shatterd piston/ dead engine

hiya,

just asking what you guys think are the probable causes for my engine
self-destructing.

its a diahatsu 2.8 n/a diesel, in a S3 swb. engines condition before
the self-destruct was good, no smoking. first time starter.pulled a 1
ton caravan up hill and down dale for a few years, no idea of actual
mileage.off roaded and trialed flawlesly.

one friday night i decided to go out to rent a film, so i jumped in
the landy, warmed the glow plugs up and fired her up, normally shed
start faultlesly but this time ( and its the only time i noticed it)
it fired up like a petrol running on 3 cylinders but after about 3
seconds it levelled itselfe out and was as normal. Drove 3 miles to
video shop got " the day after tomorrow" and set off back.
got to the first junction and floored the gas pedal (which isnt
anything unusual for me) and she set off, got about 20 yards then
bang, and it sounded like grating teeth.

stopped and shut off. fired it up again and it was banging and running
on 3 cylinders, managed to limp home before the head gasket went and
oil pressure went down and water temp went up.

took the head off today, and just lifted no1 piston straight out. its
sheared off around the oil scrapper ring and there isnt a sign of the
lower pieces of piston, all thats there is the little end looking in
perfect condition. I can only summise the rest of the piston is in the
sump.

also, on two pistons there is a small crack in the middle of the top.
it doesnt go all the way thru but i was just wondering what causes
cracks like this.

so, there you have it. one ba***ckesd engine.

any ideas as to what caused it ?

and ive got an early transit 2.5di engine, is it worth putting it in,
as ive heard several differing reports on the tranny engine. Bear in
mind i pull a BIG caravan regularly.

cheers guys and happy new year to everyone.


andy

dave wrote:

> hiya,
>
> just asking what you guys think are the probable causes for my engine
> self-destructing.
>
> its a diahatsu 2.8 n/a diesel, in a S3 swb. engines condition before
> the self-destruct was good, no smoking. first time starter.pulled a 1
> ton caravan up hill and down dale for a few years, no idea of actual
> mileage.off roaded and trialed flawlesly.
>
> one friday night i decided to go out to rent a film, so i jumped in
> the landy, warmed the glow plugs up and fired her up, normally shed
> start faultlesly but this time ( and its the only time i noticed it)
> it fired up like a petrol running on 3 cylinders but after about 3
> seconds it levelled itselfe out and was as normal. Drove 3 miles to
> video shop got " the day after tomorrow" and set off back.
> got to the first junction and floored the gas pedal (which isnt
> anything unusual for me) and she set off, got about 20 yards then
> bang, and it sounded like grating teeth.
>
> stopped and shut off. fired it up again and it was banging and running
> on 3 cylinders, managed to limp home before the head gasket went and
> oil pressure went down and water temp went up.
>
> took the head off today, and just lifted no1 piston straight out. its
> sheared off around the oil scrapper ring and there isnt a sign of the
> lower pieces of piston, all thats there is the little end looking in
> perfect condition. I can only summise the rest of the piston is in the
> sump.
>
> also, on two pistons there is a small crack in the middle of the top.
> it doesnt go all the way thru but i was just wondering what causes
> cracks like this.
>
> so, there you have it. one ba***ckesd engine.
>
> any ideas as to what caused it ?

Timing sounds favourite. Diesels do like the timing to be perfect.
Have you altered the timing in anyway lately?

> its a diahatsu 2.8 n/a diesel, in a S3 swb. engines condition before
> the self-destruct was good, no smoking. first time starter.pulled a 1
> ton caravan up hill and down dale for a few years, no idea of actual
> mileage.off roaded and trialed flawlesly.

> took the head off today, and just lifted no1 piston straight out. its
> sheared off around the oil scrapper ring and there isnt a sign of the
> lower pieces of piston, all thats there is the little end looking in
> perfect condition. I can only summise the rest of the piston is in the
> sump.
>
> also, on two pistons there is a small crack in the middle of the top.
> it doesnt go all the way thru but i was just wondering what causes
> cracks like this.

Just befor Christmas we took the head off a TURBO Diahatsu, think that's a
2.8, and found all four pistons to be seriously cracked in a simular way to
yours That came in as the owner thought it was a blown head gasket. I've
heard these engines do tend to be a bit prone for this, but its unusual for
a NA engine to have this fault. Piston failier isn't unheard of though, I
swaped a Fiesta 1.1 (old cross flow) engine after a piston fell to bits..
and that car was only ever tootled about its whole life! Failier was
simular - whole skirt parted company from the crown, half thought the oil
ring and the rest thought the gudion pin.
Toby