Huston...we have a problem

[Functional Artist]

My truck started "acting up" yesterday, then...
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jwtLQ6AWAps

 

[Sparkwizard]

Oh NO!
That looks like a tire fire.
They can get expensive.

 

[Denny]

Diesel runaway. That just got real expensive. I’m sorry to see that.

 

[Functional Artist]

Hey Sparkwizard,

Tires are fine

ALL of that smoke came out of the exhaust pipe

In the video, did ya notice (or hear) the engine "screaming" at WOT
...until it "died" (hopefully NOT fatally)
...& the key/ignition was in the "off" position

 

[Functional Artist]

Diesel runaway. That just got real expensive. I’m sorry to see that.

Hey Denny,

Current thinkin' is the Turbo "failed"

I've read you'all discussin' about Turbos many times
...so, it seems likes a few of ya(s) knows, a bit about them

If ya got a minute, please, describe how turbos "work"
...& then, maybe we can dicsuss what "we" thinks" happened

 

[Sparkwizard]

Wow, I watched that without any sound. I couldn't hear the engine. That is terrible.

 

[Hellion]

Did you mean HOUSTON? I don't know this Huston fella but I bet he hasn't logged in since 2016!

 

[Sparkwizard]

Spelling and vocabulary knowledge seem to be optional here, along with speaker use.

 

[Denny]

Did it suck all the oil out of the pan? Is that mechanical fuel injection? Usually the governor spring breaks and they go wot. Best to start looking for a complete new engine.

 

[Hellion]

Did it suck all the oil out of the pan? Is that mechanical fuel injection? Usually the governor spring breaks and they go wot. Best to start looking for a complete new engine.

Still waiting on you to describe how a turbo works....

 

[Functional Artist]

Hey Denny,

A bit of backstory

I was driving down the freeway
...& when I went to get off, on the off ramp, the truck didn't seem to be decelerating, like normal

So, I quickly "goosed" the throttle, a couple of times
...to "test" if it was like "stuck?" or something

It would accelerate (with each "bump" of the throttle)
...but, it wasn't decelerating, at all
...&/also, noticed a pretty big cloud of smoke, behind the truck

So, I "layed on" (or applied) the brakes, pretty hard
...& got 'er to slow down enough, to pull off/into a parking lot

When I finally got the truck to come to a stop
...I quickly, put it in park
...but, the engine was still "racing"
...& it was putting out a F'in LOT of smoke

So, I switched the ignition off
...but, noticed that the engine didn't stop
...& in fact, it started accelerating even faster (WTF?)
...& smoking even more (WTF??)

Lots of stuff was happening, all at the same time
...& I didn't know if the truck was on fire
...&/or if the engine was gonna grenade/throw a rod/or ??? (while "screaming" at WOT)

Thinkin'
Truck don't wanna stop + engine running at WOT + with the key "off"+ excessive smoking = WTF? WTF? WTF?

So, I hopped out
...& "tipped" the cab up, to try-n-see "what was going on"
...or if there was anything that I "could do"

But, the smoke was SOOOOOOO thick, that I couldn't see (or do) anything
...&/so, backed off to try-n-evaluate the situation

Yup, I was "freaking out" the whole time
...& couldn't think of anything that I to do (to fix, stop or make the situation better)

So, after a few minutes (yes, ALL of this was going on for several...minutes)
...I took my phone out & just started recording...

 

[Functional Artist]

Did it suck all the oil out of the pan? Is that mechanical fuel injection? Usually the governor spring breaks and they go wot. Best to start looking for a complete new engine.

Had ta have 'er towed home

Yup, seems to have sucked "most" of the oil out of the pan

* FWIU that is what the engine was running on (engine oil)
...& explains why the engine was running with the key "off" (which turns the mechanical fuel "injector pump" off)
...& also, explains where all of the smoke came from

But, there's still a bit on the end of the dipstick

* I'll drain the oil pan tomorrow
...to "see" how much oil is "actually" still in there

So, the first thing I checked, was to make sure the engine didn't "lock up
...& it still seems ta move freely or "turns over" like normal

That's a "good sign"


What governor spring?
...where?

 

[Functional Artist]

Did you mean HOUSTON? I don't know this Huston fella but I bet he hasn't logged in since 2016!

Hey Hellion,

Huston is one of Jualla's classmates in the EA (Electrathon America) program

 

[Master Hack]

Crap man, that sucks!
bet you can come up with a'lectric conversion!
l wish ya good luck!

 

[Denny]

The governor is in the injection pump. Yes, when an older engine overspeeds due to looser rings and pistons they pump oil and then run away off that. The Detroits were good for both of those things happening. The only way to shut them down when they do that is to spray a co2 fire extinguisher down the intake. I’ve seen them suck the wood fibers off a board.

 

[Denny]

Don’t go filling it back full of oil and start it until you get the injector pump rebuilt. If that engine is nice and loosened up now it still could go ballistic again. It may have broken all the rings at the very least. The engine also needs to be taken apart and inspected. Check the outlet from the turbocharger to the intake for oil. The turbo will also probably need to be rebuilt and bearings and seals replaced at least.

 

[Hellion]

I’ve seen them suck the wood fibers off a board....

If a piece of 2 x 6" pine board won't work, how's about a flat piece of steel placed over the air intake?

 

[Functional Artist]

Hey Denny,

From my assessment (so far)
...after discussing the situation, with a couple of Diesel mechanics
...the "fuel system" doesn't seem to have anything to do with...this particular situation

I could be wrong
...but, it seems like (maybe) an oil seal went out in the turbo unit
...which let motor oil to be "sucked" from the "oiling system"
...into the "air intake system"
...which/then, run thru the engine (creating the excessive smoke)
&
This (seems to) explain why the truck wasn't decelerating (like normal) when I "let off of" the throttle
...as (it seems like) it was "running" off of the motor oil (fuel) being "fed" thru the "air intake" (NOT Diesel fuel)
&
Also, (seems to) explain why "when the truck wasn't decelerating normally"
...as it would still accelerate, when I "bumped" the throttle

Because with each "bump" of the throttle
...I was basically adding some extra fuel (Diesel) thru the injectors
...to the motor oil, that the engine was "running" off of, thru the "air intake system"
&
Also, seems to explain why the engine kept running
...even after I turned the ignition "off" (which "shuts" the mechanical Diesel injector/fuel pump off)

Because the engine was running on the (oil leak/gushing) from inside turbo
...which kept supplying it with "oily/fuel"
&
It seems like it "ran" (at what seemed like WOT)
...until it "ran out of the oily/fuel" that it was "running on"

* After watching & listening to the video, a few more times
...I don't hear any abnormal sounds (like knocking/screeching etc.)
...& the sounds, that I do hear, just sound like a Diesel engine "running out of fuel" (or in this case motor oily/fuel)

That's my assessment...so far...more to come

 

[Hellion]

Diesel runaway. That just got real expensive. I’m sorry to see that.

There's videos of runaway diesels all over the Tube, some are intentional and they want to see it over-rev and self destruct.

 

[Denny]

I hope you are right and it is only a seal in the turbo.

Hellion, steel plates haven’t worked on the ones I’ve seen run away either. They usually suck in air past all the seals which mixes with the oil and away the engine goes.