Spudooli

I feel like I've just been given a huge bonus in my pay

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NIKON D70 - 1/50 sec, f4 at 50mm

For the last 12 months my car has been leaking oil onto our garage floor. It hasn't really been a big deal and you've got to expect that from a car that has traveled 320,000 km and that turns 19 this year. But over the last 2 months that small leak has turned into something that is now embarrassing me when we're out in mixed company.

Every hour it drops oil about the size of about a NZ50 cent piece. For my American friends (you know who you are), that's about 2 quarters every hour. For my Chinese and UK friends, you're on you're own ;-)

Given the car sits for long periods of time, that's quite a noticeable amount. It's like the cat vomiting on the carpet. It's gone from acceptable to downright disgusting.

I took it in for an assessment yesterday. The diagnosis was very bad. Very bad. The surgeons thought it was a leak from the head gasket. Both at the back and the front. This was most distressing. Not as distressing as Steve Irwin dying suddenly and distressingly (more on that at a later date), but soul melting nonetheless.

Today I went to pick the thing up from the mechanic and while chatting, I managed to convince them to put it up on the hoist for second opinion. With me hovering like an expectant parent, the blue overalled car geeks prodded and poked with flashlight and mirror and swab the one true love of my life. Bugger me if they didn't come to a new conclusion. The leak is coming from the oil pressure sensor. The potential invoice just reduced from more than NZ$2,000 (US$1,293.15) to NZ$38.50 (US$24.89).

All this afternoon I've been walking around thinking I've just been handed an extra $2000 in my pay. I'd already resigned myself to paying out a wodge of cash and now it was like I'd found that much money in the pocket of a jacket I hadn't worn since last winter. I've been on a money high for the last 6 hours.

The Photo

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz. I wonder where the birdies is. Spring bulbs have erupted all over our place. Apart from down our driveway where our completely fucken retarded neighbor has driven over them with his wank SUV because he can't reverse like a man. He is a fricken cross dressing, couldn't back a car to save his life dick.

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Posted: Tuesday, 5 September, 2006 18:45

Captured: 2006:09:05 17:32:35

Add your own comment

  • Gorgeous! Love the colour and depth of field.
    Ian - Tuesday, 5 September, 2006 22:58
  • i call them FUVs. maybe you could install some of those "severe tire damage" spikes along the edge of your driveway. although, you'd have to take you wife's driving into consideration as well.
    bon bon - Wednesday, 6 September, 2006 1:06
  • Thanks for the laugh. I'll get Clenton to read this one
    Mo - Wednesday, 6 September, 2006 6:21
  • When I was 19 I had trouble with my leaking all over the place too. Then I invented Wet & Forget!
    Rik - Wednesday, 6 September, 2006 8:55
  • Rodeny was leaking balls all over the place int he weekend too. Think it'll just be a $38.50 sensor that needs replacing for him Rik?
    BC - Wednesday, 6 September, 2006 9:05
  • bon bon, there is the issue, mny wife can back our car down the driveway better than the next door neighbor which shows how lame he is. On the other hand, sometimes I'm wondering if she is having an affair with him.
    Dave - Wednesday, 6 September, 2006 9:58
  • I've seen you neighbour and his car is definitely bigger than yours.
    Rik - Wednesday, 6 September, 2006 10:09
  • It just goes to show that only wimmin should drive SUV's...love the fresias...took eldest son's car for a warrant thinking I would get it easier cos a little red light was glowing on the dash....not so. The nameless service guy asked me did I want a quote for a screw for the airbag...hell I didn't think I looked that poor so caustic'ly said NO. On picking up the car the fecking bill was NZ$500. The screw is the essential guts of the airbag.
    Michele - Wednesday, 6 September, 2006 11:27
  • Is that a new or old NZ50 cent piece? I really like this picture - good stuff.
    Tim - Wednesday, 6 September, 2006 12:45
  • Love that photo. Spring has sprung! How uncanny that you should be talking about your car, as it appears to have had a few close shaves the past couple of days. Sorry Gabba - I could not resist after reading about the car tonight! And Michele - "Dam that screw!" And how dare he ask you if you wanted a quote! The cheek of him!
    Debbie - Wednesday, 6 September, 2006 22:09
  • I'm sensing a little anger here....just let it go.....Great news about the car and lucky you that spring is sprunging. Another cold Canadian summer is just around the corner.
    sandy - Thursday, 7 September, 2006 2:37
  • good point, Dave. i'll bet Gabba hit your car just to impress him! nice detective work on your part.
    bon bon - Thursday, 7 September, 2006 3:25
  • very good image especially as its taken with a 50 mm and not a macro!
    Mr Crewcut - Monday, 11 September, 2006 14:03

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