Rough-Running Galant: Black Smoke Points to Fuel Issues

Hey there! I had a really similar issue with my '05 Mitsubishi Lancer Diesel. Same symptoms, rough running, power loss, black smoke, the works. Turned out I had a leaking intake manifold gasket that was causing all sorts of chaos. Took it to my trusted mechanic who spotted it pretty quick. The fix wasn't fun for my wallet (425€), but it sorted everything out. They had to replace the gasket and clean up the intake system. Car's been running like a charm since then. What's your mileage? And have you noticed any weird whistling sounds? Could help pinpoint if you're dealing with the same thing I did. Drop more details and I'll share what else I learned from my experience!

Thanks for sharing your experience! My mileage is currently at 133829 KM, and I just had it serviced last month. Actually, now that you mention it, I have been hearing some whistling sounds, especially when accelerating. Was your repair done at a dealership or local shop? I'd be curious to know if there's a specific mechanic you'd recommend who's good with these older Mitsubishis.

Hey again! (As the owner of the '05 Lancer) Yeah, that whistling sound is exactly what I was dealing with, it's like a dead giveaway for intake issues on these Mitsubishis! My car was around 140K when it happened, so we're in the same ballpark mileage-wise. I actually got mine fixed at a local shop called Mike's Auto Care (not the dealership, they wanted nearly double the price ). My mechanic, Dave, is a wizard with Mitsubishis, he used to work at a Mitsubishi dealership for like 15 years before opening his own place. If you're anywhere near Portland, I can definitely hook you up with his contact. Quick tip though, while they're in there fixing the intake manifold gasket, get them to check the EGR valve too. Mine was pretty gunked up, and cleaning it made a huge difference in how the car runs. Would've kicked myself if I hadn't done both at the same time. Just give the car some TLC and don't push it too hard until you get it fixed. These old Mitsubishis are pretty solid once you sort out their quirks! Let me know if you need Dave's number or want any other tips!

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! I'm actually in Seattle, so Portland's a bit far, but I really appreciate the offer. I'll definitely ask about the EGR valve when I take it in, that's a great tip about getting both checked at once. You're right about these cars having quirks, but they're worth fixing up. The fact that your symptoms were so similar to mine really helps narrow down what I'm dealing with. I'll start calling around to some local shops tomorrow and specifically look for someone with Mitsubishi experience. And yeah, I'll definitely avoid the dealership prices Thanks again for all your help! I feel much better knowing what I'm probably dealing with. Will take it easy on the old girl until I get it sorted out.