Folks, see attached pics. Help me to confirm where this leak is so I can get my mechanic to fix it if essential.

Other info is that the car has done 186xxx km and has full service history.

Due to this leak, I checked the oil and it had halved, the next service due is the 187,500 km.

Is this normal? Should I just ignore it and service ever 7,500 km as usual?

To me that looks like rocker cover gasket. Should get it replaced soon as to stop further detirioration and leaking. I'll be changing minr soon as mine started a small lrak the other day.

It's a magna... If you got a leak its one of 3 :P

1. Rocker cover gasket
2. Rear main seal
3. Sump

It's a magna... If you got a leak its one of 3 :P

1. Rocker cover gasket
2. Rear main seal
3. Sump

1) have you ever even changed a gasket on a car
2) you need to see where the leak is coming from to diagnose it i.e. coming from cam seal BUT HELL LETS DO THE REAR MAIN
3) sump :P

To me that looks like rocker cover gasket. Should get it replaced soon as to stop further detirioration and leaking. I'll be changing minr soon as mine started a small lrak the other day.

Is the rocker cover where it says V6 24 valve?

Is the rocker cover where it says V6 24 valve?


Yeah mate. What i would do though, before changing any gaskets, is give the engine a gool old degrease and stem clean. Top and bottom, then got for a nice drive, get it nice and warm so the water dries. When you come back, chuck it up on a set pf ramps and look for wet spots. Trace them back to the source and there will be your oil leak. The rocker cover gaskets dont look like they are leaking that much to have lost half you oil.

Yeah mate. What i would do though, before changing any gaskets, is give the engine a gool old degrease and stem clean. Top and bottom, then got for a nice drive, get it nice and warm so the water dries. When you come back, chuck it up on a set pf ramps and look for wet spots. Trace them back to the source and there will be your oil leak. The rocker cover gaskets dont look like they are leaking that much to have lost half you oil.
I would tend to agree. Rocker cover gaskets are a very common problem for Magnas aover 100,000kms. But they don't "leak" so much as "seep" If they've been leaking for 50,000kms without an oil change I would expect half your engine oil to be gone, but probably not only after 10-15,000kms, altho it is possible.

Yeah mate. What i would do though, before changing any gaskets, is give the engine a gool old degrease and stem clean. Top and bottom, then got for a nice drive, get it nice and warm so the water dries. When you come back, chuck it up on a set pf ramps and look for wet spots. Trace them back to the source and there will be your oil leak. The rocker cover gaskets dont look like they are leaking that much to have lost half you oil.


I would tend to agree. Rocker cover gaskets are a very common problem for Magnas aover 100,000kms. But they don't "leak" so much as "seep" If they've been leaking for 50,000kms without an oil change I would expect half your engine oil to be gone, but probably not only after 10-15,000kms, altho it is possible.

I got the engine degreased after the last service, which was 6,500 km ago.

Despite that, this build up.

Regardless I will get the mechanic to check for all things mentioned here in the next service which is in another 1,000 km. In the meanwhile, I have topped up the oil.

Thanks for all the replies guys, if there is anything else I need to be aware of, let me know

its a pretty simple job to replace the rocker cover gasket if it is the problem, just make sure you torque up the rocker cover bolts correctly

I got the engine degreased after the last service, which was 6,500 km ago.

Despite that, this build up.

Regardless I will get the mechanic to check for all things mentioned here in the next service which is in another 1,000 km. In the meanwhile, I have topped up the oil.

Thanks for all the replies guys, if there is anything else I need to be aware of, let me know
If that much seepage is only in 6,500kms, then I would just go buy some rocker cover gaskets from Mitsubishi (don't buy aftermarket ones as they don't have the right temperature tolerances and will leak within weeks) Fairly straight forward job for a mechanic. One hour labour. I just bought some for my Magna and I believe at trade price they were $50 for the pair.

its a pretty simple job to replace the rocker cover gasket if it is the problem, just make sure you torque up the rocker cover bolts correctly
Yeah if your replacing the front, the rear you need to take of the inlet plenum fron the TB so you can remove the rear plugs to get the cover off.
Saying that, your better off changing both gaskets as if one is leaking then the other will surely start soon after.
Plus you might as well change the plenum gasket too.
Also gotta make sure if you change the rocker gasket that when you put the cover back on you don't pinch the gasket, otherwise your back to square one.

If that much seepage is only in 6,500kms, then I would just go buy some rocker cover gaskets from Mitsubishi (don't buy aftermarket ones as they don't have the right temperature tolerances and will leak within weeks) Fairly straight forward job for a mechanic. One hour labour. I just bought some for my Magna and I believe at trade price they were $50 for the pair.
Heat tolerances? Sorry I've never heard this before. So your saying aftermarket rubber gaskets are not meant to cope with oil temperature? I.e. ACL and Garrmax gaskets are junk? I would not think aftermarket gaskets are made to such a low quality. Just like....Seems weird that only the "Genuine" gaskets are the ones that work right.

Worn valve cover gaskets.
$40 something dollars at repco, simple job. Mine looked the same before I changed these gaskets.

']Heat tolerances? Sorry I've never heard this before. So your saying aftermarket rubber gaskets are not meant to cope with oil temperature? I.e. ACL and Garrmax gaskets are junk? I would not think aftermarket gaskets are made to such a low quality. Just like....Seems weird that only the "Genuine" gaskets are the ones that work right.

When I was talking to a mate that did his appreticeship(?) at Mitsubishi about doing all my oil seals he said that the aftermarket gaskets have a high tendency to not actually fit properly, for some strange reason no one can get it right. Hell he even reckons that the Genuine ones still require a bit of fiddling and silicon to get a 100% leak-proof seal. This all seems strange to me though, surely a genuine part should be a perfect fit?

']Heat tolerances? Sorry I've never heard this before. So your saying aftermarket rubber gaskets are not meant to cope with oil temperature? I.e. ACL and Garrmax gaskets are junk? I would not think aftermarket gaskets are made to such a low quality. Just like....Seems weird that only the "Genuine" gaskets are the ones that work right.
I was told this by my fiances dad who I get all my parts through. He was a mechanic at Mitsubishi and Toyota for 30 years. Now he works in parts. He did the rocker cover gaskets on his 98 TF a little while ago and used aftermarket ones initially, and within 2 weeks they were leaking again. He then used genuine ones from Mitsubishi and they are now fine. It wasn't a case of bodged installation. He said it was to do with the rubber that was used (unsure of the brand) It wasn't a proper fit, and also the rubber wasn't up to the job of coping with the heat.

I was told this by my fiances dad who I get all my parts through. He was a mechanic at Mitsubishi and Toyota for 30 years. Now he works in parts. He did the rocker cover gaskets on his 98 TF a little while ago and used aftermarket ones initially, and within 2 weeks they were leaking again. He then used genuine ones from Mitsubishi and they are now fine. It wasn't a case of bodged installation. He said it was to do with the rubber that was used (unsure of the brand) It wasn't a proper fit, and also the rubber wasn't up to the job of coping with the heat.

Righteo then....yeah honestly never heard that before.
I use a smidgen of silicon on all the rubber gaskets I use just so I know it seals. Lets hope it does:bowrofl:

I was told this by my fiances dad who I get all my parts through. He was a mechanic at Mitsubishi and Toyota for 30 years. Now he works in parts. He did the rocker cover gaskets on his 98 TF a little while ago and used aftermarket ones initially, and within 2 weeks they were leaking again. He then used genuine ones from Mitsubishi and they are now fine. It wasn't a case of bodged installation. He said it was to do with the rubber that was used (unsure of the brand) It wasn't a proper fit, and also the rubber wasn't up to the job of coping with the heat.

Interesting given that half the gaskets in the 6g series are ACL gaskets, and they are factory fitment for a lot of aussiemade cars etc

Interesting given that half the gaskets in the 6g series are ACL gaskets, and they are factory fitment for a lot of aussiemade cars etc
Yeah, it sounded interesting to me too. He's not the kind of guy I doubt personally, so it's definitely interesting.

Yeah, it sounded interesting to me too. He's not the kind of guy I doubt personally, so it's definitely interesting.

Added to this the fact that I do not think I have ever used a genuine mits gasket and have never had an issue. There is sometimes an issue with the moulding of some overseas made gaskets but if you get ACL or similar you are usually ok as these are the ppl who used to supply Mitsubishi


']Righteo then....yeah honestly never heard that before.
I use a smidgen of silicon on all the rubber gaskets I use just so I know it seals. Lets hope it does:bowrofl:

Where you have a flat surface like a 3rd gen rocker cover gasket, you do not and also should not use sealant at all, most of all silicone. RTV is ok in areas such as second gen where the gasket goes over a bearing cap etc.

Got this fixed folks but guess what, the damage was done

Oil pressure switch was leaking as well. Leaked right on top of the starter motor and so had to replace the starter motor as that started playing up :rant:

So to all others out there, get your leaks investigated before it damages other parts.

meh my leaks ok. Its only power steering fluid from my steering bracket.

This thread could be the motivation for getting my tappet cover gaskets replaced i noticed them leaking at 186,000 when i did the clutch...now its nearing 197,000 but i dont want to have to replace the starter motor as well.

I'de be more concerned about the top of your engine.

Anchilaries are cheap and easy to replace, compared to anything inside the engine lol

This thread could be the motivation for getting my tappet cover gaskets replaced i noticed them leaking at 186,000 when i did the clutch...now its nearing 197,000 but i dont want to have to replace the starter motor as well.

If this does not motivate you I cannot see what will.

New starter motor is close to $300 :shock: