Engine Checks for a Diesel around 250,000km?

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MikeAqua

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#233489 18-Apr-2018 11:00

My Pajero (2004) is rapid closing on 250,000km. It's the 3.2 TD version. Automatic transmission with an auxiliary transmission cooler.

Can anyone advise appropriate checks for a diesel vehicle of that age? If you were contemplating buying it what would you get checked in the engine bay?

I have no particular concerns, it runs like clockwork and no sign of excess soot etc at the exhaust. But it's had a reasonably hard life, with lot of a kms towing.

Mike

Coil

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#1998439 18-Apr-2018 11:11

Hard to say Mike, Do you have any concerns about the vehicle?

You can't exactly check things easily with a diesel. Injectors are usually in the head and everything is is quite mechanical or hidden. Inherently they are simple engines.

The wear parts would be your glow plugs and injectors and possibly stretching of a cam chain if it has one. (4M40 Mitsi engines started interfering around 250-300,000KM.)

The diesel pump will be electronic and it would show a light or be clearly in fault if it were.

Your turbo seals or bearings and even blades could be getting worn. Wouldn't hurt putting on of those endoscope things down there to look.

Drive train tramp, Check your subframe bushings and mounts for unsprung components.

Linux

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#1998443 18-Apr-2018 11:16

Compression check should be the first thing done and not cheap when done on a diesel as no spark plug holes

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#1998444 18-Apr-2018 11:18

When buying used heavy equipment I'd have the oil analysed.
Amazing what that can tell you - though a bit expensive for your purpose.

Maybe drop the pan on both engine and trans, see what's in the sludge?

MikeAqua

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#1998457 18-Apr-2018 11:28

Coil:

Do you have any concerns about the vehicle?

No particular concerns. Just that it's getting on. I was thinking about getting a diesel mechanic to look it over.

It's been such a good vehicle for us. Tows 2.5 Tonnes between Nelson and Picton like it's not there.

So I'm thinking I'll hold onto it for another 5 years and see what the world can produce in an electric SUV.

Mike

Coil

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#1998463 18-Apr-2018 11:41

MikeAqua:

Coil:

Do you have any concerns about the vehicle?

No particular concerns. Just that it's getting on. I was thinking about getting a diesel mechanic to look it over.

It's been such a good vehicle for us. Tows 2.5 Tonnes between Nelson and Picton like it's not there.

So I'm thinking I'll hold onto it for another 5 years and see what the world can produce in an electric SUV.

Whats its retirement plans? I'd just drive it into the ground.

Fred99

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#1998481 18-Apr-2018 12:08

Coil:

Whats its retirement plans? I'd just drive it into the ground.

I agree. Even a leak-down compression test is of little value unless perhaps you're the buyer.

For a couple of reasons - interpreting the results isn't easy unless it's almost completely stuffed, and if you do find some reason for concern but it's running okay, you'd probably want to leave it until it did need attention as a full rebuild will cost a fortune - when it may keep going and not need that for years anyway.

If it's common rail, then they're supposed to have the injectors calibrated at routine intervals (50,000km?), if it's mechanical injection then at 250,000km it's highly probable that the injectors are stuffed and need reconditioning. Cost to do either above maintenance jobs would probably be paid back in fuel savings, plus it'll probably run noticeably better.

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wratterus

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#1998483 18-Apr-2018 12:13

Those Pajero diesels were much more economical for towing than the petrol that's for sure. Those 3.8l GDI engines just drink the fuel like it's going out of fashion, it's painful to watch haha.

At that age and KM I would really just tend to leave it outside of the normal servicing, unless there is some actual problem. Anything major is going to be pretty costly, and I doubt it would sell for more than 8 - 10k now?

It could be worth having the chain and guides checked. Do you know if the guides were ever done? I'm pretty sure they should be done or at the very least checked every 100,000 km? Or maybe it's 150,000.

Fred99

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#1998501 18-Apr-2018 12:41

MikeAqua:

So I'm thinking I'll hold onto it for another 5 years and see what the world can produce in an electric SUV.

I'm not holding my breath.

Given that you'd probably need something with battery capacity larger than a Tesla X, and that I had to replace some lithium ion batteries in my 18v tools and the new ones cost more than the old ones did 5 years ago, I have almost no hope that an affordable battery EV tow vehicle is coming any time soon.

Coil

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#1998556 18-Apr-2018 13:46

Fred99:

MikeAqua:

So I'm thinking I'll hold onto it for another 5 years and see what the world can produce in an electric SUV.

I'm not holding my breath.

Given that you'd probably need something with battery capacity larger than a Tesla X, and that I had to replace some lithium ion batteries in my 18v tools and the new ones cost more than the old ones did 5 years ago, I have almost no hope that an affordable battery EV tow vehicle is coming any time soon.

Most likely find a hybrid like the Cayenne Hybrid. They tow nice.
When working for a prestigious dealership a sales rep and I used Cayenne Hybrid to tow his boat and I tell ya it would walk a Diesel V8 towing that boat any day.

Thats 3.5 Tonne on the Cayenne too.

MikeAqua

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#1998596 18-Apr-2018 14:19

Coil:

Most likely find a hybrid like the Cayenne Hybrid. They tow nice.

I imagine that's getting pricey too.

Mike

MikeAqua

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#1998598 18-Apr-2018 14:23

Fred99:

Given that you'd probably need something with battery capacity larger than a Tesla X,

Agreed ... the one review I've seen on a Tesla X towing a decent sized boat suggested a 45 minute recharge every 100 miles.

An issue with towing is that while the EV has to do all the pulling, but the trailer does some of it's own braking so that energy can't be recovered.

Mike

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Aredwood

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#1999016 18-Apr-2018 23:19

Linux:
Compression check should be the first thing done and not cheap when done on a diesel as no spark plug holes

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Some diesels can have electronic compression tests done. Had one done on my 2002 Merc Vito. Only because it was already plugged into the scanner. It works by cranking the engine, and looking at how much the engine slows down and speeds up as each piston goes through the compression stroke. It can't give actual pressure readings, but does tell you the difference between each cylinder.

My engine still has good compression according to that test. Although a different test shows that 1 of my injectors is on the way out. As it has a far larger compensation value than the others. And my engine idles very rough if you temporarily disable the automatic idle compensation. But hey, it has done almost 350,000K. Glow plugs all work. And only fault code is for the brake light switch (brake lights still work fine).

And another simple test is to look at the blowby gas flow rate.