Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

I'm checking out a L400,,and not yet familiar with deisel.

the van seems very good in general,,but I smelt and noticed a puff of smoke starting up,,,along with moisture spatter from the exhaust.--is this normal or indicitive of something to pay attention to??
.....the oil dipstick showed quite black as well--a concern??

.......thanks for any advice!

After 30 seconds of a new oil change on a diesel,it will be black...it threw me off when i found out too...

Don't give your engine any pumps at start,should just turn on after glow light has gone off,some moisture is common.

Its also not a bad idea to wait a few seconds more after the light goes out since the plugs are still in cycle. I find the extra few seconds really help it start smoother. Even in the winter when very cold, letting it cycle a couple times also helps.

I'm no expert, but I believe a little puff is common as long as its not grey or blue. I know my Paj only smoked at startup for the first few months or 10000 or so kms and now it barely shakes or sputters.

micah202 wrote:I'm checking out a L400,,and not yet familiar with deisel.

the van seems very good in general,,but I smelt and noticed a puff of smoke starting up,,,along with moisture spatter from the exhaust.--is this normal or indicitive of something to pay attention to??
.....the oil dipstick showed quite black as well--a concern??

.......thanks for any advice!

All of the above are normal when starting.

...thanks for the info,,it gives some confidence.
.....the '95 seems really good and solid,,,,but the guys asking only 6G for it,,,,so I'm suspicious, ,,,,and that's the only element of concern I could find.

....I'm still going t'get it checked out

this site is very helpful,,,most other questions are answered already!......thanks again

Look over this and the tech forum areas

http://www.delica.ca/forum/new-to-l400- ... -8009.html

jfarsang wrote:Look over this and the tech forum areas

http://www.delica.ca/forum/new-to-l400- ... -8009.html

yes,,I reviewed that--very useful,thanks....

.......took the vehicle to ATEB ,great guys,,,they pointed out,,no inspection sticker,,,no compliant headlight lenses,,no DOT brake hoses .....the seller said he had the lenses ,,but took them off to save $$ ....the van seemed pretty good otherwise,,,but the trust was gone

.....the hunt continues......

Great info,please advise about DOT brake hoses??Head lights are a given at $1000 or $200 for cheap taiwan brand head lights that fit like shit.

About the inspection sticker,i heard its not posted on windsheild,incase window needed to be replaced.
Did you go for new inspection or to see if vans a good van??
$6k is cheap and i guess with $1000 head-lights would make it a sweet deal at $5000......i paid $10,000 plus both taxes for mine..Good luck on hunt

micah202 wrote:...no DOT brake hoses

That's a new one - never heard that one before. You didn't have a 'mechanic' at a Canadian Tire 'inspect' it, did you?

Paul, its right on the list just under DOT Valve Stems

I have had worries before about the smoke at start-up when i was looking for new ride. Think i pulled out of a great deal on a L400 previously because of it....wish i had realized then how common it was.

mararmeisto wrote:

micah202 wrote:...no DOT brake hoses

That's a new one - never heard that one before. You didn't have a 'mechanic' at a Canadian Tire 'inspect' it, did you?

....went to ATEB on kingsway.They mostly do the JDM's.They do the import inspections,,,though I just went for a buyer assessment.Before they dug into it,,they pointed out the non-compliant factors,,,including thatthe brake flex hoses aren't DOT.