The past fortnight I’ve been a pretty unlucky guy. A few components installed on the Stagea failed, My back pains had come back and I managed to get pulled over.
Last week on the way home from work, cruising the M4 I noticed smoke exiting from the back of the Stag, glancing through my rear view. At first I thought I could be tyre rubbing the guards as I played with the suspension arms previously, and it wasn’t constant. However when I came to a stop there was that distinctive burnt oil smell. Puzzled I pulled over and went over the car. The whole car was covered in oil, it was everywhere!
After ripping the intake snorkel off, I had a look around the turbo, and to my surprise the oil drain hose had split in multiple places. After letting the car cool down I checked the dip-stick and it was bone dry, awesome. Strandard, Julie came to my rescue. We went home got some supplies and dodged it up so we could get the Stagea home.
I went over the car again once it was home and removed the oil drain hose, yep it was screwed. The same morning a reoccurring back injury had come back to haunt me which made things even more “fun” for me.
The plan of attack was to borrow Julie’s Lancer at the crack of dawn, and find a suitable replacement for the damaged hose. I went to Repco and Autoexcel and both stores didn’t have anything sufficient. Before I knew it was time for Julie to go to work so I was boned. My back was giving me grief too so I just let the car stay the way it was. Anyways I gave Paulie a ring to see what he was up to, other than ”fapping” he had nothing on so he came around and we went for a hunt for a hose suitable for oil.
We headed to MTQ/Sonic performance in Wetherill park but as usual they had nothing in stock. So I then thought we’d try Pirtek as their products are mainly for industrial use (i.e higher grade etc). I ended up getting an offcut of a high pressure industrial hose for a measly $5. This bad boy will never split, look at the wall thickness! I bought some new heavy-duty T bolt clamps too.
Paulie installed the hose for me, I would have had no chance of getting it on if it wasn’t for him. Amazing how pain can make you feel so useless, mind is willing body isn’t etc.
NTS: If I’m ever-changing a turbo, either get a braided oil return hose, or a new rubber item.
All was well for a few days until on my travel to work I had an encounter with Highway patrol. I was stopped at a set of lights as were they facing the opposite way. Their disco lights came on and I knew I was in for a world of pain, Anyway by the time they did a U-turn and cut through traffic I was near the M4 turnoff which I take to get to work. The lights turned amber and I hit the gas and went on the turn off. Shortly after the Po-po were in my rear view and I pulled to the side on the M4.
Long story short, They pinged me for running a red light (I could have sworn it was amber when I was through it). However they didn’t bother looking at the car. I told them I was late for work and they said “ok we’ll let you go and we’ll send you a fine in the mail”. So it’s a double-edged sword I suppose, I’d rather suck it up and deal with the fine then getting defected, and being sent to an emissions station. Let’s just hope I don’t get a “surprise” in the mail huh?
48 hours later, I’m on my way to work again you know the usual daily grind rubbish. I attempt to pull up at a set of lights and some funky shit starts happening to the front of the Stag. Next thing I know the car won’t move! I spot a driveway up, I go for it attempting to move the 2 tonne car whilst getting across 2 lanes. I was basically dropping a fat skid just trying to get into a safe place.
I have a look around to see what the fuck happened and then I see it. Drivers side brake caliper has fallen off! I just couldn’t believe my luck. So I sat around all angry and shit and had a tow truck organised to come grab the car.
2 hours pass, multiple calls made and this tow truck is no where in sight. Frustrated to say the least I decide to dodge it up and get it driveable. So I run around to Repco, grab all the shit I need and get to work in the scorching heat.
I was so pissed, I just dumped the car at Dahtone Racing. The next day Anth informed me that the caliper mount has been bent too so I needed a replacement. Luckily I found one close by and managed to fix it all up on the Saturday.
Best of all, I had a fresh pair of tyres put on the front prior to the caliper falling off, and now they are flat spotted!
With all that junk that happened, I hope some luck comes my way and the Stagea behaves for a while.
I feel you man. I encountered almost the same as yours. Thanks for sharing this.