Runaway Engine TDI

Was just starting to enjoy myself at a pay n play day when I noticed a great cloud at the back of my Defender. First reaction was to give it some gas to burn off the crap.
Then it started to rev on its own oh feck anyway thanks to LandyZone I had an idea what was happening, and stalled it straight away.
I gave it 5 then started it up and it seemed ok but I still wasn't sure so began to head back down towards the entrance gently. It then started to smoke again so I pulled over and thought I better take a look.
I pulled off the intercooler hoses and sure enough they were full of oil.
That was it then I better limp it back I thought.
It was then that I bumped into some lads near the entrance who helped me out no end. Thanks again lads . They made me realise the engine had drunk all the oil. Then towed me out so I could call the very nice man in his big yellow truck.

Anyone got experience of this kinda thing ? I don't think it went far enough to cause any engine damage but I am new to this.
It's a Defender 300 Tdi

Guess I will just have to get a new turbo then try it.

Sorry I can't be of much help but my intercooler pipes are full of oil too so I'll be keeping an eye on this thread!

new turbo, wash out the intercooler and all the pipes...

a bit of oil is normal, but if yours drank the lot, the turbo seals are probably knackered...

timtheenchanteruk said:

new turbo, wash out the intercooler and all the pipes...

a bit of oil is normal, but if yours drank the lot, the turbo seals are probably knackered...

Click to expand...

Don't happen to have a write up on changing the oil seals on the turbo do you? Or is it a haynes job? I wanna do mine but no idea where to start

No idea mate, not sure if you can change them by themselves or not

timtheenchanteruk said:

new turbo, wash out the intercooler and all the pipes...

a bit of oil is normal, but if yours drank the lot, the turbo seals are probably knackered...

Click to expand...

You have become very wise with defender now,


Take the pipe off from the air box to the turbo and check the impeller for play, judging on what you have said it might just come out in you fingers.

the_wolf said:

Don't happen to have a write up on changing the oil seals on the turbo do you? Or is it a haynes job? I wanna do mine but no idea where to start

Click to expand...

Its not really a matter of just changing the seals and putting the turbo back into service. If I'm not mistaken, the turbine wheel is balanced and would require that you balance it again when it is reinstalled and torqued onto the shaft so as to prevent vibrations at the high rpms the turbo spins at.

ifloochies said:

Its not really a matter of just changing the seals and putting the turbo back into service. If I'm not mistaken, the turbine wheel is balanced and would require that you balance it again when it is reinstalled and torqued onto the shaft so as to prevent vibrations at the high rpms the turbo spins at.

Click to expand...

Seal failure usually means the bearings gone anorl

Take the pipe off from the air box to the turbo and check the impeller for play, judging on what you have said it might just come out in you fingers.[/QUOTE]

There was loads of play in and out aswell as side to side.

Will have a look at stripping it out in the morning then decide what to do about a replacement.

when your turbo fails it runs on its own oil until it self destructs

bmw engine failure.wmv - YouTube

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jSbOW5cGgE

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcjNEyuhOsA

Whip the rocker cover off and ensure everything seems ok.

Refill with oil and start her up without the cyclone filter on and see if oil is pressurised from the crank - it will spit out. A similar test can be done on the dip stick tube.

Is oil dripping through the airbox or is it confined to the hoses?

Mine was turbo and head gasket - nightmare when it runs on.

bluehaze said:

Whip the rocker cover off and ensure everything seems ok.

Refill with oil and start her up without the cyclone filter on and see if oil is pressurised from the crank - it will spit out. A similar test can be done on the dip stick tube.

Is oil dripping through the airbox or is it confined to the hoses?

Mine was turbo and head gasket - nightmare when it runs on.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice think I would of just bolted it back together and hoped for the best without checking for pressure.
It didn't make it up to the airbox, looks like it only made it into the bottom half of the air hose.

Mick,

Take the airbox pipe off the cyclone breather and see if oil comes out - crankcase pressure. I used a local company to repair my turbo.

I stripped it this morning and took the airbox pipe off completely ready for cleaning.
I think there was some oil in the breather pipe is this a bad sign or to be expected ?

You'll only know when you start her up. Have you looked under the rocker cover?

Not yet mate I have just stripped it all down and taken the intercooler out ready for cleaning tomorrow while I wait for bits to turn up.

And this is what a 200tdi looks like running on its own oil:
Runaway Diesel Defender 200 TDI - YouTube

Heres me old mate that used to whistle to me everyday

Gave the neighbours something to chuckle at i guess.

And so the strip began.