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CriticalCommonEngine

Mitsubishi Pajero: 6G72 3.0L V6 Balance Shaft Belt Failure — Oil Pump Drive and Engine Seizure

6G72 3.0L V6 Balance Shaft Belt Failure — Oil Pump Drive and Engine Seizure is a common engine fault on the Mitsubishi Pajero on the 1991–1999 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $3,500 to $9,000 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 39 documented faults on the Mitsubishi Pajero.

Vehicle
Mitsubishi Pajero
Engine
6G72
Years
1991–1999
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Mitsubishi Pajero 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 Pajero faults39 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Timing belt yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 6G72 has a secondary balance shaft belt that also drives the oil pump. If this belt fails the oil pump stops immediately, causing catastrophic oil starvation and engine seizure within seconds with no warning. This belt must be replaced simultaneously with the timing belt yet is frequently omitted by mechanics unfamiliar with the engine. Many belt replacement invoices list only the timing belt, leaving the balance shaft belt in an unknown state. Engine replacement is the typical outcome of balance shaft belt failure.

What you would notice

  • Sudden complete engine seizure with no preceding symptoms
  • Oil pressure warning light illuminates immediately before engine death
  • No oil circulation — engine knocks then stops
  • Engine cannot be turned over by hand after failure

How to check it

Where to look. Lower front of engine block, inside lower timing cover, separate from the main timing belt

Confirm with the seller and in service records that BOTH the timing belt AND balance shaft belt were replaced together. A correct invoice will itemise both belts. If any doubt exists, treat the vehicle as needing both belts immediately. Access the lower timing cover to inspect the balance shaft belt condition visually if possible.

Parts involved: Timing belt.

What it costs to put right

$3,500 to $9,000 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

  • “Were both the timing belt and balance shaft belt replaced at the same service?”
  • “Does the workshop invoice specifically list the balance shaft belt?”
  • “Has oil pressure ever dropped or the oil light ever illuminated?”

Now check the Mitsubishi Pajero 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 published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Mitsubishi Pajero buyer questions

Is 6g72 3.0l v6 balance shaft belt failure — oil pump drive and engine seizure serious on a Mitsubishi Pajero?

We rate it critical and common on the Mitsubishi Pajero. The 6G72 has a secondary balance shaft belt that also drives the oil pump. If this belt fails the oil pump stops immediately, causing catastrophic oil starvation and engine seizure within seconds with no warning. This belt must be replaced simultaneously with the timing belt yet is frequently omitted by mechanics unfamiliar with the engine. Many belt replacement invoices list only the timing belt, leaving the balance shaft belt in an unknown state. Engine replacement is the typical outcome of balance shaft belt failure.

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

$3,500 to $9,000 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 Pajero years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1991–1999 Mitsubishi Pajero. 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.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Confirm with the seller and in service records that BOTH the timing belt AND balance shaft belt were replaced together. A correct invoice will itemise both belts. If any doubt exists, treat the vehicle as needing both belts immediately. Access the lower timing cover to inspect the balance shaft belt condition visually if possible. Look here: Lower front of engine block, inside lower timing cover, separate from the main timing belt