Mitsubishi Triton 3.2L TD 2008 model engine noise

Reckon No 1 could have it, but suggested other ideas :o)

Just to clarify - The noise is like a roar over the top of the normal diesel engine "roar". It sounds like a large fan is working over time or something like that - a bit hard to explain. It is almost like a really load wind tunnel roar type sound - sorry bet I can do!

Also - Yes Turbo etc is over that side.

It is definitely not a road noise, wheels, bearings, brakes, wind noise etc as I said before it still does it coasting down hill at 120-130 km per hour while in neutral or the clutch disengaged.

Got me???

Maybe it is telling you to SLOW down LOL

Cheers Kev

Yeah - maybe it is. However I don't usually travel at that speed. 110 is normally fast enough for me on the freeway.....

Though - I am pretty Mr Mitsubishi would have far more refined, intelligent and more annoying ways of telling me to slow down these days :)

Viscous fan? Sound like an oil cooler fan? I am not sure I will check that out. It has only just started making this noise though and it does not sound like a normal noise.....i.e. it is quite loud - to the point that it is really annoying. The only fans I can recall is the main engine fan which runs off the main drive belts etc and cools the radiator.

I have had vehicles in the past which turn on electric cooling fans to cool down even after the engine has ben turned off. It is much louder than that type of sound.

Yeah - I have been watching the temp gauge and it has always been on about half way or just over. There doesn't seem to be anything unusual happening there.....

Yep a mechanical fan is much much louder than an electric fan since they are driven by a much bigger motor!

They are designed this way, an electric fan or even two would not be able to cool a 4WD radiator well enough when there is very little forward speed such as on an extended climb.

Yes it is loud, but it should be rarely heard unloaded & motoring on the freeway.

May I suggest you inspect the cooling system for issues....

Cheers

Yes - I will do that next. It does make sense that even though the outside ambient temperatures have been varied during the occurance from hot to cold it could still occur independently and intermittently if there is an issue with say for example a thermostat or a blockage of some type in the cooling system. Thanks

Thanks Pat - yep - it is definitely starting to sound more like a temperature system issue. It does sound like a large fan working over time... Next step is MM for a check...

It's not wind related as it stops as soon as you drop the revs like when coasting in neutral... thx

Ok this sounds like it is the culprit! This is what I was looking for someone else with the same vehicle and problem (why try and rediscover the wheel!)... Thanks for that. Yep that is what it sounds like something very loud.

Have you complained to MM about it? Does it happen very often?? Mine did it for 50 km or som continuously the other day and the outside temperature was only in the mid 20's C. Surely this can't be normal.

I did have a mitsubishi mechanic look at it quickly and come for a drive and he could not solve the problem and he certainly did not mention that it was the fan at all.

Strange thing is - why is it still coming on when I am cruising at 100 km in 5th gear on the freeway after just leaving home. The temp gauge is reading low to mid anf the motor could hardly be very warm. Perhaps it IS a thermostat problem, this is the only obvious explanation to me if it is the fan as those things do tend to die now and again from what I understand. I might go over and check out newtriton.net.....

I am going to MM for a check up and hopefully they can give me an answer. It is definitely not normal for a vehicle to do this all the time! It needs to be rectified. If it was every now and again it would be acceptable but I towed a 1.8 t boat and full rear canopy camping about 1.5 hour drive with 4 people on board a few weeks back and it never missed a beat, never made a sound, smooth as, towed like a champion (all 2 tonnes or so that I was carrying!!!!). I do admit the temperature was no more than 20 degrees C but still - it was working pretty damn hard towing all that gear up some pretty decent hills and guess what - no noise! Now I cruise with no load at all and it happens - it has to be a thermostat issue if it is the fan noise!!

Thanks for the help - I will post up my finding for everyone....

Cheers

James

I am still waiting for parts to come in from MM. Expecting another week. I think I will make some calls tommorrow and try to expedite the whole affair.

Yeah, my Triton makes a horribly loud noise that appears over 2000 rpm onwards. Sounds like it is doint 5000 rpm instead of 2000. Like a dozer on steroids!

After more driving now I have found that it appears to happen mainly when the outside temperature is higher, it is persistent when the temperature is over the low 20's degree C. It also occurs on first start up until the motor is at operating temperature. Apparently it is normal for this fan to start up then and when the car is under load or getting warm in longer stints in city traffic etc etc....

The fan should NOT make this very loud noise though. MM are going to replace my fan. I am assuming that will fix the problem. I guess there must be some problem with the "silicon??" clutch in the fan hub or perhaps the fan is out of round or has a buckle in one of the blades that is causing it to run out of balance or something and makes this horrible noise.

Well - we will find out soon if that is the problem when the fan is replaced..... They counted out the problem being from the thermostat as it would apparently either stick open or closed according to the mechanics and then it would just overheat....

Tag - Not sure if the noise you are hearing is the same one I am hearing, however if it is then I believe that it should not be making such a loud noise. A fan is OK to cool things down but they apparently are NOT supposed to be that loud when the fan clutch does engage and theyu operate. Perhaps we have found an inherent fault in the triton... ie an issue with the design of the fan/hub/fan clutch???

INteresting to hear if anyone else has had this problem. 5000 k is nothing too, not even run in and yours is making the noise???

James

Hi

I have the same vehicle.

I towed a camper trailer trailer from Brisbane to the Kimberley last October via the Plenty and Tanami. The noise you are referring to is simply a fan that kicks in when the engine temperature reaches a certain point. Driving through the Kimberley and the Pilbara towing a trailer in 40 degree heat the noise was there constantly - and it is quite a roar. In my case I didn't consider it to be a big deal. In my Triton the fan switched off when the outside temperature dropped or I slowed down.

Cheers,

Geoff

Thanks James and Geof...
I too have woked out that this is normal....
Being a new vehicle this is the first warm weather that I have experienced so was unsure of the nosie to begin with.....
Paul

The mechanic from MM ensured me that THIS was NOT a normal noise and the thermo fan should NOT be as loud as that. Sure it is supposed to come on when the weather is warm and when the engine is working very hard however it is not supposed to be that noisy.

Actually they also told me that the fan comes on when you first start the vehicle (cold start) also. It then disengages and stops when normal running temperature is reached.

I can understand the fan running for a long time when driving through hot 30 degree C or so with perhaps a load or lots of hill work but it should not stay on either for normal 19-25 degrees C range...constantly! There is an issue!

BTW my new fan has arrived at MM and they are replacing my old fan later this week coming. I will post the results up.

Cheers

James

Progress so far.....

I have had the vehicle back to MM 3 or 4 times now!

First time they changed the thermo fan clutch (central hub section). THis did not solve the problem. Not sure why they wouldn't have changed the fan blades while they were at it??? A lot of work to NOT solve the problem.

Now I pick up the car again today as they decided that the fan BLADES were the issue, causing all the noise. They changed the blades over to one off a new model they had and they have ordered new blades in for later in the week to swap them over (kind of a quick temporary fix). Problem is - It is not a fix. The same noise is there. All the way home it was there as usual. It will be there all the way to Sydney and back tomorrow I dare say. Pain in the rear!!!!!

This noise is driving me nuts. It is ok when the fan is not running .. the car is a dream to drive. But once that fan starts up and runs with the revs (especially after 2000 rpm onwards) it sounds like the guts are being ripped out of the thing....

I am getting very frustrated now with MM and the car and if this issue is not fixed soon I will be talking seriously about compensation with MM... They can take the car for what I paid and I will get another car.. NOT a MM!!!

Will keep all posted!

James