Vaporwave5
New member
Hi Guys, new Subie owner from Potchefstroom, South Africa. Been into the STi since I got a little yellow toy one as a kid, its even still on my display case! The life sized one isn't yellow though but still a banger. A black 2006 WRX Sti 6MT with a Zero Sport body kit. Bought it second hand in February of this year as soon as I saved up enough. My first self bought car. Could have imagined my excitement when I got it. I'm really exited to join the forums here, especially as we don't have all that many Subie enthusiasts where I'm from.
Really love the car, but faith has forsaken me. The motor blew up three days after I took ownership. This was about end of Feb, start of March 2020. First though was that was the reason it was being sold and there was some underlying problem. We had contacted mechanics not involved with the sale that have previously looked at the car in detail and gave it the clear before the purchase. I have a local Subaru mechanic that I got through a recommendation from another WRX owner from the town next to me, who is going to start work on it.
Unfortunately SA is currently under lock-down due to the pandemic, so we have to wait it out until work can start on the car. I have spoken to a couple of the trusted mechanics and tuners from my area and explained the symptoms and events leading on to the blow up. Here are the events if anybody wants to know:
- Holding 5th gear at +- 6000 rpm WOT
- Oil pressure drops to zero
- Air/Fuel mixture reading at 22 (Yeah a catastrophic number)
- Reduce revs
- Oil pressure returns
- Revs do not increase even with depression of accelerator
- Oil pressure drops
- Check engine and oil lights come on
- Engine loses speed and dies
- Engine cranks but won't start
It's a horror story and left me pretty bummed. I have been told the Subies don't like being held at a high rpm and boost for too long. After speaking to some of the local mechanics it sounds like the car was not properly tuned for the modifications it had, causing it to run lean, causing over heating on the pistons, rods etc. and having the oil pressure build up too much and then blowing up?
Currently the car is under a cover and waiting for the lock-down to end so I could't have anybody have a look at it yet. But I'm pretty much ready for a entire engine rebuild. Would be interesting if anybody has some input on if they had similar experiences? Just can't wait to get it on the road again.
Modifications include:
Forged Wiseco pistons
TD07 turbo
Upgraded Mishimoto radiator
Screamer pipe
Zero sport body kit
The car was running at about 1.2 bar boost
Producing 220kw at the wheels
Really love the car, but faith has forsaken me. The motor blew up three days after I took ownership. This was about end of Feb, start of March 2020. First though was that was the reason it was being sold and there was some underlying problem. We had contacted mechanics not involved with the sale that have previously looked at the car in detail and gave it the clear before the purchase. I have a local Subaru mechanic that I got through a recommendation from another WRX owner from the town next to me, who is going to start work on it.
Unfortunately SA is currently under lock-down due to the pandemic, so we have to wait it out until work can start on the car. I have spoken to a couple of the trusted mechanics and tuners from my area and explained the symptoms and events leading on to the blow up. Here are the events if anybody wants to know:
- Holding 5th gear at +- 6000 rpm WOT
- Oil pressure drops to zero
- Air/Fuel mixture reading at 22 (Yeah a catastrophic number)
- Reduce revs
- Oil pressure returns
- Revs do not increase even with depression of accelerator
- Oil pressure drops
- Check engine and oil lights come on
- Engine loses speed and dies
- Engine cranks but won't start
It's a horror story and left me pretty bummed. I have been told the Subies don't like being held at a high rpm and boost for too long. After speaking to some of the local mechanics it sounds like the car was not properly tuned for the modifications it had, causing it to run lean, causing over heating on the pistons, rods etc. and having the oil pressure build up too much and then blowing up?
Currently the car is under a cover and waiting for the lock-down to end so I could't have anybody have a look at it yet. But I'm pretty much ready for a entire engine rebuild. Would be interesting if anybody has some input on if they had similar experiences? Just can't wait to get it on the road again.
Modifications include:
Forged Wiseco pistons
TD07 turbo
Upgraded Mishimoto radiator
Screamer pipe
Zero sport body kit
The car was running at about 1.2 bar boost
Producing 220kw at the wheels
... These guys are from Johannesburg that came through town.
