Hi all, I bought a 95 Magna TS a couple years ago off a dealer and it was running fine...a few months later tapping noises started while on idle after its been on for 10mins and go quite when driving...and it started smoking bad...i found on this site how to fix the tapping noise and roughly the cost and diy and all that.

Im just after information on the smoking out the exhaust,how this is happening and why,what can be done to fix this...can I diy myself? And another thing,when it was on the road,i keep topping up the oil as it keeps going empty for some reason but theres no oil under the car or under the hood to suspect leakage.

Any info would be greatly appreciated as I love the car and its currently off the road and im planning on fixing it up as a project car slowly...try replace what I can to have it running like new,even if i have to rebuild.

What would you guys reccomend...

It burning oil, that why you needing to top it up. I'm no mechanic but from what I have read after a quick search says; the valve stem seals need doing on the head. Below is a thread on it :)

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-66386.html

It burning oil, that why you needing to top it up. I'm no mechanic but from what I have read after a quick search says; the valve stem seals need doing on the head. Below is a thread on it :)

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-66386.html

If the valve stem seals are a problem smoke will be evidnet after a period of high vacuum - eg idling for a while at traffic lights or after running down hill on closed throttle

If evident during throttle open driving - eg up hill then likely to be worn rings

It burning oil, that why you needing to top it up. I'm no mechanic but from what I have read after a quick search says; the valve stem seals need doing on the head. Below is a thread on it :)

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-66386.html


Thanks for the link but im looking at fixing this myself as im trying to save abit of money. I dont have $250 to $500 to just throw around as the budget is abit tighr at the moment.

Is it possible to fix this problem myself and any ideas where I could get trustworthy parts and not put more of a dent in my wallet?

If the valve stem seals are a problem smoke will be evidnet after a period of high vacuum - eg idling for a while at traffic lights or after running down hill on closed throttle

If evident during throttle open driving - eg up hill then likely to be worn rings

Okay...how hard would this job be if you dont mind me asking? And how do I get to the problem? I was told by a couple of mechanics that it could be the pistons tgats worned as im sure thats what you meant im guessing. Can this be easily fixed by me because im gonna have to due to money budget. Thanks

Hi

I have not done any work on that engine family

In the thread referred above/below (depending how you have your threads displayed) MadMagna says:

Madmagna
01-04-2009, 09:19 PM
Dont "pull the head" for stem seals FFS

They can be done head on and could be a big part of your issues.

I would go this way first as it is relatively "non invasive", needs to be done even if a subsequent engine rebore/rering is needed and may improve the situation enough to be livable until a more suitable time for you.

Hi

I have not done any work on that engine family

In the thread referred above/below (depending how you have your threads displayed) MadMagna says:

Madmagna
01-04-2009, 09:19 PM
Dont "pull the head" for stem seals FFS


They can be done head on and could be a big part of your issues.

I would go this way first as it is relatively "non invasive", needs to be done even if a subsequent engine rebore/rering is needed and may improve the situation enough to be livable until a more suitable time for you.

Okay thanks for that. So would the repair manual be better to follow in replacing these or do you know of a better site or link for a step by step to do this? First timer here.

How many Km on the motor?

How many Km on the motor?

Its just gone over 200kms and its off the road,its still going though but this problem started around 190kms.

Just the stem seals then. The car has probably been sitting around for a while at the dealer, stem seals go hard after a while. My TS wasn't using any oil at 220,000 km before I sold it.

Just the stem seals then. The car has probably been sitting around for a while at the dealer, stem seals go hard after a while. My TS wasn't using any oil at 220,000 km before I sold it.


So replacing the stem seals would fix the smoking? Or is just a short term solution?

Have you done any mechanical work at all?

Have you done any mechanical work at all?

Anything thats fully into the engine I havent done any at all,just watched. I know my way around an engine thats why i thought of doing it myself. With help of course and save on some rip off labour work by some mechanics.

I got a mate whos a freshman mechanic and tools and all but have no idea on Magnas itself. Hes done more work than me. If I can like find out what the problem could be from in here,it might make things easier aa some mechanics quotes more then what it really is...no offence to mechanics but some just charge more then some and do work on parts not mentioned to be fixed.

And i forgot to mention,its an automatic gearbox which is over revving before it changes. It does that whenever its gonna jump into a higher gear. Any ideas from you guys what the problem is?

Sounds like alot of work and money but I love the car and I have nothing but time to fix it,just dont have the cash to get a mechanic to fix it. The only 3 major problems I know is the smoking,tapping noise on idle and gearbox over revving before changing...everything else seems fine,radiator just got fixed,exhaust fixed,fan belt changed,overhead gasket resealed and other minor repairs. Replaced the starter motor as well.

And i forgot to mention,its an automatic gearbox which is over revving before it changes. It does that whenever its gonna jump into a higher gear. Any ideas from you guys what the problem is?

Sounds like alot of work and money but I love the car and I have nothing but time to fix it,just dont have the cash to get a mechanic to fix it. The only 3 major problems I know is the smoking,tapping noise on idle and gearbox over revving before changing...everything else seems fine,radiator just got fixed,exhaust fixed,fan belt changed,overhead gasket resealed and other minor repairs. Replaced the starter motor as well.

And i forgot to mention,its an automatic gearbox which is over revving before it changes. It does that whenever its gonna jump into a higher gear. Any ideas from you guys what the problem is?

Sounds like alot of work and money but I love the car and I have nothing but time to fix it,just dont have the cash to get a mechanic to fix it. The only 3 major problems I know is the smoking,tapping noise on idle and gearbox over revving before changing...everything else seems fine,radiator just got fixed,exhaust fixed,fan belt changed,overhead gasket resealed and other minor repairs. Replaced the starter motor as well.

If your automatic transmission is "over revving" before shifting, in other words it is "flaring" or "slipping". You can try replacing the Automatic Transmission Fluid and filter. YOU MUST use genuine fluid with these transmissions, otherwise you will have nothing but problems, this is in my experience, others may disagree. It will be available from your local Mitsubishi spare parts dealer. It costs around $40-$45 a bottle + the cost of the filter (if it has a external filter) which will be around $35. I think it is Mitsubishi ATF SPIII which is what I used in my '95 Verada when it started having the same issue at 200,000KM. Otherwise, you'll be looking at a transmission rebuild, which will be very costly and its just not worth putting that amount of money into a car that has a very low resale valve.
In the case of my car, it helped for a very short time before the transmission got worse. So I decided to cut my losses and buy a newer '00 KH. As for the engine smoke, this will be your valve stem seals, again, not really worth fixing this problem. Try a heavier oil (something like 20w50) which should keep the smoke to a minimum for now. I lived with the smoke while I had my '95 Verada and just kept an eye on the oil level, topping it up when it go low. I suppose for some people they'd get annoyed having a blue cloud following them everywhere, so you can get the valve seals replaced, not too sure of the cost but I recall it being around the $500 mark. My best advice is to spend your money on upgrading to a better car, unless you plan on keeping this one for many more years because you won't recoup your money.

as far as money is concerned if your doing it your self its not a problem as long as you want to follow it through.

but replacing valve stem seals is nothing to sneeze at if you haven't done any mechanical work before. if you have someone with a bit of mechanical knowledge its possible to do but you need the right tools. as other said leave the head on. but to do it on the car you will need a decent air compressor, a specialized valve spring compressor and a basic toolbox, socket set ect. it wont cost much more then $30 in parts and should fix the smoking, if not totally will help. my old engine use to go fine for months then in a mater of 2 days use 3l of oil with no sign

tappets are easy to do if you do valve stem seals because you take them out doing it. but really tappets can be left for a while as long as you keep the oil fresh. its hard to find a decent second hand set.

transmission flare is pretty standard for a manga but an oil and filter change may help, good idea to do the oil and filter
anyway.

i always run repco brand (penrite) 20-50. never had an issue. loves it. but it wont do much for smoke. add some stop smoke if you like but i found it caused more issues.

just my input.
regards jay

Ironically I found this thread after Googling about the valve stems. I've got a TS as well, just over 200,000kms and it smokes like a train. With the "slipping", it coule be mistaken for misfiring? Last weekend we pulled out the 3 spark plugs we could get to and cleaned them and it's improved. So dirty spark plugs could be a cause, when you accelerate and it does this slipping, watch the taco and see if it drops. The old man and I took the TS a bit out of Adelaide (cherry gardens), and ran it out in 2nd to about 120 to burn off what we could and it's been reasonable since. No where near as bad. But from the mechanics and a friend of the old mans who worked for Mitsubishi 10 years ago, the smoke is causing the dirty spark plugs.

I use my TS for work at the moment, not long and I'll be getting something newer. Got my eyes on a few 380 DB SX series 2 and some VRX's floating about.

I'd also recommend not using any "stop smoke", it'll do more harm than good. Unless you're gonna sell it quickly :P

the v6's are notorious for valve stem seals, but more so the auto's, im yet to own or drive a manual v6 that has this issue even at 250ooo yet ive had 2 autov6's and driven many more that this issue has come up around the 140ooo,

I was going to recommend stop leak with your budget - haven't heard that it is bad in the long run... You really need a full rebuild or replacement motor.

ive used stop leak and its better then stop smoke but still didnt do allot. there is no getting around actually fixing it but stop leak may make it better but remember it takes about 2 weeks to work to its full potential. wont happen over night.

Stop smoke along with a thicker oil will help a ease the levels of smoke but yes it'll take a few bottles with regular oil changes, i had been changing my oil-stop smoke ever couple of thou km.. but at the end of the day its going to cost you a shite load more in masking the issue over a self repair.. im assuming its the V6 going off the thread input so far, i just done a VRS kit and such on my 4cyl and had the head off to do it and in all honesty if you had a good overhead spring puller (get a three prong over the flimsy 2 prong) it would be much easier doing it head on then fighting the law of gravity compressing the springs with it off..A good length of soft rope will make life a dream its just the little bit of extra time needed shoving the rope in each chamber and compressing it in each chamber. Its a job quiet easy for even a novice mechanic.

The biggest issue with the stop smoke is the crap it leaves behind on -everything- internal, good idea if used and when seals fixed to run some really good oil with the carbon-junk removing properties and then running oil flushes to help also remove some of the build ups.

I get my auto parts at a very good mates rate (usually below retail and at times below trade) The valve stem seals are about $30 for the set on a 4cyl on there own but the VRS set me back only $55.. You would be better off with a VRS kit on the off chance you run into install issues and decide to take the head off approach you then dont have to waste extra funds as the valve stems come with the kit, and even if you dont need anything else in the kit you have it aside on the off chance you need the other seals etc down the track.

If your lucky enough your mechanic mate might have all the tools needed on hand so that will save you a monza..
all ya need is a spark spanner-socket, a socket for the rocker cover, some rope, spring compressor(If you get one with a built in valve stem seal remover its much easier) but a pair of vice grips and some care given will remove them, and the tool to put the seals on (i just carefully used a deep socket) and i advise a magnetic parts retriever the telescopic type to help recover any of the spring retainer collets if they decide to play hide and seek when they fall out compressing the springs. IF its the 4cyl (not sure of the timing chain cog set up on the V6) i would carefully pack some rag around where the timing chain goes through the head into the crank, if you have my luck a collet just may decide to make its new home down there..

the v6's are notorious for valve stem seals, but more so the auto's, im yet to own or drive a manual v6 that has this issue even at 250ooo yet ive had 2 autov6's and driven many more that this issue has come up around the 140ooo,

Yeah my V6 Manual has 210,000 on the clock now, not a hint of smoke, but I have to religiously change the sparkplugs every 15,000 or the car turns into a pig.

Put two or three bottles of stop smoke in it - drive it for another year and then get a magna without a smokey motor TE or newer. Unless you can do all the work yourself it will probably be cheaper.