Just after buying my 2002 executive 3.5L, I read this review on drive.com.au

"check the engine oil. If it's thick and sludgy, or if there are nicotine-like stains on the dipstick, it's possible the engine is suffering oil sludging.

This can be an expensive condition and may even be fatal. It results from people who skimp on servicing, or who use cheap oil, or who haven't bothered to correct a coolant leak into the oil. Sometimes all three."

I didn'tnotice it at first, but my car does have a slight orange/brown stain on one part of the dipstick.

The oil itself was fine, but it had just been serviced.

Any advise as to what I should do?

BTW does anyone know when the TJ series I became the series II (i know the differences were minor)

I'm not an expert on the topic, but I haven't known of too many cars which don't have this staining of the dipstick in some way just through normal driving. Oil can reach some pretty high temps and some metals won't take too well to this conditioning... dipstick stalks aren't usually very thick either.

My advice is to just ensure your car gets it's regular service and you do routine checks in between to ensure the oil (and other fluids) aren't running low etc. Assuming you drive sensibly I don't see the need to be too concerned... if you are still then have a chat with your mechanic next time you drop it in to do an assessment.

i noticed that on my TH the lower part of the dipstick is milky coloured (not the oil colour but the actual metal once you wipe the oil off). it makes it hard to read when the oil is clean.

Just after buying my 2002 executive 3.5L .........................................

The oil itself was fine, but it had just been serviced.

Any advise as to what I should do?




Was it serviced by you or you are told that it was serviced shortly before you bought it?
It is always good practice after buying second hand car to change oil and filter, coolant, spark plugs, brake fluid. Check air filter, brake pads and discs, check electrolyte level in the battery (if low fill with distilled water only), check power steering fluid level. Depending on mileage, change gearbox oil/fluid.
If around 100K mark and you don't have written proof change timing belt, as well as fuel filter.
I would also put tyres and shock absorbers high on my "To do" list.

Just after buying my 2002 executive 3.5L, I read this review on drive.com.au

"check the engine oil. If it's thick and sludgy, or if there are nicotine-like stains on the dipstick, it's possible the engine is suffering oil sludging.

This can be an expensive condition and may even be fatal. It results from people who skimp on servicing, or who use cheap oil, or who haven't bothered to correct a coolant leak into the oil. Sometimes all three."

I didn'tnotice it at first, but my car does have a slight orange/brown stain on one part of the dipstick.

The oil itself was fine, but it had just been serviced.

Any advise as to what I should do?

BTW does anyone know when the TJ series I became the series II (i know the differences were minor)

It might just be baked on oil. I think it's called glazing. My previous car had the exact same thing on the dipstick, but it wasn't suffering from sludging.

IIRC the TJ went to Series II in the second half of 2001.

Thanks for all the replies,

It was re-sold by the Townsville Mitsubishi dealer, following a trade in and all the books are marked as served by their service department, also the timing belt was done. The oil in the engine at the moment looks very new, so they at least did that. I can't say I disagree with replacing fluids and consumables after purchasing a car, but when you have just laid out for purchase costs and insurance - who can really afford to do that, still in an ideal world....

About to drive (and move) from Townsville to Perth via Alice spring/Ayers rock, so it will need another service when I get there, in the mean time I will just keep an eye on all fluids

Cheers all