runaway engine?

[mudguppy]

... the older diesel fuel had more lubrication properties. Now I have NO clue if this is true or not but it does make one have to wonder. Maybe an additive in the fuel tank every now and then would not hurt?

yes, this is true. the sulfur itself is what added most of the lubrication properties. the new fuel has a lubricity package added to it, but it still does not contain the same lubrication properties as fuel of the past.

this is why i run 2-cycle motor oil (ashless, like marine stuff, mixed 1:12 in everything diesel - side benefit, it pays for itself in my ford in mileage increase. running some WMO would likely help as well.

 

[fuzzytoaster]

Phew, all this stuff got my blood going. Nothing like having your girl go out with a bang. My grandfather's F-250 did that..oh was it a mess to fix.

 

[Snarky]

A runaway diesel adds a bit of terror and excitement to your mechanic experience. You either better be a good runner and a good technician, or quick with a piece of plywood. **** just let it throw the rods through the block and/or crack the crankshaft, nothing a bit of JB weld can't fix, right?

 

[surfdog]

Just recently went through my old 1954 Allis HD-9 dozer running away from me at start-up. It had sat for a while and while the throttle lever and injector kill lever seemed to move just fine, the old Detroit Diesel 4 cyl ran away as soon as it started. I was able to use an old 5 gallon pail to block off the intake and stall it out. Had to take the valve cover off and free up the injector rack to get it to move smoothly.

I dont think I've ever heard this old diesel running at those high RPMs !!! Pucker factor was quite high for a few seconds.

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't think my mushroom air intake cap on the deuce would come off very quickly... Anybody have a good trick for getting the caps off when they've rust-welded themselves on to the air cleaner?

 

[m16ty]

Detroits are so bad about this they have an "emergency shutoff" that consists of a metal door that will fall over the blower intake when the lever is pulled.

 

[panshark]

My dad recommended driving the runaway truck up to a concrete barrier (we all have tons of those laying around), stop, and then start the truck into the barrier in 5th gear. seems like that might work. If you have the guts to tool around in a truck that's screaming bloody murder...

 

[dittle]

We had a M35A2 with a whistler that had been down for a while due to blowing up a piston liner. After it was fixed when the truck was started it ran fine....until it started blowing all of the excess oil that had been sitting in the bottom of the J-pipe out and all over the shop. Tried to shut the truck off and the fuel kill lever was stuck on the IP. Tried the board over the intake and all it did was pull down the engine and made the the whistler get louder. Ended up pull the intake side of the turbo off and putting the board right at the turbo which killed the engine instantly.

 

[DieselBob]

I have been thinking about this issue off and on for a while and thought something along these lines added into the “U” pipe that connects from the air cleaner to the turbo. This would work like the old “emergency” shutdown plate the DD came with from the factory. I would want to change it to cable operation but seemed like a fairly easy project.

 

[916operator]

I had a 3406B Cat engine run away once in a Kenworth truck. it swallowed a turbo seal and sucked the oil out of the crankcase. happend so fast i didnt have time to block off the intake. barley had time to get it to the side of the road and it was already knocking. i had just spent $2000 the week before.

 

[scooter01922]

hey dieselbob where did you see that thingamajig??? Looks handy.

 

[DieselBob]

Here ya go scooter01922

Medium Duty -

 

[scooter01922]

Thanks hmm, pacbrake.....must cost a small fortune. Seems all their stuff does.

 

[DieselBob]

I did a quick search earlier and it was $45 ~ $50. Not to bad.

 

[scooter01922]

Oh WOW, thats not bad at all......think that goes in the winter projects pile at that cost. 50 bucks to potentially keep your engine in one piece seems like a no brainer.

 

[DieselBob]

I think that price is just for a adapter or something. Sorry about that. I started searching again and that can't be for the valve assembly.

 

[KsM715]

Does that valve completely block off the air supply? Just wondering since its designed as an exhaust brake and I cant envision it completely blocking off the engine exhaust

 

[scooter01922]

Even if not a complete blockage i would think it should reduce available air to the point that the engine should have very limited power. Dump the clutch in a higher gear and stall it out. I have heard that if a multi goes WFO you can't stop it by dumping the clutch in 5th with the brakes on, the clutch will slip and the engine will keep going. At least with this mod all you have to do is yank a cable in the cab, not climb out and attempt to get the mushroom off. The seconds very well could count.

 

[Stan Leschert]

The extinguisher is the only way to stop "Grenading" as we used to call it. The repairs are not cheap, but it beats having Diesel bits flying all over the compound, and having more of your ride destroyed!

 

[WillWagner]

The Pac Brake isn't a positive seal. There is a hole in the flapper to control the exhaust bach pressure during a braking event and the flapper doesn't seal around the edges. If there is any useable air being sucked into a runaway, the engine will use it and keep going. You are better off getting a positive block off for the intake. Engines that work in an environment like refineries, oil/fluid reclamation plants, etc. use them. Some are as simple as a manually operated cable up to RPM sensing devices.

Air intake shut down (shut off) valves | Diesel Engines | Chalwyn

air intake shut off valve by amot control - emergency shut down valve

Diesel Tech Industries

Diesel Tech Engine Shutdown D. - Truck Repairs, Performance Specialists

A Co2 extinguisher is the cheapest way to get it shut down and works just as fast.

 

[box 5 diesel]

Three words come to mind, Postive air shutoff switch.