MajorCommonFluid Leaks

Mitsubishi Outlander: Oil leaks from valve cover, rear main and front crank seals on ageing 4G6

Oil leaks from valve cover, rear main and front crank seals on ageing 4G6 is a common fluid leaks fault on the Mitsubishi Outlander on the 2001–2006 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $200 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 47 documented faults on the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Vehicle: Mitsubishi Outlander
Engine: 2.0L / 2.4L
Years: 2001–2006
Fuel: petrol
System: Fluid Leaks

This page covers the Mitsubishi Outlander as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mitsubishi Outlander faults47 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Rocker / valve cover yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

As these 4G63/4G64/4G63T engines approach and pass two decades, oil leaks become common, most often from the valve cover (rocker cover) gasket and the rear main seal. A leak from the front crank seal is the more serious concern because oil contamination shortens timing-belt life and can lead to belt failure and engine destruction. Leaks are frequently accompanied by hardened, brittle engine-bay connectors and perished cooling hoses of the same age.

What you would notice

Oil film or drips under the front of the engine
Burning-oil smell when hot
Oil pooling around the valve cover edge
Low oil level between services

How to check it

Where to look. Valve cover, front crank seal, rear main seal

Inspect the valve cover perimeter, the front timing cover area (crank seal) and the bellhousing seam (rear main) for oil weeping. Any oil near the front crank seal is a priority as it endangers the timing belt.

Parts involved: Rocker / valve cover.

What it costs to put right

$200 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Does the engine use or drop oil between services?”
“Are there any known oil leaks, especially at the front of the engine?”
“Have the valve cover gasket or crank seals ever been replaced?”

Now check the Mitsubishi Outlander you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Mitsubishi Outlander buyer questions

Is oil leaks from valve cover, rear main and front crank seals on ageing 4g6 serious on a Mitsubishi Outlander?

We rate it major and common on the Mitsubishi Outlander. As these 4G63/4G64/4G63T engines approach and pass two decades, oil leaks become common, most often from the valve cover (rocker cover) gasket and the rear main seal. A leak from the front crank seal is the more serious concern because oil contamination shortens timing-belt life and can lead to belt failure and engine destruction. Leaks are frequently accompanied by hardened, brittle engine-bay connectors and perished cooling hoses of the same age.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mitsubishi Outlander?

$200 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mitsubishi Outlander years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2001–2006 Mitsubishi Outlander. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.