Smokey Mitsubishis

[Stefan]

What is the story with Mitsubishi engines since the 70s. Whenever I see a smockey car 9 times out of 10 it's a Mitsubishi. It use to be sigmas and now its magnas. Never a Lancer just always seems to be the bigger cars.

What is the problem with these engines that Mitsubiushi has not been able to sort out in 30 years? Obviously some sort of design flaw.

[Windsor220]

Usually the valve stem seals.

[TC200six]

Brings back memories from the 90s when there were still a lot old Mangas and Sigmas on the street and it was very rare to find one that wasn't blowing blue smoke.

What Windsor220 said is correct, with the 2.6L Astron II motor, it was usually the valve stem seals.

[irish2]

I had an astron II that i maintained well. It had done 340,000 an didn't blow any smoke. The rest of the car fell apart around it however. Maybe the smokey cars have just not been maintained properly.

[mik]

yes i have seen a few Mitsubishi `s with the oil smoking donks.

[Radtek]

Windsor22o is correct valve stem seals. V6 motors do it from around 180,000km.

Not a big fix. I could have said the oil burning issue applies to Mazda engines look at 323, 626, Laser,Telstar, B series engines but these aren't as easy to fix as the Mitsubishi s.

[Werd.]

Originally Posted by Radtek

Windsor22o is correct valve stem seals. V6 motors do it from around 180,000km.

Not a big fix. I could have said the oil burning issue applies to Mazda engines look at 323, 626, Laser,Telstar, B series engines but these aren't as easy to fix as the Mitsubishi s.

huh? my 1.8 BP sohc laser has never used a drop of oil, according to a friend who followed me on a road trip it doesn't blow any smoke even under wot
218k on the clock.

[TC200six]

Originally Posted by Werd.

huh? my 1.8 BP sohc laser has never used a drop of oil, according to a friend who followed me on a road trip it doesn't blow any smoke even under wot
218k on the clock.

I know the 1.5L 323 (aka Laser) engines blew a bit of smoke.

[Windsor342ci]

The 90 models Pajeros aswel are really known for this too

[AndyXR6T]

I've owned a 04 TL vrx magna for 6 years, and I gotta say not once has it blown smoke, made a funny noise or anything. Mechanically it has been the best car I've owned (so far!).
I just hope the FG holds up as well as the old magna did

[buickman]

Originally Posted by AndyXR6T

I've owned a 04 TL vrx magna for 6 years, and I gotta say not once has it blown smoke, made a funny noise or anything. Mechanically it has been the best car I've owned (so far!).
I just hope the FG holds up as well as the old magna did

Most cars will last a long time if services are done at correct intervals and your TL has been looked after.
There a people that would not know how to wash a car let alone get them serviced properly then criticise the make of car because something goes wrong with them.

[Envi XR8]

During my time in the spare parts game (around '96-03) Mitsu's made up about 23% of our total business, and we only sold engine components.
The 4G54 was the main problem child. There were commerical and passenger spec engines, which did not have a lot of common components. There were differences in the block, timing guides and tensioners, sump gaskets, and timing cover gaskets. In some odd-ball applications, the pistons were different.
There are 3 types of compresson rings; cast, chrome and moly. The commercial 4G54 engines from memory ran 2mmX2mmX4mm piston rings that were cast. These were mated to a cast, or chrome bore. The Magna/Sigma spec engine used a top tapered 1.5mmX1.5mmX3mm chrome rings, in most cases mated to a chrome bore. This is not a wise combination, as both surfaces are very hard, requiring very particular running in procedures. At that time, my customers/engine builders would use cast rings on chrome bores, or chrome rings on cast bores, or re-sleeve jobs, so that one surface became almost comsumable. For performance applications, the rings of choice were a cast ring that was grooved and fitted with a moly. As it was explained to me, the rings became a service item for high maintenence applications. These were common on 6s & V8s at the time.
From memory, the passenger 4G54s were commonly factory fitted with a chrome bore with chrome rings, which glaze very easily. Running in procedures, type of oil all plays a part in a successful run-in. We used to sell aftermarket ACL cast 1.5mmX1.5mmX3mm ring packs for re-ring jobs, to give the engine some chance. Not sure why Mitsu used the same material, but I don't think it helped their cause. All the commercial petrol, and the diesel Mitsu engines are fairly tough. I had a 4D55 (Pajero Diesel) that had over 700,000ks on it, and a 6D22T (mitsu prime mover engine) that ran with a melted piston - the piston on the rod looked like a snow cone.

Just my experience though.

[XR Martin]

I knew someone who had a TN Magna from new, car was serviced on the dot and by the time it had 160k, the motor blew smoke like a steam train.

[XAGSV8]

I had a 98 Magna with 200k's on the clock. Drank oil like it was going out of fashion due to oil leaks but no issues other then that. I did not notice any smoke blowing out it though.

[flappist]

Mitsubishi like all car makers have their good and bad models.

Evos go like cut cats whereas Starions and Cordias were torque steer on a stick and Magnas were rolling oil slicks but the nothing compares to the 380 easily the worst car made in Australia in the last 20 years but I am sure there are some weirdos out there who just love them.

[2011G6E]

There was a brief problem, I seem to recall, with early Sigma 2.6 Astron engines blowing smoke.
Apparently the rings lost tension and glazed the bores. It was mostly fixed under warrantee...they were an otherwise great engine!

I did hear one bush mechanics fix at the time which was to run it at high revs with the air cleaner off and dribble a handful of Ajax down the carby a couple of times to scuff up the bores...

[irish2]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

There was a brief problem, I seem to recall, with early Sigma 2.6 Astron engines blowing smoke.
Apparently the rings lost tension and glazed the bores. It was mostly fixed under warrantee...they were an otherwise great engine!

I did hear one bush mechanics fix at the time which was to run it at high revs with the air cleaner off and dribble a handful of Ajax down the carby a couple of times to scuff up the bores...

If a car glazes the bores it is due to incorrect run in procedure. No rings have a tension that hold them to the bore.

[Ford_The_Win]

The Astron engines, from the get-go until the last ones made in '96, all seem to have a weakness for blowing blue smoke, they all do it. The valvetrain in the 3.0 V6 is pretty weak too, early Hyundais that use the same 3.0 V6 do the same thing. It's like early OHC Falcons and the headgasket issues.

The 3.5 V6 and the 2.4 I4 used after the Astron are great motors though.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by irish2

If a car glazes the bores it is due to incorrect run in procedure. No rings have a tension that hold them to the bore.

...really...?

Guess those piston ring compressors you use to get the piston in the bore are just a useless bit of kit in the toolbox I can safely throw away then...

The thing about smokey Magnas...or any car that age really...is that they are old...the last of the old-shape Magnas was made a long time ago now, and if they have been used harshly and gone through a lot of hands, as many have, they'll start to smoke.

My Toyota Celica was made in 1982, and it has only 130,000km on it now because a little old lady owned it before me and hardly drove it. I've seen plenty of others however that are standard like mine but very tired and, yes, smokey.

Combine age with neglect, throw in a little bit of original design flaw possibly, and you'll get smoke out of anything eventually.

[irish2]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

...really...?

Guess those piston ring compressors you use to get the piston in the bore are just a useless bit of kit in the toolbox I can safely throw away then...

The thing about smokey Magnas...or any car that age really...is that they are old...the last of the old-shape Magnas was made a long time ago now, and if they have been used harshly and gone through a lot of hands, as many have, they'll start to smoke.

Combine age with neglect, throw in a little bit of original design flaw possibly, and you'll get smoke out of anything eventually.

Yes rings are compressed to get them into the bore but they wear in against the bore with cylinder pressure. Any decent engine builder will load an engine hard in its early life, the tension in the ring itself is not enough to bed the motor in properly.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by flappist

Mitsubishi like all car makers have their good and bad models.

Evos go like cut cats whereas Starions and Cordias were torque steer on a stick and Magnas were rolling oil slicks but the nothing compares to the 380 easily the worst car made in Australia in the last 20 years but I am sure there are some weirdos out there who just love them.

Nothing wrong with the 380.... They are a strong reliable car! Negative talk from Mitsubishi is what killed it.... kinda like whats happening atm with Falcon.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Nothing wrong with the 380.... They are a strong reliable car! Negative talk from Mitsubishi is what killed it.... kinda like whats happening atm with Falcon.

Well lets hope that does not happen this time.....

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by flappist

Well lets hope that does not happen this time.....

Too late...

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by flappist

whereas Starions and Cordias were torque steer on a stick

most be the worlds only rwd to suffer from torquesteer...

[TUF_302]

Originally Posted by flappist

Mitsubishi like all car makers have their good and bad models.

Evos go like cut cats whereas Starions and Cordias were torque steer on a stick and Magnas were rolling oil slicks but the nothing compares to the 380 easily the worst car made in Australia in the last 20 years but I am sure there are some weirdos out there who just love them.

Whats wrong with 380s? apart from looking bad lol

[Windsor220]

Starions dont torque steer either they are RWD.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by flappist

but I am sure there are some weirdos out there who just love them.

yeah, all sorts. my uncle swear the Datsun 180B was the most reliable car ever made, eva!

[IceValk85]

i hate magnas lol. every one i see at the lights billows a cloud of smoke, worthy enough to gas the person following.

the 380 was just a sad case.

Ice

[neptune blue]

Originally Posted by IceValk85

i hate magnas lol. every one i see at the lights billows a cloud of smoke, worthy enough to gas the person following.

the 380 was just a sad case.

Ice

In that case you haven't seen my wife's 2000 veranda wagon 189000 km and it runs like a clock and still looks great
Other than regular servicing we have not spent a cent on repairs
We are going to replace it in the next 6 months with a 380 as our neighbour has one and has never had an issue with theirs

[Nic85]

Originally Posted by neptune blue

In that case you haven't seen my wife's 2000 veranda wagon 189000 km and it runs like a clock and still looks great
Other than regular servicing we have not spent a cent on repairs
We are going to replace it in the next 6 months with a 380 as our neighbour has one and has never had an issue with theirs

You will be pleased with the 380. Mine has 85,000kms on it now. I've put a bit of Focal stereo gear in it and it's running well. Averages me 8L/100km up and down the highway for work. I've had to replace the front and rear drivers side window regulators though. About $300 all up for both of them, brand new, and about 30 minutes of my time to replace them. It's also got a random dash rattle from the stereo because it's been in and out so many damn times. Can't seem to fix it. Other than that it's really good. Scarily quiet, even compared to our Polo GTi.

The dude with the 88 Magna talking about the radiator - do yourself a favour man and replace that second hand radiator. Engines don't like a lot of heat, and you're only running the risk of blowing a head gasket and doing other engine damage which would be a real shame if the rest of the car is otherwise in good condition and servicable.