To Buy and Drive or not to... Montero SR

[Sharpline]

Hello all,

This is my first post on this forum, however I have stalked it for many years.
I come to you because of the general knowlege of the Monteros.

I hear they are reliable but the piston seals tend to go rather often and they smoke.

To the questions:
I have located a 97 Montero SR that seems to be in good condition body wise and interior.
However it does smoke. Used dealer said they put synthetic in it and it helped a bit.
The kicker is, it would be a 1500 mile drive home with it.

Should I be worried about a drive like this with an already smoking Montero?
Will it make it?

The dealer also did not know when the last time the timing belt was changed... problem there too?
What else should I ask about it?

The truck has about 170k on it and I offered them $3800.
What do you all think?

I am mostly concerned about getting home, I can have the seals done when I get here (average cost I should look at for that?).

Your insight is very much appriciated (sorry if this information has all been posted, I think I have gone through every Montero thread on here),
Sharpline

 

[off-roader]

head gaskets are only an issue with the 2.6L 4 cylinder engines which they stopped offering in 1989.

The smoking issue is likely due to the valve guide seals drying up and cracking. Does it smoke heavily when you start it when the engine's cold (early morning)? If so, then it's likely the Valve Guide seals. If you want to be 100% sure, have a leak down test performed to verify it's not the O-rings.

In my experience it's a common problem on the V6 engines but it's not a show stopper by any stretch so long as you keep the oil topped off. Also, I'd switch back to regular decent dyno oil depending on how much oil is being burnt off. The oil loss shouldn't be an issue for a 1500 mile drive assuming you keep an eye on the oil level with each fill up. In my 96SR, the problems pretty bad and I have to add a quart every few hundred miles or so. That said, she still runs like a top and can easily travel at 80+mph with big 35" tires.

Pricing depends a lot on the vehicle condition and mileage is only one consideration. How does the interior look? What work has been recently performed on the engine, etc.

Speaking of engine work... check the condition of the timing belt by removing a few bolts on the timing belt cover and carefully prying it back and taking a peak at it. If it's cracked, then you should replace it first since the engine is an interference engine and if the belt breaks, you will damage your valves and likely the heads as well. Typical cost for a timing belt R&R is ~700 including the belt tensioner, water pump, etc.

HTH.

 

[Sharpline]

Thanks for the info.

The interior and exterior look very good for the vehicle age, although I am only looking at photos.
The dealer was not sure what had been preformed on the car, I will ask them to pull their records and also have the shop look at the timing belt condition.

Here are some photos I stole...


Any more input?

 

[GrassCat]

My 2 cents, don't buy a 1997 Montero for $3800, unless it's in show room condition. The one you describe is not. You will spend almost another $2000 in parts and labor to fix it. Can you do some of the labor yourself? If so, that will lower the cost a little bit, but you still have the price of parts and machine work on the heads.

You can buy a Gen 2.5 model for that kind of money. I've even see Gen 3's that needed what's needed in the 97 you mention for $4k or less needing similar work.

I know some say a 1997 is a Gen 2.5, but it's not.

You don't say where you're from. So I can not offer any help in locating a truck for you.

 

[Sharpline]

I was looking in the Portland Oregon area.
I have a buisness trip there next week and was hoping to drive back to Denver, CO.
I do rather like the locking rear diff, but would not be a deal killer.

See anything in portland that looks like a winner?

 

[off-roader]

Hmmm the seat leather looks nice but the passenger side front arm rest looks suspect since there's a yellow (crack??) spot in the 4th pic.

I'd ask the dealer to tell you all the problems he can see up front so you don't end up being surprised when you're there and possibly wasting a trip to his lot.