NH pajero, 3.0L 6g72 engine, what to do? opinions please

[bluecraka]

Hi,

The little SWB NH has just clicked over 304,000 Kms , blows a fair amount of smoke now and burns oil, but otherwise engine seems to run okay. It's due for timing belt to be done and would do waterpump at the same time. I imagine parts to be around $500 inc water pump, thinking about doing this myself - never have done it before though.

Should I get a compression test done? If okay would it indicate just work on the valve seals needing to be done? What's the cost of having them done? Is it worth it on an engine with this many k's ?

Or would it be better do try my luck with a import engine such as from brisbane motor imports ? Seen prices from $1500 to $2200 for import engines

Or another thing I have heard is the the magna engine is the same and can be used to replace the pajero engine.

If I was do get an import engine I was thinking attempting doing the swap myself, I have never done anything like it before, but have room, time and a fair amount of patience. Possible for the complete novice? Or am I being nieve?

I don't really want to throw 4k on a getting a reco done, as the jabber needs a little TLC in other areas

Go for it guys tell me what you think I should do? (Preparing for a flaming here lol)

[-Scott-]

Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable with an import motor, as you're buying into new unknowns.

If you have time & patience, buy a dud motor and rebuild it yourself - talk to a wrecker about what you want to do, you don't want a good motor with a warranty, but you want one with internals suited to a reco. You're probably talking a few hundred dollars for rings, bearings, gaskets etc, plus ??? (sorry - haven't done one for years) dollars for machining, then hours of labour.

It's the best way to learn how your engine works, doing the swap is great for learning your engine bay, and if it fails there's no dispute over who is to blame.

[Bitsamissin]

If the motor has been looked after my guess is the valve stem seals for the blowing smoke & oli consumption issues.
A compression test will confirm this.
Mitsi engines just have a habit of doing deals resulting in high oil usage or leaks - just a fact of life.
A friend of mine has a Gen 2 3.0 with 450,000K's and is just starting to blow smoke but it's been well maintained.

[bluecraka]

Thanks for your opinions guys.

Bitsamissin

Thinking I might just get the compression test done. And try the valve stem seals done ? What is a rough cost on having them done ?

Are hard for the absolute beginner to do? Does the engine have to come out to do them?

-Scott-

I don't mind your idea either never thought I've buying a dud engine and doing a rebuild on it whilst the current engine is still running. When you say talk to a wrecker about it, that what want with internals suited to reco - what in regards do you mean, are wrecker reasonably reputable for this or not?

[Bitsamissin]

I'd reckon around the $800 mark for a 3.0 but it also depends what else you want them to do or if they find another problem.

[mowerman]

Hi Blue

I see you are in Brisbane.

I had the same problem with my 6g72 in the 99 triton.
300k, chewing oil, blowin smoke and missin badly under load. A quote of 4grand to rebuild it.

So I hunted around and found a couple of 120k to 150k motors at the wreckers. Bought 1 for $1200 at the wreckers at Tingalpa. 122,000 on the clock. It was a rollover write off. They give a 3 month warranty so over to Straddie in a month to see how it goes.

Engine swap.

2 blokes, 3 days (long weekend just gone) and 3 cartons. Maybe that was the problem.

Before putting the new motor in I did a full timing belt kit, water pump, rear seal, plugs, exhaust manifold gaskets. Hell of a lot easier on the stand than in the engine bay. And new engine mounts.
Took the old motor out and swapped over the flywheel and clutch. Id had them done 40,000k ago.

Hell of a job but satisfying in the end. Also made me realise how bad the old motor was.

Send me a pm if you want any details.

All the extras came to about $800. So hopefully for 2 grand I can get another 5 or 6 years out of the old girl.

If you want to go the rebuild route them Ive still got the old motor sitting here. Plus a lot of bits and pieces.

Rod

Edit. Just noticed you are ex Brissie.

[bluecraka]

Thinking of seeing how much compression my current engine has, if it's not too bad just might get/do the valve stem seals.

If compression is bad, I think I'll seek a low km engine and than swap it in and then look at doing a reco on the existing one once its out from the swap.

Thanks for the info mowerman, yeah no longer live in brizzy live there 8yrs, and returned to cockroach land.

[jonnyjtop]

my engine is out of my car too was going to throw some new rings and bearings in it but it turns out its completely rooted and will cost alot more than the origional 1500 i was quoted...so im just going to take my luck at a wrecker engine throw a new belt in it and water pump ect ect...parts for these things are not cheap as i thought!!!