Hi all, changing the oil in my KH Verada this weekend, its done 206,000 and uses oil, I'm sure its the valve stem seals as it has no leaks and blows a bit of blue smoke when its been ideling for a few minutes. I think its using about half a litre every 1500 k's maybe a bit more, I use to use Nulon for old worn motors in my KR and did help with smoke and oil useage, anyone have any ideas whats the best oil for a 3rd generation thats uses oil? cheers

It wont make a difference what oil you use, if your valve stem seals are gone then it will use oil. Best bet would be to get the valve stem seals replaced.


Cheers Luke

It wont make a difference what oil you use, if your valve stem seals are gone then it will use oil. Best bet would be to get the valve stem seals replaced.


Cheers Luke

Thanks Luke, anyone have any idea what its costs to have the valave stems seals replaced?

Thanks Luke, anyone have any idea what its costs to have the valave stems seals replaced?

I know its is a different car, but similar motor, but I have a NJ pajero with the 3.5L quad cam in it (6g74) and that has done 296,XXX and has worn valvue stem seals, blows a bit of blue smoke after ideling. just got a quote for $2500 for them to be replaced as they had to take the heads off.

also got quoted around $6500 for a motor with less km's to be dropped in, but that was just the block, didnt include timing kit, alternator etc

hope this helps

Im not sure what a mechanic would charge to do this as I have never taken my car to one. Best bet would be to ring around a few mechanics in your area and get some quotes.

$2500 seems like a rip to me, you could get a newer engine installed for less than that, so $6500 for a new motor is more like robbery.

My opinion only, but your car is over 10 years old, has done almost a quarter of a million kilometres, so I'd figure you would be unwise to spend money on replacing the valve seals.
I'd do what you did with your old KR - use oil designed for worn motors. Cannot do any harm and costs nothing as it is only an oil change.

Im not sure what a mechanic would charge to do this as I have never taken my car to one. Best bet would be to ring around a few mechanics in your area and get some quotes.

$2500 seems like a rip to me, you could get a newer engine installed for less than that, so $6500 for a new motor is more like robbery.

Clearly you did not read that he has a Pajero, clearly you do not understand how hard the DOHC motors are to get, what is involved in getting them in and out and what is needed to so much as check the oil on one of those bad boys lol

$2500 to remove a pair of heads, do the head work and refit the heads is bloody good. The GENUINE gasket kits alone are very expensive and I for one will not use aftermarket. When I did a pair of heads on a 380 engine, the cost of parts alone was near on the 2 grand mark. Have to remember there are 24 valves to remove, replace seals and then reseat. This alone takes enough time and labour costs

Back to OP, grab some Wynns or Nulon oil system cleaner, run this at idle for 20 or so minutes. Then replace with some HPR10 to if you really must some HPR15. Also pays to really ahve a good check at things like the rear rocker cover gasket, thrust cap seal and dist seal. You can not discount small leaks until you have 100% sure that these are not leaking as even a small leak will add up to a bit over time

Clearly you didn't read my post. lol


Im not sure what a mechanic would charge to do this as I have never taken my car to one. Best bet would be to ring around a few mechanics in your area and get some quotes.

So no I would have no idea how much labour would cost because I do all my own work and my labour is free. lol

Back to the OP as Mal said check for small leaks because they add up.


Also pays to really have a good check at things like the rear rocker cover gasket, thrust cap seal and dist seal. You can not discount small leaks until you are 100% sure that these are not leaking as even a small leak will add up to a bit over time

I'm replacing both the thrust cap seal and the dist seal on a guys car tomorrow who took his magna to a mechanic and spent hundreds of dollars for him to fix oil leaks only to find he still had oil leaking on his driveway.

Cheers Luke

If you can get some one to take off your heads relatively cheap then really its about $350 per bank to recondition the heads, which includes stem seal, grinding, acid cleanings, stem polishing.... I know a guy in Sydney he does all my engine work he is really cheap but takes his time. PM me for his details of you want....

My opinion only, but your car is over 10 years old, has done almost a quarter of a million kilometres, so I'd figure you would be unwise to spend money on replacing the valve seals.
I'd do what you did with your old KR - use oil designed for worn motors. Cannot do any harm and costs nothing as it is only an oil change.
True my car is over 10 years old now, which is not real old for a Magna/Verada these days as they stopped making them in 2005, it is in great condition for its age, when I tell people its 11 years old they are very surprised as its been well looked aftered, it wont be ready for the wreckers for a long time, as I think its well worth having the Valve stems seals replaced and getting another 100,000 or so K's out of the motor. I wonder why Magna's were fitted with dodgy valve stem seals as you don't see a Commodore with 200,000 or so k's blowing smoke, my mates VS has 300,000 and blows no smoke, those bloody valve stem seals sure helped Magna/Verada's loose their value.

Your first post says that it "blows a bit of blue smoke when its been ideling for a few minutes."......that can also be caused by worn rings. The usual first indication that the valve oil seals are worn is when you first start the car after it has been parked for a few hours - if it blows blue smoke for a half minute or so after startup it indicates the valve seals.
I'd do a good search and see whether you can replace the seals using the compressed air or alternative methods which don't involve removing the heads....this makes it very cheap to do the seals....less than a carton of XXXX.

Edit found this http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84276&page=2&highlight=replacing+valve+seals

Your first post says that it "blows a bit of blue smoke when its been ideling for a few minutes."......that can also be caused by worn rings. The usual first indication that the valve oil seals are worn is when you first start the car after it has been parked for a few hours - if it blows blue smoke for a half minute or so after startup it indicates the valve seals.
I'd do a good search and see whether you can replace the seals using the compressed air or alternative methods which don't involve removing the heads....this makes it very cheap to do the seals....less than a carton of XXXX.

Edit found this http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84276&page=2&highlight=replacing+valve+seals cool thanks for your help buddy, will checkout the link

Unfortunately its pretty hard to change stem seals on a 3rd gen motor with heads on..... Ask Mal im sure he will say the same.

Unfortunately its pretty hard to change stem seals on a 3rd gen motor with heads on..... Ask Mal im sure he will say the same.

I thought that was only with the 24 valve engines, but could be wrong.

He does have a KH though, so it would be 24 valve.....

He does have a KH though, so it would be 24 valve.....

Are you sure? .......also found this about Magna/Verada:

Alloy heads and water pump must have fresh coolant. Oil and filter must be changed no later than 10,000 km, otherwise expect rattly hydraulic lifters and worn valve stem seals. Oil consumption will increase without warning in most Mitsubishi V6 engines from around 110,000km as valve stem seals harden, but they are among the few that can be replaced cheaply without removing the heads. Engine can go beyond 300,000km providing owners fix valve stem seals before running out of oil.

Are you sure? .......also found this about Magna/Verada:

Alloy heads and water pump must have fresh coolant. Oil and filter must be changed no later than 10,000 km, otherwise expect rattly hydraulic lifters and worn valve stem seals. Oil consumption will increase without warning in most Mitsubishi V6 engines from around 110,000km as valve stem seals harden, but they are among the few that can be replaced cheaply without removing the heads. Engine can go beyond 300,000km providing owners fix valve stem seals before running out of oil.

Yes my car does have the G674 24 valve engine, I changed the oil today with Nulon 40/70 worn engine oil, I will see how many k's I can do before it needs a top up, I filled the motor to the full mark on the dipstick and will wait till it drops to the low mark before topping it up.

Yes my car does have the G674 24 valve engine, I changed the oil today with Nulon 40/70 worn engine oil, I will see how many k's I can do before it needs a top up, I filled the motor to the full mark on the dipstick and will wait till it drops to the low mark before topping it up.

I must be getting old(er) - all I had to do was look at the 24valve sticker on my engine:headbange
Please excuse my dumbness.

I must be getting old(er) - all I had to do was look at the 24valve sticker on my engine:headbange
Please excuse my dumbness.

LOL, don't worry about it, we all have our senior moments, I know I sure do.