Cheap ute needed - what to get?

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Originally Posted by Grumbles

I'd give the Jackaroo 3.5 V6 a miss due to known heavy oil consumption issues. The later V6 - 3.6? - seemed to not be affected by this issue.

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Never had one.
Brother used to have a Colorado as a work car/package thingo some years back(2010-ish).
Can't remember exactly which model. Can't remember if it was the 3.5 or 3.6 engine. Felt gutless by comparison to the 3.2 v6 I had in my Rodeo(TF model) tho.

But both my 3.2 v6 Isuzu engined vehicles never had 'oil consumption' issues.
Both on LPG, and both had worn valves at about the same 200-250-ish K klm mark.
Used to do quite a few klms in them tho as courier vehicles(6+K klms a month) so oil changes were probably done too frequently to notice oil consumption.

So I have bought a low km (215k) 2000 Triton MK dual cab Ute auto with the 3 litre v6.
Very good body and interior and good service history to a few years ago.
According to a rw inspection late May, it has a rocker cover oil leak and drops some coolant.
Also has some play in the frt suspension
Got it cheap so hoping it won’t cost much to get the rw.
Bit risky as bought it sight unseen and got it trucked up.
But I did speak with the mech who looked at it for the rw and he thought it was pretty solid.
Horrible to be in compared to the Disco..but it will be very handy.

Anyone have experience with these engines/transmissions?

My dad had the single cab, aluminium tray version of a similar vintage (manual version on LPG, with eventually LOTS of km's on the clock) when he was still a courier. Although that ute copped a HEAP of abuse in that job, with regular servicing, it just kept going and going (with the usual leaks, creaks and groans of a hard used vehicle). As you say, it sure aint a Disco, but it should be ok for what you need it to do!

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Originally Posted by edddo

Anyone have experience with these engines/transmissions?

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The most common fault I've found on those is cracked exhaust manifolds. Very hard to find good ones at the wreckers, genuine is silly price. They're pretty reliable otherwise but quite thirsty. The manifold upper half has to come off to access spark plugs and rocker cover gaskets, annoying as hell but I got used to the job and manage it within a couple of hours. If you do that also get a new set of plug leads, preferably genuine. The rubber boots on the plug ends get oil soaked. Example:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MITSUBISHI-TRITON-SPARK-PLUG-LEAD-SET/122554658685?epid=6005072546&hash=item1c88d3af7d:g :8mUAAOSwrfVZR0XT

A mate of mine had one for a while, hated it with a passion and was glad to get rid of it when no longer needed. Did what it had to do though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by edddo

So I have bought a low km (215k) 2000 Triton MK dual cab Ute auto with the 3 litre v6.
Very good body and interior and good service history to a few years ago.
According to a rw inspection late May, it has a rocker cover oil leak and drops some coolant.
Also has some play in the frt suspension
Got it cheap so hoping it won’t cost much to get the rw.
Bit risky as bought it sight unseen and got it trucked up.
But I did speak with the mech who looked at it for the rw and he thought it was pretty solid.
Horrible to be in compared to the Disco..but it will be very handy.

Anyone have experience with these engines/transmissions?

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My brother in law bought one of these more than 10 years ago and his hasn't missed a beat in all that time and he has done hundreds of trips up the Useless Loop road to Carrarang Station Fishing/camping.
I have driven his and I found it to be more comfortable than our old 2006 Hilux But as you say Not in the same comfort league as a Disco.

Seats are damn uncomfortable after an hour of travel. The same year Challenger seats were better, from recollection. Mine (Club cab) has less than 200k on it. Just changed the plugs. Inlet manifold has to come off. Not too difficult a task. Changed rocker covers due to oil leaks. One gasket (passenger side) was rock hard and needed heat and persuasion to leave the cover. Driver's side was easy. No more leaks from covers. Now just to sell the car.

The Ute is going ok.
It was great for the move just completed lst week and towed well.
The seats are way too close to the floor making it quite uncomfortable for any one over 170cm!
Stupid design. Gearing is quite low limiting cruise speed. Fuel economy around 13 to 14 l/100km is as expected.
But it is just for short trips and on the road, 12 mths reg and 3rd party cover for a bit over 4K is not too bad.

3 years later...
New radiator
New alternator
Thats it.
Been very handy...just doing short trips..leaks oil from somewhere but not enough to worry about given what it is.
Ironically it has done 100000km less than my disco.