Thread: Measures to combat a runaway diesel engine

Having watched 'Scrapheap Challenge" and seen what happens when a diesel runs away - I can understand wanting a 2nd stop device. However, I once had to run around in my 300tdi with the fuel stop solenoid disconnected. It was sufficient to stall it to a stop with clutch and brakes. It's only a 2.5L after all.

Hi Langy, mine's an auto

As an experiment, try putting a rag into the air intake. A 300tdi isn't hard to stop. And the fuel cutoff solenoid is pretty foolproof.

You would probably need a number of CO2 extinguishers to do the job.

Probably cheaper to schedule a seal kit for the turbo so it can't get access to an oil source, or even a gate valve on the oil line (not that you'd want to put your hand in there).

At 6000rpm and full boost it would suck a rag straight in I'm guessing.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

You would probably need a number of CO2 extinguishers to do the job.

Probably cheaper to schedule a seal kit for the turbo so it can't get access to an oil source, or even a gate valve on the oil line (not that you'd want to put your hand in there).

Definitely a good idea about the seals. But there are other ways for the oil to get into the combustion chamber.

I don't have one, but would a commercial snorkel generally be air tight enough that if you blocked it at the intake it would choke the engine?

My L series diesel shuts down via a electric shut off solenoid between the injector pump and injectors and I assume other diesels do something similar or cut power to the pump.

Why not just put in another electric fuel shutoff valve before the injector pump that you can manually operate separate to the cars systems. They only cost about $50 and would only require basic wiring to get going.

Garry

Originally Posted by garrycol

My L series diesel shuts down via a electric shut off solenoid between the injector pump and injectors and I assume other diesels do something similar or cut power to the pump.

Why not just put in another electric fuel shutoff valve before the injector pump that you can manually operate separate to the cars systems. They only cost about $50 and would only require basic wiring to get going.

Garry

Hi Garry,
I'm more worried about the engine running on sump oil.
I think the best bet so far would be to restrict the air, but rigging-up a solution that can be employed within, say, 10 seconds of the runaway is the problem

Tom.