Posted by David N. Lundstrom on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at 10:36PM :
The speculation about the '03 Dodge truck with the blown engine/transmission and the talk about engine runaway has reminded me of an experience I had several years ago. Since my kiddos are tucked in bed, my wife is at a community education class, and I am 2 beers into the evening, I am going to grace all of you with my story.
My first job after college was working as an agronamist at a local Farmers Union Co-op. Since things were slow in the winter, I was also the do-it-all guy in the shop, or more accurately, the do-what-no-one-else wanted-to-do guy in the shop.
It was a very cold January day, about -20 degrees. The guy who brought the minnows for the live bait tanks called and said his truck had run out of fuel about 10 miles out of town. He drove a 1995 (or so) 1 ton Dodge Cummins. I drove out there with a jug of number one to fill him up. I put it in his tank and he asked me to get the in cab and crank the engine over. I got in, he unhooked the intake tube before the turbo, and sprayed in some WD40. No big deal, I had seen this done to tractors and other diesel engines. The truck would try to start, but wouldn't catch. He kept spraying, I suggested it may be gelled up, he said it just needed more WD40 and it would take right off. He proceeded to spray the entire can into the turbo. The truck didn't start. I towed him into town. I persuaded the shop guys to give me room to push the truck inside, where it was warm. It sat for about 1 hour in the warmth of the shop, then he tried it again. It cranked a bit, then caught. It buried the tachometer for about 15-20 seconds!! The sound and smoke was one of the scarier things I have ever experienced!! By some miracle, the engine didn't explode, he filled up with fuel, dropped off his minnows, and was on his way. I did suggest to him that he get his fuel gauge repaired.
Dave
Follow Ups: