TDI 170 revs on its own

[kinjamin]

Hello all,

I have a very strange problem with my wifes car. The car had the dpf light on when my wife returned home! She complained that the car rev counter reved itself and then it returned to normal. Later on I went out it clear the DPF and changed from first to second gear and the car rev to its limit on its own.

I switched the engine off and managed to pull over! Any suggestions to what has happened?

Any advice would be great!

Kinjamin

 

[Viking]

Have you checked the oil level? Is there any white/grey smoke out of the exhaust?

Usually, diesel engines revving themselves means they've found a new fuel source other than the diesel they usually burn. In most cases this is engine oil, and it gets introduced into the air intake via the turbo which is failing and losing oil into the pressure side, from there it goes down to the intercooler, and then back up to the air intake manifold where it enters the inlet and burns uncontrollably.

Generally, it's not a good idea to drive them as they'll runaway with themselves (as you nearly found out) and burn all the engine oil before seizing the engine. Call roadside assistance and get it recovered to a garage for a turbo replacement, or push it there. If you do have to start the engine then generally putting it in a high gear, holding the foot brake, and dropping the clutch will stall the engine. I reckon from your post that it's a DSG so that won't be possible I doubt. Caution.

 

[kinjamin]

Have you checked the oil level? Is there any white/grey smoke out of the exhaust?

Usually, diesel engines revving themselves means they've found a new fuel source other than the diesel they usually burn. In most cases this is engine oil, and it gets introduced into the air intake via the turbo which is failing and losing oil into the pressure side, from there it goes down to the intercooler, and then back up to the air intake manifold where it enters the inlet and burns uncontrollably.

Generally, it's not a good idea to drive them as they'll runaway with themselves (as you nearly found out) and burn all the engine oil before seizing the engine. Call roadside assistance and get it recovered to a garage for a turbo replacement, or push it there. If you do have to start the engine then generally putting it in a high gear, holding the foot brake, and dropping the clutch will stall the engine. I reckon from your post that it's a DSG so that won't be possible I doubt. Caution.

Thanks for the quick response! Will call roadside tomorrow and get the car delivered to garage. Seems expensive if it is a new turbo! But glad it is not my wife's life!

The car is a manual geared car. I think I was lucky that I noticed that the revs climbed higher than normal before 2nd gear and put the car to neutral before turning the engine off!

Kinjamin

 

[Viking]

Like I say, check the oil and look for smoke out the back.

Worst case it does something like this...

The fact that the DPF light came on means that there's some sudden build up of soot.

 

[kinjamin]

Like I say, check the oil and look for smoke out the back.

Worst case it does something like this...

The fact that the DPF light came on means that there's some sudden build up of soot.

Smoke was coming out of the back! Will check the oil tomorrow! It was not as bad as the video posted but it was smokey like it though!

Will post results when its in the garage but it does sound like the turbo!

Kinjamin