in for service. As for the goodwill payment, it does seem a small token only, but the car is six years old and has notched up a fair few kays, so I think you would pushing uphill in trying to get more money out of Mitsubishi.

You're right, a seal is meant to seal, not leak. My guess is that if is a weep and not a full blown leak the dealer will want to continue to "monitor" it, whatever they might mean by that. I would get on the front foot with them and demand that it be fixed, it is only likely to get worse and probably leave you with the bill to fix it after the warranty has expired. Get it fixed now and should be no further concern about it.

The Mitsubishi Pajero is actually regarded as a very reliable vehicle, so your experience is not typical. There are several potential causes for this, but the thing I’d check first would be the air filter. Is it possible this was overlooked during the recent service? A blocked or dirty air filter will certainly make an engine blow smoke and operate poorly.

I’m assuming your vehicle is a diesel, so it would be worth checking the suction-control valve on the back of the fuel pump, too. Also, a stuck injector that is pouring fuel into the engine can also potentially create these symptoms. I’ve also heard of the Pajero diesel suffering from a build-up of black gunk inside the intake system that can also cause symptoms like the ones you’ve described.

Timing chains do not need to be replaced regularly as timing belts do, so there is no requirement in the service schedule for such a replacement. But they do wear and can become slack over time, and when that happens they do need to be replaced. If you don't replace them in that situation you risk them breaking or jumping teeth on the drive gears and if either of those things happened you could do serious internal damage to the engine. I'd be inclined to follow your mechanic's advice.

I don’t believe that what you want is out there, and can only reiterate past advice, buy a Patrol/Pajero/Prado/LandCruiser.

The Mitsubishi engine is generally sound and doesn’t normally use excessive oil. If and when they do it’s usually found to be worn valve stem seals, and it that’s the case you won’t find and leaks or see any sign on the tailpipe.

That's correct, the 3.2-litre turbo-diesel engine has a timing chain, not a belt, so doesn't need to be replaced.

In the old days we would never have left home without a spare fan belt in the boot and the tools needed to change it on the side of the road. I'm actually surprised that a fan belt, being a consumable, would be covered by the warranty at all, but as they you say they agreed to cover the cost of replacing it I would approach Mitsubishi directly through its customer assistance people and request a refund of your money.