Lachstock and Four Turbo Charged Cylinders ['04 NB SE]

[SKYHI]

Nope the ATI is on the bench and needs to go in for repairs. I'm currently in email discussions with the ATI folks, but it looks like the damper gets to take a plane ride again.

[ManiacLachy]

Looking back, 2019 felt like a bit of a wasted year car wise. I didn't spend much time driving the car for fun, one or two meets were attended, no track events, and I don't even think I went for a mountain run! I spent a lot of time re-visiting old ground wrenching on the car, mostly suspension related. I did learn more though and it was good to tackle the timing belt job and know I can do that and associated works if needed.

I even did some more suspension work again just before the New Year, swapped the front upper arms back to the V8 Roadsters units because I was hearing not especially great noises from the modded OEM arms. I suspect the Supermiata ball joints I installed for the noise, I don't know if it was harmful or not, but the V8s felt better. I noticed a little marking on the OEM arms on the inside of the hole for the shock to pass through, so I suspect there was still some contact there occasionally. The only thing the OEMs have better is the SADFab bronze kit in the bushes, vs regular poly in the V8s.

While I was in there, I cut out the middle section of the fender liners. Supermiata advised that the Xida's increased travel will result in the rubbing I'm experiencing with the liners in place. I didn't want to remove them completely so I just cut out the middle section where rubbing was occurring. So far everything feels improved on the test drives.

So, 2020. Now that the car is no longer used for daily commutes I can hopefully spend more time enjoying it, taking it for mountain runs and maybe even a track event or two. I've got a few things I'd like to do to the car still, hopefully the car will spend some time with Daffy's mate Darren for a bit of professional work, but ultimately I want to move the car to the point where I have confidence in it's power and reliability so I can just hop in and thrash it, and perform basic maintenance. Let's see how we go!

[ManiacLachy]

After the previous post I decided to attend a Nakama meet on the South side of Brisbane, and go for a mountain run on the way home. You know, enjoy my car! The meet was great, a nice turn out at Pham's Cafe 63, always good to chat with other MX5 nuts and check out cars. I got a spin in Daffy's beast, no chance to really wind it out, but I got to experience the BMW box, thanks Daffy!

Shortly before leaving my friend and I decided it was too hot for a mountain drive, and as I walked back to my car I noticed a puddle under my bumper. Oil. On closer inspection there was even a series of drips leading to my parking spot. I checked the dip stick, it was a little low, but not dangerously. I picked up an over-priced bottle from the servo and limped on home where I put a big piece of cardboard under the car.


Later that afternoon ...

Later in the afternoon after I managed the courage to take a look, this was what had dropped. The dipstick now read very close to the Low end. I haven't yet mustered the effort to put the car up on stands yet and investigate further, but this is no drip, this is a gusher. Maybe the turbo oil drain? It's known to be fragile on the SEs. So much for getting back to driving the car!

[Nevyn72]

Bummer!

Mine did something similar not long ago, turned out it was the oil filter relocation kit fitting at the engine block end.

Given mine was just a dodgy eBay kit (not the good Thompson like yours) and had given me lots of trouble previously I just ripped it out and replaced it with a sandwich plate for the oil pressure sender unit. I'll live with the more difficult oil filter changes.....

[ManiacLachy]

Yep, that's my other prime suspect. There's 2 adaptors there, one for the relocation and one for the FM oil cooler, so double the failure points.

I'm kind of hoping it's the turbo line, that's all the excuse I need to toss that IHI junk.

[bruce]

I was going to say a loose oil filter (but it sounds like your relocation kit).

[ManiacLachy]

Well, that would be the easy one to fix. So let's hope.

[Lokiel]

The hot-side oil return line is notoriously brittle, the "accordion" section was very thin metaI, not rubber - I know that mine was unusable after it was removed.

It'll be a bugger to get at if you simply want to do a DIY fix since the entire turbo will need to come out.
MSMjohn on clubroadster has an excellent thread with pictures and torque specs - if you can't find it, let me know and I'll send you the document I created from it.
The DIY fix should be simple enough, you'll just need 2 barbs and a short hose.

Hopefully you've just hit something and it's knocked your FM oil filter fittings loose.

It's going to be a dirty job, you'll need to give the underside a thorough clean just to find where the oil is coming from.

[The American]

Ah Lachy that is no fun!

[Red_Bullet]

That's why I haven't fitted an oil filter relocation kit, Never introduce more points of potential failure into any system. KISS

[Nevyn72]

Enough stalling mate, you've had all weekend to play with it so don't keep us on edge...... Where's the leak?!

[ManiacLachy]

Didn't get a chance to get greasy this weekend, a friend decided last minute (like 3 days out), that for his 40th he wanted a boys weekend in Byron Bay. So that was my weekend stolen, but not entirely wasted.

I think, once I get the car in the air and clean up the mess, I'll have to top the oil and let the car run to find where she's bleeding. Unless it's massively obvious. I'll check the prime suspects visually first, but I imagine it's a blood bath under there right now.

[bruce]

I'm in suspenders(!)

[Lokiel]

I'm in suspenders(!)

Stop watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show!

[Nevyn72]

I'm in suspenders(!)

Stop watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show!

From the post higher up it appears more like the Lachy Horror Picture Show!