C30 Engine : Seized after turbo failure

[Downy]

I have just had an engine seize on my 2010 C30 Diesel. The problem occured after hard acceleration during an overtake. As soon as I eased oiff the throttle the engine started over-revving to an extreme degree, without the throttle pedal being depressed. I pulled over immediately, and the engine had stopped running by the time I had come to a standstill. No response other than a click on turning the ignition key.

The car is at the garage now and has yet to be inspected but I am sure the engineer will confirm that the engine is knackered. The thing is, exactly the same thing happened about six months ago, which led to the fitting of a replacement, reconditioned engine and turbo unit. There was no explanantion for the initial failure, but now that this has happened in the same way for a second time, I just wondered if it rang any bells with anyone. I have searched for similar stories, but can't find a reference, but that may indeed be down to my rubbish search abilities.

Any thoughts or questions?

[Simmy]

Originally Posted by Downy

I have just had an engine seize on my 2010 C30 Diesel. The problem occured after hard acceleration during an overtake. As soon as I eased oiff the throttle the engine started over-revving to an extreme degree, without the throttle pedal being depressed. I pulled over immediately, and the engine had stopped running by the time I had come to a standstill. No response other than a click on turning the ignition key.

The car is at the garage now and has yet to be inspected but I am sure the engineer will confirm that the engine is knackered. The thing is, exactly the same thing happened about six months ago, which led to the fitting of a replacement, reconditioned engine and turbo unit. There was no explanantion for the initial failure, but now that this has happened in the same way for a second time, I just wondered if it rang any bells with anyone. I have searched for similar stories, but can't find a reference, but that may indeed be down to my rubbish search abilities.

Any thoughts or questions?

sound like diesel runaway .the engine being over fueled with oil or diesel from knackerd injectors. when you fitted your replacement engine did you use the old injectors or was it a complete engine seems very unusual for it to happen twice in 6mths . iv never seen a runnaway. only on videos

[Downy]

Originally Posted by Simmy

sound like diesel runaway .the engine being over fueled with oil or diesel from knackerd injectors. when you fitted your replacement engine did you use the old injectors or was it a complete engine seems very unusual for it to happen twice in 6mths . iv never seen a runnaway. only on videos

Hi. Thanks for the reply. I didn't fit the replacement engine (no way am I that practical), so I don't know if new injectors were fitted. I'll check out the runaway theory though. Still haven't heard back from the garage either way but I'm not holding out much hope for a happy result. Thanks again.

[Simmy]

who sourced your replacement engine did you witness the fitting or see the old engine? out of the car .is the garage trustworthy it seems strange the same thing has happend twice maybe you need to get a second opinion from an engineer

[bugsb]

agree with above it went into runaway mode only way to save it is to stall the engine but you cant untill your at a stand still

[Welton]

I've never heard of injectors causing a run-away engine, it's always due to a direct feed of engine oil which gets used as 'fuel' ...so much of it that the engine revs to max and runs out of said oil potentially causing damage to the engine (in some cases but not always).

I know that when 1.6 HDi's suffered failed turbo's in the early days (due to extended/missed service intervals) then the fix was to replace the turbo AND the oil lines to it including flushing the oil system through to remove any particles left over by the initial failure etc. many folk were just having turbo's replaced without the proper procedure and failing again within a few months - because of oil feed starvation/contamination.

[Downy]

Thanks Simmy. The Garage owner is trusted but tbh I’m not sure about the guy who did the engine swap. I did see the replacement engine awaiting installation but I didn’t witness the actual work being done. I would not be surprised if he had not been as thorough in terms of prep work and flushing of the oil system as he should have been as his general attitude wasn’t an entirely positive one.

Thank you Welton. What you say is interesting too, particularly the reference to replacing the lines and flushing the oil system. The interesting thing for me is that no theory was given for the cause of the failure at the time, other than to say that the turbo had failed. So no one mentioned “run away” for example. I think that this is because it had not been investigated, which is disappointing as the owner is a genuine good guy and I’ve been going to him for years. Thanks everyone for taking the time and effort to give your advice. It’s much appreciated.

[Simmy]

whatever the cause of your engine failiure it definately need some carefull scrutiny as a third failiure would be a disaster proceed slowley check everything turbo injectors throttle plate ect check every thing .and may be flush the whole oil system. good luck and keep us posted with your progress

[Downy]

The garage owner called on Friday afternoon and told me that he had discovered an excess amount of fluids in the engine sump, something approaching 9 litres where there should only be about 4.5 litres of oill. So the suspicion is that diesel has somehow made its way into the engine. The starter motor is knackered, and so he is going to hook up another SM with a view to investigating further.

[walshy]

Had this happen to me years ago in a rover 620 diesel. Replaced the turbo which caused the same problem you had but forgot to drain the oil that had filled up the intercooler and caused the engine to hydraulic or runaway as some folk know it. Ended up having to change the engine.
That 1.6 diesel turbo is a troublesome unit to the extent that our firm does not even entertain enquiries or sales for any part of it. It’s fitted to ford, Volvo and all psa cars amongst others and it’s mainly down to poor servicing that the problems arise.
I know of one garage in my area that fitted 3 turbos to the 1 car with one not even getting to the end of the street before it failed and that was with the feed pipes etc being changed