I had a 26ft Diesel Van (Box Truck) blow the engine for what the diagnostic is calling an "Engine over speed"

The vehicle was in a level parking lot
At 5am we tried to start it and it was dead, so we put it on a charger for 3 hours.
It was started at 8am and driven to the other side of the parking area and idled for 1/2 hour.
We shut it off for the unload due to the fumes emitting into the unload area.

we tried to start it at 930 with no luck.
at 10am when trying to start the truck again, it just made a click click click noise, but would not start.

We had the truck towed

Question:
What could have caused this?

Key points:
1. We were not driving up or down a hill
2. We did not use any ether - it was over 70degrees, so cold was not a factor.

THANKS in advance for any input
FM

 

What failed on the engine? I assume the engine ran fine before this?

 

the truck was running fine and then it just quit.

blew the motor (16k in damage).

Trying to figure out what caused it.

 

Only two ways I know you can overspeed a diesel truck engine, exceeding governed rpm going down a hill or combustible air mixture (such as gasoline vapors or ether) in the intake. Maybe there is something that the fleet operators are not telling the fleet manager?

 

I appreciate your reply, thanks.

I feel very confident in my people to tell me the straight scoop. I have never fired someone for doing so and have been doing this for ten years.

Are you sure there is no other way the engine could have blown?
In 70 degree weather, noone is going to put ether in the engine and there is not a hill that steep within 15 miles. (diagnostic shows it blew right there). THere is no way to coast from the pass to the lot, so for sure it blew in the lot.

THere has got to be another explanation.

 

Well truck diesel engines have governors, unless there was a malfunction of said governor, you should be able to hold accelerator pedal on the floor for hours on end with out overspeeding the engine. The two scenarios I mentioned, down a hill or combustible atmosphere in the air intake are the only ways I can think of that the fuel injection system can not control engine speed.
How did the diagnostic arrive at the conclusion there was engine overspeed?

 

Fleet Mgr,

A diesel engine can also overspeed if there is an oil leak into the combustion chamber. This can happen on a trubo diesel if the oil line to the turbo leaks into the turbo charger. What engine is in your truck?