docwyte
06-19-2010, 06:29 PM
So today was my first track day in the car, since I missed the first 3 events because the car wasn't done.
Loaded up the car last night, woke up early, hitched up the tire trailer and hit the road.
About half way there I hear a loud "Pow!" and lose all power. Been there, done that, blew a boost hose off. Pull over, get my tools from the trailer, pop the hood and reattach the clamp. Put everything away, jump in the car, drive off.
3 minutes later, you guessed it, "Pow!". Cursing, I pull over, get the tools, fix the problem, this time throw the tools in the passenger seat and drive off.
I make it the track without incident, unpack, swap front brake pads and put on my race wheels/tires. Check the boost clamp, looks good. Check the oil and add a quart. Hmmmm, that seems like a lot...
Suit up, grid up, hit the track. First time with this car on the track so I'm tentative. Car seems to have plenty of grip, so I begin to ramp it up after the first 2 laps. Coming out of a gentle right hander, I roll into the throttle. "Pow!"
Off goes the boost hose! I curse. Luckily I'm not in traffic and I'm able to coast to a stop right near a corner station. Now I spend the next 25 minutes baking in my nomex, with helmet, HANS and 6 point harnesses on while I wait for the session to end and them to tow me back to the paddock.
Swap the clamp out for a thinner clamp and tighten the crap out of it. Check the oil. Hmmm, have to add more...
Go out for the 2nd session of the day. Not sure if the boost clamp is going to hold, but nothing ventured, nothing gained! Luckily it does hold up and I start going harder and harder every lap, car has tons of grip! Power isn't particularly impressive though...
Before the last session of the day I check the oil again and have to add a quart. Not so good. Have fun the entire session, really beginning to pick up the pace, tires are beginning to sing in the corners and I'm drifting through some of them. Power is particularly unimpressive, although the boost gauge is showing proper boost. Oil temps are quite high, even with the supplemental oil cooler.
I lift off and let the car cool down and bring it into the paddock.
Pack up, check the oil before I leave and have to add yet another full quart! This definitely is NOT good. Leave the track, hit the A/C button and to add insult to injury, the A/C is not working. Great.
Additionally volt meter is reading around 12.5 volts, so the car is not charging properly either.
Drive home 60 miles stewing, literally and figuratively.
Get home without incident, but blowing copious blueish/white smoke out the exhaust. Low oil light comes on right as I arrive home. So that means I've gone through 4+ quarts in a 120 mile commute and 60 minutes on track.
Compression and leakdowns are excellent, so it's not the motor, it's the turbo oil seals.
I'm about ready to shoot this thing and put myself out of my misery. My wife comments that I shouldn't have bought this car and my old M3 was far more reliable. "Yes dear..."
Any recommendations for a place to send the turbo to be rebuilt?
Loaded up the car last night, woke up early, hitched up the tire trailer and hit the road.
About half way there I hear a loud "Pow!" and lose all power. Been there, done that, blew a boost hose off. Pull over, get my tools from the trailer, pop the hood and reattach the clamp. Put everything away, jump in the car, drive off.
3 minutes later, you guessed it, "Pow!". Cursing, I pull over, get the tools, fix the problem, this time throw the tools in the passenger seat and drive off.
I make it the track without incident, unpack, swap front brake pads and put on my race wheels/tires. Check the boost clamp, looks good. Check the oil and add a quart. Hmmmm, that seems like a lot...
Suit up, grid up, hit the track. First time with this car on the track so I'm tentative. Car seems to have plenty of grip, so I begin to ramp it up after the first 2 laps. Coming out of a gentle right hander, I roll into the throttle. "Pow!"
Off goes the boost hose! I curse. Luckily I'm not in traffic and I'm able to coast to a stop right near a corner station. Now I spend the next 25 minutes baking in my nomex, with helmet, HANS and 6 point harnesses on while I wait for the session to end and them to tow me back to the paddock.
Swap the clamp out for a thinner clamp and tighten the crap out of it. Check the oil. Hmmm, have to add more...
Go out for the 2nd session of the day. Not sure if the boost clamp is going to hold, but nothing ventured, nothing gained! Luckily it does hold up and I start going harder and harder every lap, car has tons of grip! Power isn't particularly impressive though...
Before the last session of the day I check the oil again and have to add a quart. Not so good. Have fun the entire session, really beginning to pick up the pace, tires are beginning to sing in the corners and I'm drifting through some of them. Power is particularly unimpressive, although the boost gauge is showing proper boost. Oil temps are quite high, even with the supplemental oil cooler.
I lift off and let the car cool down and bring it into the paddock.
Pack up, check the oil before I leave and have to add yet another full quart! This definitely is NOT good. Leave the track, hit the A/C button and to add insult to injury, the A/C is not working. Great.
Additionally volt meter is reading around 12.5 volts, so the car is not charging properly either.
Drive home 60 miles stewing, literally and figuratively.
Get home without incident, but blowing copious blueish/white smoke out the exhaust. Low oil light comes on right as I arrive home. So that means I've gone through 4+ quarts in a 120 mile commute and 60 minutes on track.
Compression and leakdowns are excellent, so it's not the motor, it's the turbo oil seals.
I'm about ready to shoot this thing and put myself out of my misery. My wife comments that I shouldn't have bought this car and my old M3 was far more reliable. "Yes dear..."
Any recommendations for a place to send the turbo to be rebuilt?