A Detroit 500 engine riddle, can it be solved

Anyone want to explain how you would have cut off the air supply? I know what your thinking but I would bet that pete had dual exterior air cleaners and I bet no one here would volunteer to run up to the turbo side of the block with a screwdriver to remove the intake boot to block it off. It sounds easier than it is, your first instinct is to bail.

 

It should have been started with the intake tube off before the air cleaners, and a piece of plywood cut just larger than the intake tube in hand.

I bet the machanic will have an emergency plan in place after this.

 

Oh I agree but all this is arm chair quarterbacking from this point. Even a CO2 fire extinguisher could have done it but it's too late for that.

 

This happened to a tractor puller not long ago, engine wouldn't shut off, burning its own oil, still screaming at the end of a run. Interesting debate on this link about how it could've been shut off and how it could be prevented in the future.

http://www.pulloff.com/phorum/read.php?2,67742,67742#msg-67742

 

Well I do not want to be the bearer of bad news but I call BS.
First the reason the old two stoke Detroit's would run away is that the injector racks could stick, Injectors could seize and it would rev up.
On a sixty series, I have seen oil filled up to the intake manifold, and the unit would smoke a lot but it will not run away. If it draws in oil, it will pre-ignite, and is self regulating. I have seen Cat's, Cummins, old and new never seen one blow up, from oil in the intake.
Any mechanic that installs a turbo, has a clip board, and uses it to cut off the air if needed. When you first start it even with prelubing you want to be sure it is working properly, after you shut it off you check it for clearance then put on the intake piping.
Turning off an electronic engine, it will shut down. no power no go.
On an N14 you can get a mechanical fault in the injector and that one cylinder will put in full fuel. With no electrical control.
If you Blow the tips off the injectors they will pump in fuel, but even then it would pre-ignite and not run away. That cylinder would knock like it was coming threw the side.

 

Just had a guy here blow up a common rail 5.9 because of oil in the intercooler. Swapped turbos without cleaning. Call BS all you want but it can/will happen. *News Flash* Just because you've never seen it, doesn't mean it can't happen.

 

Sounds like it wasn't cleaned out properly.
Pull the turbo off. There will be evidence of seal leakage even after the fact. New parts fail too.
If it was an injector problem, it would throw a code.
I'd like to see them guys running.
It slung a rod if anything. Was there a super loud kaboom??

 

When I worked on the two stroke DD's we always kept a creeper nearby in case it ran away, we could cover the air inlet and snuff it.

What ever the cause it must make you sick seeing you truck self distruct right in front of you.

Bill