Brown sludge under radiator cap

[svabo]

Is it actually blowing any coolant out? Or are you just seeing the sludge in the radiator?

Have you seen the coolant level low in the radiator, is there sludge in the overflow bottle also?

Generally blown head gaskets will blow the coolant out of the radiator and into the overflow bottle, it is more than what the cooling system will draw back in when cooling down, so will leave the radiator low.

Coolant was leaking from the rear of the engine and dripping onto the exhaut hence the steam. The overflow was clean no sludge which kinda baffled me. The sludge that I could see was under the radiator cap and could feel more when poking around into the radiator.
Oil fil cap was clean as was oil and trans dipstick.


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[benckj]

If it is the trans cooler will definitely be getting an aftermarket one.
Cheers

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Yes, its is for trans. I've edited my post above and attached a pic for reference.

[svabo]

Thanks mate ^

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[svabo]

Confirmed the head gasket is gone am going to tackle doing it myself. Any recommendations for a good gasket kit?
I've heard the VRS are the ones to get.
Cheers

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[chippy4x4]

Confirmed the head gasket is gone am going to tackle doing it myself. Any recommendations for a good gasket kit?
I've heard the VRS are the ones to get.
Cheers

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VRS stands for Valve Regrind Set, It should contain most of what you need to do the job. Just check the brand and probably ask or check online about the quality of the brand you are looking at.

[svabo]

Thanks for the reply..
Below is the kit I was looking at in eBay.
Not sure of the quality etc it is off eBay afterall.
Would be great to hear from anyone that has done the job and can recommend a good quality kit. I don't want to be doing it twice due to crappy gaskets.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/252257226914

Thanks again all

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[Scooby]

I recall that you haven’t had the Pajero long so are you also planning on doing the timing belt and water pump, etc, You will be pulling all this apart to do the heads anyway.

[svabo]

I recall that you haven’t had the Pajero long so are you also planning on doing the timing belt and water pump, etc, You will be pulling all this apart to do the heads anyway.

Yes haven't had it long and is my first Pajero. Wasn't a great introduction
Will be doing all belts and pump, plugs etc while it is apart. Nothing is easy to get to on these as your aware.
Cheers

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[Scooby]

And don’t forget heater hoses as they will be so much easier to change with the heads off.

[svabo]

And don’t forget heater hoses as they will be so much easier to change with the heads off.

Ah yes.. will do.
Has anyone done a head gasket on an 3.5?
Can spin a spanner but haven't done one before.
Would love to hear someone's thought who has done it themselves.
I got quotes in an exchange recon engine but can't justify the cost on a 2002 model.
Ssiigghh

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[disco stu]

I haven't done one of these, but plenty of others and can't see it being real different.

Mitsubishilinks.com will have workshop manual that might help you. Reading that would be a good start I think.

Parts from rock auto in the US will save you a fair bit of cash.

[svabo]

I haven't done one of these, but plenty of others and can't see it being real different.



Mitsubishilinks.com will have workshop manual that might help you. Reading that would be a good start I think.



Parts from rock auto in the US will save you a fair bit of cash.

Thanks Stu..

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[Scooby]

How is it running now?
Is it using oil?
Does it have much blow by?
Is there anything else going on with it?
Have you done a compression test on all the cylinders to check the condition of the rings?
If you find damaged cylinder bores as it may have been overheated before you brought it, The reason it was sold, do you have a back up plan.
Is there any urgency to get it going?

If I was doing the job, I would probably take the engine out. I don’t think the trans has to come out.
The only extra things left to remove to take the engine out that I can think of are:
Engine oil cooler lines,
Starter motor,
Some wiring harnesses,
Torque converter mounting bolts,
Engine mounts,
Transmission dip stick,

It is not an easy job working over the sides and front into the engine bay.
I could be wrong though.

[svabo]

How is it running now?

Is it using oil?

Does it have much blow by?

Is there anything else going on with it?

Have you done a compression test on all the cylinders to check the condition of the rings?

If you find damaged cylinder bores as it may have been overheated before you brought it, The reason it was sold, do you have a back up plan.

Is there any urgency to get it going?



If I was doing the job, I would probably take the engine out. I don’t think the trans has to come out.

The only extra things left to remove to take the engine out that I can think of are:

Engine oil cooler lines,

Starter motor,

Some wiring harnesses,

Torque converter mounting bolts,

Engine mounts,

Transmission dip stick,



It is not an easy job working over the sides and front into the engine bay.

I could be wrong though.

It's not using oil.
It is using coolant. I can physically see coolant very slowly weeping out of the cylinder head.
I would prefer to take out the engine but do not have the space.
If I do pull the head and there is more damage other than getting heads machined I would rather a recon exchange engine.
Or scrap the car

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[Scooby]

Yep always a problem when you have a quality car but it is worth nothing.
My old NM is reliable as, as I have kept spending money when needed but is now considered junk.