I have a 1995 Pajero with the 2.8 Liter diesel motor, we have owned this 4x4 for around 16 years. The Pajero has now just shy of 300,000 Kms and is used mainly to pull our 17' Jayco pop top around. This it has done with out complaints. It is regulary serviced, oil,filters and what ever it needs to keep the pajero on the car.

We took the pajero over to Triabunna ( East coast of tassie ) for a few days free camping. A great time and was heading back home on the monday morning and heading up to Swansea and turned left on to the lake leak road.This is fairly hilly road and with the caravan on the back, one must take it time in climing the hills, changing down when required. This trip we have done many times over the years.
We had not long left Swansea and onto the lake leak road. Taking time and just let the pajero down through the gears, I think i was in 3rd gear and about 2500 in reves. Nice and easy as i said. All of a sudden the Pajero when BANG with steam? and very quickly pulled over to the sholder of the road and shut the motor down. I then lifted the bonnet and only to discover water and steam had vacated the radiator. Nothing i could do at the time but to call up road side assestance ( RACT ) Not a lot of phone service, but we got there in the end. After a while and while waiting for the RACT to come i decided to check and find out just what had happened. Removing the radiator cap and i found out the cap had fallen apait and while i had the top of the cap in my hand the rest was still in the neck of the radiator. Great, i did not have a spair cap, i did have water in the caravan though !
After what seamed a eternity the RACT people turned up and after having a look at the radiator found that the top plastic tank had a big split in it. It looks like the radiator cap had failed and was nor releasing the pressure as it should. This was something that could not be repaired on the side of the road.
The RACT ened up towin the pajero and our caravan home and then after unloading the caravan took the pajero on to our machanics workshop.
Fast forward two weeks and finaly got the pajero back, new radiator, new radiator cap, new coolant aditive and a couple of hose clamps. Not a cheap fix to say the least ( what is these days ) But we happy for now, even a little bit poorer, but this a first for me and the wife. We were very lucky that we did not damage the head on the motor. While the pajero is now 30 years old as far as i know the pajero still had it's original radiator and cap, so after 30 odd years i think that is a pritty good innings.

So in the end i ask every one reading this to replace there radiator cap for piece of mind !!