Out with a bang.

Ok, so it was more of a Knock, lots of knocks, then banging to BANGING.

On a freeway overpass transition to another freeway. First I thought maybe I didn't tighten up the swelled glow plug and it worked it's way loose and finally shot out. Or I rather hoped.

Took me about a mile or so to get off the transition and get over to the exit. On the exit ramp she coughed her last breath and I shifted into netural and coasted.

Popped the hood and grey smoke was coming out of the intake manifold.

Did a cursory check and nothing visible. Tried cranking and she's siezed.

Gotta see if I can rent a auto flatbed trailer and truck and bring her back to the garage. I think a tow truck would be very expensive.

What a weekend it's been!

Bummer.

Was there oil in it, and what did the oil pressure do when this happened? Also what was the engine temp?

Currious if a piece of one of those plugs found a home?

tips of glowplugs have been known to break off. they fall into the cylinder where then piston smashes it, causeing some nicks in the piston. I dont think ive heard them blowing the engine up.

Funeral Service?

Temp wasn't working. During the messing around I must have bumped it or something. Oil pressure was about 35 - 40 last I looked. Probably within 10 minutes before. When it got serious it was more important to get off the freeway. I was towing a small trailer and had to cross 4 lanes of traffic.

Freeways in LA are always fun:rolleyes:

Was running great though:(

Got a friend to pick me up and drop me off at home. Took the Pathfinder out to get the trailer and called AAA for a tow. All said & done haven't had time to check anything.

Oil pressure was about 35 - 40 last I looked. Probably within 10 minutes before. When it got serious it was more important to get off the freeway. I was towing a small trailer and had to cross 4 lanes of traffic.

Freeways in LA are always fun

Bummer. That oil pressure should have been fine. The thing that baffles me is the smoke coming out of the intake. I don't know what would cause that...

Might the smoke have been coming out of the crankcase breather tubes? They're plumbed into the intake...

There was another post not TOO long ago (month or so?) about a guy that thought he seized up his engine; it was running REAL rough and after he shut it down, it wouldnt even turn?--something about this seems familiar. One of the prevelant thoughts was that he split his crankshaft and/or cracked a main bearing web. I'm thinking that it ended up not being real serious.. like maybe the starter broke loose and got wedged in the flywheel?

Sounds like the engine had oil in it, right? When you get a chance, put it up on jacks, and pull the flywheel shroud and maybe the oil pan and see if anything looks amiss. I'll see if I can find the thread that I'm thinking of and crosslink it.

Ok, found the thread (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53284&highlight=crankshaft) I was thinking of, but I guess its not as similar as I thought it sounded.

You said you had no temp gage? Did you have water in the radiator?

Yes, water in the radiator and none in the oil. No signs of overheating when I had pulled over.

Drained the oil, probably less than 500 miles on it, it has a burnt smell. No large pieces or shavings that I could see or feel.

Will know (& post) more when I drop the pan.

i do agree with the above post.... I would check a couple of strange silly things, like the starter and flex plate area, to ensure that there isnt something in there binding up the engine... although that wouldnt really explain rough running I suppose... but its sure alot easier than pulling the pan :-)

WWWWEEEEEEEEEEEE! spun a lower bearing:ro)


Great. I figure I should replace all the bearings. After that, I have no idea:( I'm pushing the envelope now. Maybe I should start looking at remanufactured.

Did you spin a main or a rod? Is the crank ruined? If in need, I have a crank that is usable, but it needs to be turned .010 under do to some small grooves in the mains. Check your block carefully for cracks in the main webs, if no cracks, you can save what you have with the help of a good machine shop.:(

A rod, #6 I think, I'm pushing forward on the two becoming one. I'll be pulling the engine so any repairs will be made then.

Good thing just a rod, if a main, you get the fun of having the block align bored. Since it's a rod, just replace or resize the rod you have. Definitly pull the engine, since you're up to pulling at least one head to get a piston removed to replace the rod