Ticking noise

I don't know Pagero models well.. whats 3l? 3lt petrol?? because this sounds like a sticky hydraulic lifter (sits between cam and lifters and takes up the valve lash) the timing is right (mornings and cold) but the location is odd.. maybe the noise is reflecting off the ground, or are you hearing it through an open window?
If it is a lifter, before going to the expense of changing it/them, try using an engine oil flush at your next change, or run deisel engine oil for one change (high detergent) as this may free it up.

not trying to be a smartass but it's not the power aerial going up is it?

Rodney.
A loose baffel in the mufler? If you determin it is a lifter all you have to do to clear it is to push a piece of 1 mm steel wire into the oil return hole on top of the lifter while the engine is running, that will cause a rapid flow of oil through the lifter and clear the crud. Eric.

Hello Rodney

On 3.0L and 3.5L V6s there is a device in the valve train called a valve lash adjuster (VLA). This device is like a little piston and cylinder filled with oil. It is different from a hydraulic lifter, and functions to keep the slack in the valve train to a minimum as the engine ages. The VLA has a little ball valve held in place by a spring, and uses oil pressure to take in oil and place constant pressure on its valve. Dirty oil from even several oil changes ago (or a previous owner) can leave particles in the ball valve that hinder its ability to remain pressurized. This leaves slack in the system and you hear it as clicking. It is also caused by getting air bubbles past the check valve that is now stuck at the top of the little cylinder, unable to leave via the ball valve at the bottom.

SYMPTOMS: A valve train clatter on startup that does not go away when the engine is warmed. If it goes away, this is not your problem.

Solution from http://www.4x4wire.com/mitsubishi/tech/
1. Warm up the engine.

2. With the gearbox in neutral, gently rev the engine from idle to 3000rpm over a period of exactly 15 seconds. Your goal is a constant gradual increase to 3000rpm. At the 15 second mark, drop the throttle (foot off the gas) to idle. Now let it idle for 15 seconds to complete one 30 second cycle

3. Repeat the 30 second cycle in #2 from 10 to 30 times. If the problem persists after 30 cycles, this is not your problem. It fixed mine after only 5 cycles - total silence.

Causes
· Low oil - now or previously.

· Dirty oil - now or previously.

· High oil - now or previously (con rods slap the too high oil and "foam" it). Note that high oil can be caused by coolant contamination from a blown gasket, not just by overzealous owners. Parking on a steep hill - now or previously. With the engine off, this encourages the VLA to drain its oil (running steep hills are not a problem, unless it's so steep the oil is getting "foamed" by the con rods).

· Parking for long periods - now or previously. Over time they'll drain.

You might also like to look at the Victorian Pajero Club website
http://www.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/

Best wishes

Rod,
This is the go to fix your noisy lifter, almost everyone has this at some stage with their Paj and it works well. Put that 4X4wire website in you favourites cause there is lots of info about pajeros, well the U.S. calls them Monteros, there's tech tips and all sorts.....

cheers
mike

I guess with that many K's, things are going to start wearing a bit, you could probably try some different oil, synthetic stuff, maybe something slightly thicker. If you want to get serious you can take it to Mitsubishi to fix it. Mine does it from time to time, when it warms up ther's no more noise. My Paj has over 240k on the original engine and apart from this lifter noise from time to time, its as good as the day it was new.

cheers
mike

Halfway along the underside of the vehicle I would be looking for an exhaust flange that has a tiny gap when cold which closes when the exhaust system gets hot.

More likely to be at the exhaust manifold though - check to make sure you dont have a few broken manifold studs - that will cause exactly the same symptoms.

A lot cheaper than replacing lifters - if you want to check the lifters use a lighter grade high quality oil like Penrite for a while see if that cures the lifter, if there was crud in it it would do it a lot more.

Hope this helps
Kes