Engine suddenly redlined and wouldn't turn off
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From: lafayette tn
Engine suddenly redlined and wouldn't turn off
hey guys,
my friends VW diesel "truck" just had this happen, I had read about it on this site for the idi but can't find it again. he was driving it home at around 45 mph, when it all the sudden jumped to around 6000 rpm and was dumping smoke like crazy, he turned the key off and the motor kept right on redlining, he dumped the clutch in 5th after slowing down to 20 uphill and it died.
my friends VW diesel "truck" just had this happen, I had read about it on this site for the idi but can't find it again. he was driving it home at around 45 mph, when it all the sudden jumped to around 6000 rpm and was dumping smoke like crazy, he turned the key off and the motor kept right on redlining, he dumped the clutch in 5th after slowing down to 20 uphill and it died.
Methanoholic
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 6,442
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From: Maine (NorCal Native)
Called a Runaway ... Typically caused by sucking in motor oil.
I am no VW Diesel Guru, so I don't know the common places for this, however if no one produces and answer shortly, I'll call a buddy of mine, he is an expert on the VW Diesel, makes a living getting them from the west, restoring and selling them. Does a couple a month. He'll likely know exactly what and where.
-Enjoy
fh : )_~
I am no VW Diesel Guru, so I don't know the common places for this, however if no one produces and answer shortly, I'll call a buddy of mine, he is an expert on the VW Diesel, makes a living getting them from the west, restoring and selling them. Does a couple a month. He'll likely know exactly what and where.
-Enjoy
fh : )_~
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I would say (certainly not a VW expert by any means but...) that this could be one of the following things:
1) excessive blowby on a worn engine
2) Oil level to high (maybe over filled, maybe leaking coolant into the oil...)
3) CCV (crankcase vent) same as our CDR but is located on top of the valve cover sort of above cylinder #1 IIRC, allowing oil into the intake
4) Turbo failure...
1) excessive blowby on a worn engine
2) Oil level to high (maybe over filled, maybe leaking coolant into the oil...)
3) CCV (crankcase vent) same as our CDR but is located on top of the valve cover sort of above cylinder #1 IIRC, allowing oil into the intake
4) Turbo failure...
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From: lafayette tn
he has a gazillion+ miles on this old thing, just wont stay quit. He is in the process of rebuilding it, he just had no idea why it did that....never happened to him before.
I guess it sounds like it was getting crank case oil somehow and bypassing the injection pump right?
I guess it sounds like it was getting crank case oil somehow and bypassing the injection pump right?
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Spanish Fork, UT
I can relay what others have said here, definitely a runaway. The 1.6D can take a lot of abuse, though. Built 1.6's can take 6,000 rpm all day long. The crankcase breather system on these (especially non turbo) have a tendency to allow blowby into the intake. On older, higher mileage engines this is usually the identifier that the engine is done. Once they start running away, it's time for a rebuild. You can delay the rebuild process. If you run the crankcase breather to a catch can and vent the crankcase blowby to the atmosphere, the engine should still have enough compression to last a year or so without having to worry about a run away. Make sure to keep your eye on the oil level. The only other thing it could be is a blown turbo. I know that no VW truck ever came with the turbo. So unless a turbo engine was swapped in or a turbo conversion done, it' doesn't have one. If the turbo fails, oil can get by the seals and directly into the intake.
Lastly, if the engine ever does runaway... NEVER under any circumstances push the clutch in. Keep it in gear and kill the engine with the brakes. You might just save your engine from blowing up.
I know it's not good news either way... Hope this helps. Check out vwdiesel.net. A lot of great minds and experts on this engine.
Lastly, if the engine ever does runaway... NEVER under any circumstances push the clutch in. Keep it in gear and kill the engine with the brakes. You might just save your engine from blowing up.
I know it's not good news either way... Hope this helps. Check out vwdiesel.net. A lot of great minds and experts on this engine.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Western Mass
Another vote for runaway. Supposedly somewhat common on these older engines. The crankcase vent comes off the top of the valve cover and dumps into the intake. Later models have a plastic 'splash' guard that sits over the cam. The idea is that it catches most of the oil mist/spray that comes off the valve train instead of letting it float around and get sucked/pumped into the intake, reducing chance of runaway.
Another way of killing the engine is to suffocate it, stuff something into the intake to block it.
Lots of stuff online about it if you search VW sites.
Another way of killing the engine is to suffocate it, stuff something into the intake to block it.
Lots of stuff online about it if you search VW sites.
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From: Spanish Fork, UT
Anyways, so did he do a turbo conversion then? There should be almost no noticeable power loss in a non turbo 1.6 even when it starts to wear out. The way you describe makes it sound like it might have a turbo. If so, I'd be interested in knowing more about the truck. I have a couple of these cars and they have always been great to me.
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