How do you stop a runaway diesel with auto box??

Hi chaps. If lifting the bonnet is a bit scary or you've no means of blocking the intake (perhaps imagination and composure escape you in such a moment) what about blocking the exhaust?

Now I know there is a chance the pressure will cause enough leaks in the system elsewhere to allow it to run, but if you're quick and the system is sound it should certainly slow it up or even work perfectly.

Tom

ifloochies said:

Question is, has anyone really got the guts to pop the hood and do it with the engine running at full bore??

Click to expand...

Im sure some here commenting have seen one run away but most probably haven't, its pretty scary, it goes well beyond the governor speed as its not limited, its as fast as the engine will physically go and usually ends up pistons hitting valves and loads of noise, that and the masses of smoke so you cant even see a few inches make it nigh on impossible to get anywhere near the engine

110widebody said:

Hi chaps. If lifting the bonnet is a bit scary or you've no means of blocking the intake (perhaps imagination and composure escape you in such a moment) what about blocking the exhaust?

Now I know there is a chance the pressure will cause enough leaks in the system elsewhere to allow it to run, but if you're quick and the system is sound it should certainly slow it up or even work perfectly.

Tom

Click to expand...

I cant imagine you would be able to block the exhaust, an engine is one hell of an air pump, stalling something on idle is a different matter to something thats going full chat, the smoke would also make it impossible to find the exhaust in most instances!

I know its been watched many times but would you, in all honesty, get anywhere near this engine bay?

Runaway Diesel Defender 200 TDI - YouTube

I know nothing about a run away, so this maybe a stupid question but when the engines doin that has it passed the stage of turning the ignition off to stop it?

little1uk said:

I know nothing about a run away, so this maybe a stupid question but when the engines doin that has it passed the stage of turning the ignition off to stop it?

Click to expand...

yes, very much so. It only happens with diesels and is basically when the engine gets its own oil in the intake system,. this replaces the diesel and burns like fuel, it will go to full revs and keep going till it either blows up or runs out of oil and siezes, either way you have to be very very lucky to get away with it. Most common cause is leaking turbo, it can be done through the valves leaking or a cracked oilway but 90% of the time its the turbo seals.

Its bad news, very bad news and quite scary the first time you see it happen!

Ah i understand now, it self feeds itself, everyday ya learn summin new

yup, valve seals usually cause limited run away (ie it will rev itself for a bit, then settle down,) as the oil flow isnt usually enough to let it go completely, turbo seals are the most common cause for full blown cataclysms.

Jon your probably right, i might not have the balls to go anywhere near that. :lol:

There is a chap who did though.

RUN AWAY Detroit Diesel! 453-T - YouTube

had to be quick there. lol.

BIG_GINGA_BEARD said:

Jon your probably right, i might not have the balls to go anywhere near that. :lol:

There is a chap who did though.

RUN AWAY Detroit Diesel! 453-T - YouTube

had to be quick there. lol.

Click to expand...

Oh thats gutsy, just a few inches from those trubine blades... this one always makes me laugh, the way the young lad ****s it and then the old boy just bowls over with his bit of wood:

detroit 4-71 in gmc 650 running away start after the 30 years - YouTube

I was gonna reply with ways of killing fuel/air supply, seeing those videos I will stick it in neutral get it below 20 miles an our bail out and run like ####

SnowmanV8 said:

I was gonna reply with ways of killing fuel/air supply, seeing those videos I will stick it in neutral get it below 20 miles an our bail out and run like ####

Click to expand...

Feel free to use your brakes as well :lol:

So the intake is the best bet, would fitting a large valve help, either an electrical one or a manual one. Even if it limited the intake enough to maybe stall it on a manual or block the exhaust also?

Maybe also fitting a t piece and a fire extinguisher at the t piece could also be a worthwhile mod?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=3...hl=en&client=safari#biv=i|2;d|L0op7vMTkQFltM:

Maybe one of those would be a handy mod and could save an engine for the sake of a few quid? I would imagine you would need one rated for water or compressed air to cope with the pressure. I think they also do electrically controlled ones but maybe a manual one in this instance would be safer. It would also help stop thieves driving the car away too if it prevented the engine running?

Simple but effective???

gavbriggs said:

So the intake is the best bet, would fitting a large valve help, either an electrical one or a manual one. Even if it limited the intake enough to maybe stall it on a manual or block the exhaust also?

Maybe also fitting a t piece and a fire extinguisher at the t piece could also be a worthwhile mod?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=3...hl=en&client=safari#biv=i|2;d|L0op7vMTkQFltM:

Maybe one of those would be a handy mod and could save an engine for the sake of a few quid? I would imagine you would need one rated for water or compressed air to cope with the pressure. I think they also do electrically controlled ones but maybe a manual one in this instance would be safer. It would also help stop thieves driving the car away too if it prevented the engine running?

Simple but effective???

Click to expand...

If you put it between the air filter housing and the turbo then there won't be any pressure to deal with

or check your turbo as part of maintenance and carry a co2 extinguisher.

You could carry a fire extinguisher it would be useful for any fire of course but how big does it need to be, co2 is recommended, can you get co2 small enough to fit in the car and big enough to stop the car?

What is the check for the turbo, when mine went I had no idea about diesel cars, it was the first one I had owned. I think only the second one I had driven although I had driven diesel vans. I later found out that oil in the turbo pipes and play in the turbine were indicators!

trax said:

or check your turbo as part of maintenance and carry a co2 extinguisher.

Click to expand...

Its been all doom and gloom and I'm guessing yours is probably the one comment that sums it all up.... best to try avoiding it happening to your pride and joy in the first place bcos it looks like once it lets go, it cant be stopped.

Jongould said:

Im sure some here commenting have seen one run away but most probably haven't, its pretty scary, it goes well beyond the governor speed as its not limited, its as fast as the engine will physically go and usually ends up pistons hitting valves and loads of noise, that and the masses of smoke so you cant even see a few inches make it nigh on impossible to get anywhere near the engine



I cant imagine you would be able to block the exhaust, an engine is one hell of an air pump, stalling something on idle is a different matter to something thats going full chat, the smoke would also make it impossible to find the exhaust in most instances!

I know its been watched many times but would you, in all honesty, get anywhere near this engine bay?

Runaway Diesel Defender 200 TDI - YouTube

Click to expand...

I believe you're right about that mate..... A runaway condition is probably one of the scariest things anyone could ever experience in the world of machinery. One time, I experienced an old mirrlees blackstone engine runaway in the engineroom of a container ship. The noise and vibration was enough to scare all personnel out of even thinking of going close to the engine and throwing a tarp over the turbo air intake to shut it down as was being suggested at the time. Everyone had to stand back and wait the 3 or so agonizing minutes till it started seizing up and slowed down.....