ADVICE NEEDED.....Mitsubishi Triton 2.8 Diesel 2004

Hey Guys.....just after some advice / opinions on the Mitsubishi 4x4 Tritons please. I am interested in one (2004) that has had the same owner since 30,000k on the clock and now its got 190,000k, well serviced etc....had a pretty soft life by the looks of things and sounds like a good honest vehicle. Any thoughts would be appreciated and just wondered if they had a good reputation ? Mainly only concerned with common reliability things.......cheers (photo only for reference and is not the actual ute but basically the same, even purple !)

@Pete_D have a talk to terry at at gisborne automotives across the road from dave goach spray painters. He is a good guy and owned a few mitsi around that year. Be worth while getting him to have a once over

Good reliable utes, but highly recommend driving one for a reasonable distance before buying. I’m a bigger fulla and the driving position was super uncomfortable for me, knee sort of jammed between the gear lever and steering wheel in 5th gear and not enough room between the clutch pedal and tunnel to get my foot past, especially while wearing work boots. Auto would help but I don’t like autos so didn’t end up buying the triton for that reason.

Solid, reliable trucks. Like all diseasals needs regular service and oil change. @Rock river arms hunter has had good run out similar age truck

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Originally Posted by bigbear

@Pete_D have a talk to terry at at gisborne automotives across the road from dave goach spray painters. He is a good guy and owned a few mitsi around that year. Be worth while getting him to have a once over

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cheers for the heads up mate, unfortunately not a local vehicle but I might have a chat to him.

Just upgrading my L200 Warrior of the same year.
Have had a really good run with mine and the motor is sound.
Things to look out for. Leaks around the door seals and back window. Also if there is any water in the foot wells. If so this is water increase from the side indicator light where the wire comes through the wheel arch and into the main body. Blub of silicone sorted mine.
Check the leaf springs are not cracked.
Check that all grease points have been used. Think there’s 14. Most around the front.
Check that it’s not crabbing as well as tyre wear on one side. If you run a tape measure from the ground to the top of the front wheel arch on each side you will see if this dose need adjusting.
I took the cat and egr valve off of mine which really improved its economy. (Not sure if you would get away with this in NZ)
Find out when the belts where last changed. If they do need doing don’t bother with the balance belts. I didn’t with mine and it’s been five years no issues.
If you do buy it have a look at this sight for more info. They have a heap of useful info.
https://www.l200.org.uk/

Good luck with the sale @PeterD

I have a 05 2.8TD GLS.

Reliable?

Yes very much so. Some will bash them because it's a Mitsi but I've found mine to do everything I need and more.

Fuel economy- fantastic.

Grunt- For a 2.8TD it actually has a pair when it counts. It's no petrol but passing on the open road isn't hard!

I'd buy another

Cheers guys, most helpful to a complete non mechanic like myself. Just happy to hear they are not something to avoid for what ever reason and like any older vehicles more dependant on if its been looked after etc. Thanks

I have had one since 2008 Triton 2.8 td 4x4 purchased it unloved at turners for $15,000 with a hard top.

Only recurring issues I have had was glow plugs needed a set every year was cheap crap got me some Bosch been in it several years still going strong.

I have put petrol in it more times than I care to admit stopped when it run bad and drained and fitted new fuel filter seems all good.

Had a strange ticking noise top end not regular turns out the timing chain was ready to snap, changed timing chain and tensioner at the same time I removed the camshaft and reshimend the valve clearances.

Put a new battery in it last year first battery it looked like it was the original I replaced !

Just did an oil and filter change I also changed the front diff oil and will change the LSD rear diff oil tomorrow.

I change the gearbox its manual transfer box and diff oils every couple of years or so and the diffs after deep river crossings.

I also had to change the universal joints on the propshaft and usual front disk pads once.

Had to change the anti roll bar bushes which I upgraded to the fancy orange ones.

Had the injectors checked when I did the timing chain all was well, I change the fuel filter every couple of years or when I put petrol in it.

The Tritons been through some rough terrain and deep river crossings which stuffed the auto box in my mates same truck petrol, water got into the auto my manual was fine ?

Wheel bearings hate deep water started using a thick oily stuff instead of wheel bearing grease so far so good'

Removed the EGR valve made a difference.

Replaced a plastic bush the bottom of the gear stick so it was less like stirring porridge changing gear.

The odd steering linkages.

My opinion was and is a great ute hopefully good for an other 300,000 k

How did you get on at the WOF with no EGR valve @xtightg ?

you dont need to remove or block the egr, if you confuse then engine management that its cold outside it will switch off automatically. did it to our triton and works a treat

Completely removed egr on my 94 pajero.
Passed about 5 warrants. 2.8 diesel
They dont seem to care. First couple I had blocked it off with some sheet metal so you couldn't see it. Also found that the previous owner had blocked off the vac line to stop it working. This was to stop black smoke at times but was actually the wastegate letting go way. Only getting 4 psi max before letting go. Adjusted that up to 15psi and that problem went away

Can someone please enlighten me with what the EGR is?

And what removing it does?

Cheers folks

Exhaust gas recirculation. Emissions crap, makes the engine eat it’s own shit.

As the other two posts said......end result is that it clogs and makes your fuel economy worse than without it...anyway I took mine totally off. Worked a treat and really gave it more life in the acceleration department as well as improved my fuel bill, as in it lowered it.
Good trucks and fairly easy to work on.

Here’s the process for EGR removal, in case anyone is interested. Old shape K74 engine.
Attachment 132207

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Originally Posted by Sideshow

How did you get on at the WOF with no EGR valve @xtightg ?

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EGR isn't a WoF issue.
Its only been inlast couple months that DPF (diesel particulate filter) removal is not allowed anymore. But EGR has nothing to do with WoF's

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Originally Posted by Sideshow

How did you get on at the WOF with no EGR valve @xtightg ?

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No issues no emission tests in NZ well not so far anyway.

Hunting top of the hills over night this was just after first light shooting wallabies the old Triton never missed a beat on private land.

Attachment 132332

Mitsubishi pajero / Triton EGR valve removal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGvNQGeaw0w

The old Triton swims the mighty Rakaia on the way in it was deeper on the way out.

Attachment 132335

Shocking Update the Triton need new rear brake shoes after owning it for twelve years, might have got more if I always drove it with the hand brake off :thumbsup:

I've got the twin of that ute but a v6 petrol , after almost 280000km apart from regular maintenance I've replaced the radiator and one coil. My brother has a diesel the same year as mine, he got almost 400000 km out the original motor.

2003 Mitsubishi Triton TD Dcab GLS 4WD $12,690 today, seems our $15,000 ute was a great deal in 2008 or they hold their value !

https://www.turners.co.nz/Cars/Used-...riton/19875740

They're actually a pretty good truck. Downsides are their gearboxes - made of warmed up butter. Bearings are pathetically small. And people towing in 5th destroys hem very quickly.
Diffs are actualy pretty tough. LSD's I would personally rate better than a Hilux. Quite a few being used in race cars now as Hilux are just too expensive and need constant work or upgrades.

Like anything mechanical, if its been looked after correctly it'll last ages.
Whatever you do get it properly checked out by someone that knows the particular brand well, and make sure the service history is good.
If they can provide receipts of what they've had done, you can be pretty sure they've been lookign after it properly. If a mate of a mate has been doing it, run.

another triton issue on some models is the 4-5 downshift fails. ok on 3-4 so check this several times on a test drive

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Originally Posted by cambo

EGR isn't a WoF issue.
Its only been inlast couple months that DPF (diesel particulate filter) removal is not allowed anymore. But EGR has nothing to do with WoF's

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So dpf in place is actually a requirement now then?
Be a few trucks out there with dpf delete pipes that dont comply now then!....I wonder how many warrant places would even check?

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Originally Posted by cambo

They're actually a pretty good truck. Downsides are their gearboxes - made of warmed up butter. Bearings are pathetically small. And people towing in 5th destroys hem very quickly.
Diffs are actualy pretty tough. LSD's I would personally rate better than a Hilux. Quite a few being used in race cars now as Hilux are just too expensive and need constant work or upgrades.

Like anything mechanical, if its been looked after correctly it'll last ages.
Whatever you do get it properly checked out by someone that knows the particular brand well, and make sure the service history is good.
If they can provide receipts of what they've had done, you can be pretty sure they've been lookign after it properly. If a mate of a mate has been doing it, run.

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@cambo

I can fess up.

Yes I towed in 5th with a big trailer load of firewood.

Yes the gear box shat itself. Yes it cost me 4k for a recondition and new clutch etc. Yes it was self inflicted(I didnt know 5th was overdrive).

On a side note mines going in tomorrow to get a wheel bearing replaced.

Whilst my mechanic is at it.

Think I may get the EGR removed cheers folks!!!

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

So dpf in place is actually a requirement now then?
Be a few trucks out there with dpf delete pipes that dont comply now then!....I wonder how many warrant places would even check?

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Yeah same with cat convertors. Got to be there now days to keep Greta happy.
Lots of places do/did the removals or bypass. We even did it at my work. Cut them open, smashed out the internals and re welded them back together. Then wired in bypass ECU.
Still looks factory but all internals gone.
Can't do any of that now.

I have one sitting on the drive. Stuffed injector on cylinder 4, worn suspension bushes, center hanger bearing might as well not be there. BUT, even though her indoors wants it gone, I cant face getting rid of it.
It's got me to some pretty rough spots, been a proper workhorse, was a farm hack for some time.
They will never win a beauty contest, but they will do what a ute is supposed to do, and will do it well.