ML Triton Oil leaks
Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 14:32
ThreadID:
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Replies:
10
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MistiK
Was just hoping someone may be able to help diagnose the possible source of these leaks. I'm away from the car and unable to get it to a mechanic yet but I'm also hoping I can sort it out myself.
The pictures are definitely not the best.
Car was given a quick spray with pressure washer before photos were taken, some spots appear wet but it's
water.
2009 ML Triton, 4M41 3.2L Diesel Manual with Super Select.
Album of roughly 50 photos -
https://imgur.com/a/E2J7sr0
There was a layer oil (maybe from excessive blowby?) all over the intake side of the engine beginning at the hose to the throttle body. Covered the common rail(?) all the way down to top the front diff.
And underneath there was a layer all over the transfer case from top to bottom. Mostly bottom. A little from the top area where the 4wd selector pokes through, not really on the tailshaft and no "ring of oil" around the area above the rear output seal that I've seen can be common. On top of gearbox was just dirt really, seemed pretty much all centred on the transfer case.
Car runs fine except for big vibration cos the mount for the t/case is completely stuffed. Changes gears fine, no strange noises, maybe a little rough but not certain tbh, not too versed in diesels or 4wd
I tried best to describe the photos in the album, can answer any questions
Next weekend I do plan to degrease the hell out of it and go for a drive for an hour or so and
check again, I'd just like opinions on where to look first.
Thank you
Reply By: Lauretta W - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 17:05
Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 17:05
Wow, that's a lot of oil! Has anyone else experienced similar oil accumulation on their 4M41? I had a similar issue on my old Pajero, and it turned out to be a leaky turbo oil return line causing blowback under higher pressure. It was a simple fix!
AnswerID:
648380
Follow Up By: RMD - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 18:03
Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 18:03
A turbo return line NEVER HAS ANY PRESSURE. It is free to dump into sump. Nearly a free fall.
FollowupID:
929650
Follow Up By: MistiK - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 20:50
Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 20:50
Yeah I thought it was a lot too, I posted on fb and someone said it wasn't too bad and wouldn't concern them, I thought I was going crazy!
I don't have any experience with diesel engines or turbo but I'll be cleaning out everywhere that carbon can build up, degreasing everything and changing every fluid on the weekend, I'll be back here with updates
FollowupID:
929657
Reply By: Member - peter g28 - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 17:46
Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 17:46
The Pajero 4WD Club of Victoria under the thread headings "Triton" or "Mechanical" may be of some help. I have used the
forum a few times for some information one all things Mitsubishi related.
AnswerID:
648383
Follow Up By: MistiK - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 20:51
Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 20:51
Thanks mate, I've posted there already and on a few worldwide forums for Pajeros and Triton and these are the first replies I've gotten
FollowupID:
929658
Reply By: RMD - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 18:01
Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 18:01
Mistik. After a wash, if the oil reappears and large in volume, it could be a a split hose, ie ,breather hose for pcv. If originating from the front it could be the front main crankshaft seal amd the oil.blows over everything.
AnswerID:
648384
Follow Up By: MistiK - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 20:55
Wednesday, Aug 06, 2025 at 20:55
Definitely not from the front, more the top intake side, I don't think it's the rocker cover but will have more time on the weekend and will update
Will look at the hoses as
well, cheers
FollowupID:
929659
Reply By: Member - Bigfish - Thursday, Aug 07, 2025 at 06:25
Thursday, Aug 07, 2025 at 06:25
I,d give it a good clean and then go around with a socket/spanner just tweaking any bolts/nuts to ensure nothing has come loose. Mate had a sump with a fine leak last week and half of the bolts took another 1-1 1/2 turns to tighten up......problem solved...no more leakage.
AnswerID:
648388
Reply By: Member - McLaren3030 - Thursday, Aug 07, 2025 at 06:54
Thursday, Aug 07, 2025 at 06:54
Hi MistiK,
Whilst I am not a mechanic, if there is a vibration from the Transfer Case due to a broken mount, it is quite possible that this may be the source of the oil leak. The vibration could easily have damaged any gaskets on the seal faces.
Macca.
AnswerID:
648389
Follow Up By: MistiK - Thursday, Aug 07, 2025 at 08:04
Thursday, Aug 07, 2025 at 08:04
Yea this was my thinking too though doesn't explain the oil from the top, hoping just excessive blowby that I can fix cleaning everything
FollowupID:
929662
Reply By: axle - Thursday, Aug 07, 2025 at 09:31
Thursday, Aug 07, 2025 at 09:31
G/Day Mistik,
Just out of interest what brand of engine oil are you using ? and is it a high K engine .
it looks like blow by over a period of time , but maybe not.
Keep at it you will find the problem ,as a rule they are a very good engine
Cheers Axle.
AnswerID:
648392
Follow Up By: MistiK - Thursday, Aug 07, 2025 at 09:38
Thursday, Aug 07, 2025 at 09:38
A touch under 290Ks, no idea about the oil as I've only just purchased the vehicle.
Will be changing oils on the weekend, Penrite HPR Diesel 10 Engine Oil - 10W-40 is what I've purchased.
Anything will be better than what's in it, when I checked it it was the blackest oil I've ever seen
FollowupID:
929665
Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Friday, Aug 08, 2025 at 08:50
Friday, Aug 08, 2025 at 08:50
MistiK, Is the motor rattly ?
FollowupID:
929688
Follow Up By: MistiK - Friday, Aug 08, 2025 at 09:28
Friday, Aug 08, 2025 at 09:28
Not at all, sounds pretty good in my inexperienced opinion
FollowupID:
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Reply By: peter f45 - Saturday, Aug 09, 2025 at 15:24
Saturday, Aug 09, 2025 at 15:24
Pressure wash it all an keep an eye on it
Mechpete
AnswerID:
648401
Follow Up By: MistiK - Saturday, Aug 09, 2025 at 20:13
Saturday, Aug 09, 2025 at 20:13
These photos were after a pressure wash
Today I changed the engine oil, started her up and straight away I noticed it was quieter. Went to change trans, diffs and transfer but they must have been done very very recently because it all looked straight out of the bottle.
I've degreased as much as I can for the moment, I'll take it for a spin tomorrow and keep a
lookout
FollowupID:
929708
Reply By: MistiK - Saturday, Aug 09, 2025 at 20:16
Saturday, Aug 09, 2025 at 20:16
Can't seem to edit the post so adding an update here
Changed the engine oil, started it and already noticed it's a bit quieter.
Went to change all other fluids but they were basically all brand new so didn't bother except for rear diff as I had lost a bit when I first opened it and was a different oil to what I had so just went ahead and changed it.
Degreased everything as much as I could, lots of parts are looking shiny. Tomorrow I will take it for a drive and get better pictures.
All V belts are horrible and need to be changed.
AnswerID:
648402
Follow Up By: MistiK - Sunday, Aug 10, 2025 at 18:45
Sunday, Aug 10, 2025 at 18:45
Couldn't get her for a drive except around the block but here are the photos after a degrease.
https://imgur.com/a/8RUqcLM
Can see the stuffed mount clearly
FollowupID:
929711
Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Monday, Aug 11, 2025 at 07:51
Monday, Aug 11, 2025 at 07:51
Hi MistiK,
I cannot open the attachment, it sends me to the website, and asked me to
sign in.
Macca.
FollowupID:
929712
Reply By: peter f45 - Tuesday, Aug 12, 2025 at 07:14
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2025 at 07:14
Wash it again doesn.t look ckean just looks like a build up
AnswerID:
648409
Reply By: qldcamper - Friday, Aug 15, 2025 at 05:15
Friday, Aug 15, 2025 at 05:15
Mistik, can I ask a couple of things.
I'm having trouble following, or even identifying any logic in your approach to the problem.
Firstly, you say you only just purchased the vehicle, did you bother to lift the bonnet and look at anything like the condition of the oil on the dip stick or notice any oil build up anywhere? How many KMs have you done since buying it?
You are guessing at the type of oil it is, is it black and smell like engine oil or not so black and smell like gear oil? Very unlikley it will be gear, t/c or diff oil unless breather kits have been installed and something has been way over filled which is very hard to do, locate the breathers and see if their wet. Also the colour change of gear oils are minimal, unless contaminated, they do not go black but changing them would be a good idea so you know it is fresh but it will not cure an oil leak. There should be a magnet in the drain plug, that's how you will pick up abnormal wear.
Blow by, should not produce any visible oil leaks until its bad enough to push oil past seals and that is pretty advanced, have you removed the oil filter cap whilst idling to see if there is a lot of discharge, it is a very basic
test that most people do before purchase. Again changing the engine oil will not fix an oil leak or excessive blowby, nor will cleaning the mess, won't fix it but will help you see where it's comming from.
AnswerID:
648415