Potential Disaster- Advice Needed

A worst case scenario happened
Got a call from the Mrs - stuck on the side of the A1 in the Landy saying something catastrophic had happened to it. She had already called the RAC and they were on their way. She was in a bit of a panic and so did not take in full what had happened, her best recollection is: the engine began to race (roaring) was her description for about ten seconds and then it stopped. She can't remember if she switched it off or if it stopped itself. It sounded like a runaway at first, but now I don't think it was. The RAC dropped it off half an hour ago and so I've had a look at it. No oil on dipstick! Oil all over the place underneath, so something has burst. The RAC guy had tried the key and he said it turned over. I've done the same thing for a split second and it turned, so not seized. Could well be damaged though Water level normal. It's too dark to do anything on the drive now.
What I'm wondering is what pipe is likely to have gone? oil cooler pipe somewhere? Perished breather pipe?
Why did it rev up? If the oil drops out, can that make the engine rev up?
She thinks she may have been changing in to 5th when the engine then revved up, so dipping the clutch allowed it to rev, but she can't be sure. It all happened a bit fast and loud I think.
Any thoughts on the above?
I'm devastated, but trying to put a brave face on (missing the emojies from the old site, especially the one with the tears pouring out of the eyes)

EDIT
Sudden oil contamination of the clutch making it rev up?

A blown turbo would make it run on the oil and the engine would run away with itself
That would give you no oil on the dipstick and more than likely oil all over the place

David bailey said:

A blown turbo would make it run on the oil and the engine would run away with itself
That would give you no oil on the dipstick and more than likely oil all over the place

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Cheers David. I know, and that might have happened, but it only revved high for seconds. Ten or so, the Mrs thinks it might have been even less, it just seemed that long cos she wanted it to stop. I've still no idea how it did stop and she can't remember.
Can you get a partial run away?
The oil has dropped out of the bottom from somewhere. There was drips all over the trailer when it got dropped off. The fins on the front diff have oil lying in them.
If it was a turbo failure, would all of the oil not go through the turbo and burn up in the engine. Not end up on the road and all over the lower engine and axle?

I know I'm stating the obvious here but you need to ascertain the source of the leak and go from there.

You say it's everywhere underneath, from which I presume it is not splattered all over the upper areas of the engine bay? Just over the running gear below the engine?

Have a look in daylight,
If it was me i would put more oil in to the correct level and see if it is leaking with out running it if not i would run it but put someone behind the wheel that can turn it off or stall it in a hurry

What injun?

Think it's a 300tdi

Retroanaconda said:

I know I'm stating the obvious here but you need to ascertain the source of the leak and go from there.

You say it's everywhere underneath, from which I presume it is not splattered all over the upper areas of the engine bay? Just over the running gear below the engine?

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Yeah, just bottom half of engine and running gear. I suppose it could have been blown around a bit. It's not in the upper area of the engine bay.

David bailey said:

Have a look in daylight,
If it was me i would put more oil in to the correct level and see if it is leaking with out running it if not i would run it but put someone behind the wheel that can turn it off or stall it in a hurry

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You're right David. In daylight I'll look for the source. Repair anything obvious and fill it back up.
If I'm honest this was a panic post! Probably still not thinking clearly. Just driven the Mrs around to the mother in laws to borrow her car, so she can get to work tomorrow. Now I'm going to break my own strict house rule of not having a Guinness before 9pm.

Flossie said:

What injun?

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Sorry Flossie, should have said. It's a 300Tdi with 179k on the clock. Was in very good nick I reckon. Recently been having a bit of an over fuelling problem. Or so I thought.

Overfuelling? Like excess smoke?
Could be the turbo then for sure. If you can't see anywhere else the oil has come from check hose to intercooler for excessive oil and also oil on the exhaust side of the turbo. It does sound like run away though.
Follow the advice above especially the bit about being able to stall it quickly.

Flossie said:

Overfuelling? Like excess smoke?
Could be the turbo then for sure. If you can't see anywhere else the oil has come from check hose to intercooler for excessive oil and also oil on the exhaust side of the turbo. It does sound like run away though.
Follow the advice above especially the bit about being able to stall it quickly.

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Have you seen the video of the exhaust smoke, Flossie? LINK scroll right down to the bottom of the page. The Mrs doesn't know how it stopped and thinks she may have tried to change gear and stalled it. When she first described what happened on the phone I thought run away. She's just described the noise as something she's seen on those SAS training documentaries where they reduce men to bubbling wrecks with intense noise
How damaged can an engine be if it's stalled as a run away starts? Difficult question, unless you've had an engine that's survived one. Probably quite rare?
It could be a coincidence that it's had a massive oil loss and a runaway at the same time. I don't think a run away explains the oil all over the lower engine and front running gear?

Maybe a runaway does explain the oil underneath? I've just watched this video on Youtube and you can see an oil pool appearing under the engine LINKY
It was still daylight though and the Mrs reckons she didn't see any smoke out the back.

does the oil light work ,,,possible oil pressure switch failure popped plastic off away from crimped end oil into inlet hence over rev

GATSO said:

does the oil light work ,,,possible oil pressure switch failure popped plastic off away from crimped end oil into inlet hence over rev

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I haven't checked the oil light, GATSO. I'll go out and try it. Sorry mate, can you explain how that would cause the over rev? Which inlet?

Rebuilding a turbo by replacing the CHRA (Central Hub Rotating Assembly) is a simple task, if it indeed turns out to be such.

Saint.V8 said:

Rebuilding a turbo by replacing the CHRA (Central Hub Rotating Assembly) is a simple task, if it indeed turns out to be such.

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Cheers, Saint.V8. ANY positive news is gratefully received. It's sounds like a very likely job on the way. I might be back in touch to pick your brains.

GATSO, I've checked the oil light and it comes on.

Al2O3 said:

may have been changing in to 5th when the engine then revved up

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Long shot, but did she accidently change into third?

Did you turn it over ?

Sounds like turbo and may be thrown a con rod through block or sump due to over reving. Sorry pal. Get under there first before you try anything and have a good look around

Wimblowdriver said:

Long shot, but did she accidently change into third?

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Thanks Wimblowerdriver, no it was revving much higher than that. Appreciate the thought though.

Magicgrotto said:

Did you turn it over ?

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Only just enough for the starter to catch and begin a turn. It's not completely seized, hopefully no where near it and I'm hoping, against hope, that it's not damaged.

Tony e said:

Sounds like turbo and may be thrown a con rod through block or sump due to over reving. Sorry pal. Get under there first before you try anything and have a good look around

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Hadn't thought of that yet, but it is possible I suppose.