Subaru self accelerates to max rpm/white smoke

[Imcata]

Hi,
Maybe i can find someone who experienced similar issue:
- car in discussion: Impreza Diesel 2.0D, 2009
- started my car ok, drive for ~ 10 km, then noticed that i could not get above 2500 rpm
- when I pressed the clutch, engine stopped
- I could not re-start it for several attempts (battery ok, starter worked, looked like it was about to start but then stalls)
- no check light, nothing on the OBD reader
- eventually managed to start (not doing anything different, just waited for a while on the side of the road)
- i was able to raise above 2500 rpm, but the car was vibrating a lot
- at a random moment, it started to rev to maximum by itself (>5500 rpm) . Could not stop it manually, but it did stop after an error occurred for “rpm exceed”
- while having the high revs, there was also a lot of white smoke coming from the exhaust.
- I did not restart it after this event.

I read some threads, some would blame the crankshaft sensor (was not able to find its location until now), some blame the turbo having leaks/shaft broken, some blame the high pressure injection pump.

Any of you had similar experience? What could be the blame for this?

Many thanks in advance

 

[sm15]

I can already tell that you had a blown turbo and oil leaking into engine .
Now you have also a blown motor.
Congrats

 

[Lou O.]

At this point, please take her to a master mechanic for assessment. Prepare thyself as the engine may be toast...

 

[sm15]

At this point, please take her to a master mechanic for assessment. Prepare thyself as the engine may be toast...

It is 100% toast lol. But you cad throw junkyard motor for 800 bucks + labour so not that bad. Diesels are pretty cheap

 

[sm15]

Btw. Better to scrap that junk. Subaru diesel is "not so good"
Just get gas

 

[pfarmer]

Hi,
Maybe i can find someone who experienced similar issue:
- car in discussion: Impreza Diesel 2.0D, 2009
- started my car ok, drive for ~ 10 km, then noticed that i could not get above 2500 rpm
- when I pressed the clutch, engine stopped
- I could not re-start it for several attempts (battery ok, starter worked, looked like it was about to start but then stalls)
- no check light, nothing on the OBD reader
- eventually managed to start (not doing anything different, just waited for a while on the side of the road)
- i was able to raise above 2500 rpm, but the car was vibrating a lot
- at a random moment, it started to rev to maximum by itself (>5500 rpm) . Could not stop it manually, but it did stop after an error occurred for “rpm exceed”
- while having the high revs, there was also a lot of white smoke coming from the exhaust.
- I did not restart it after this event.

I read some threads, some would blame the crankshaft sensor (was not able to find its location until now), some blame the turbo having leaks/shaft broken, some blame the high pressure injection pump.

Any of you had similar experience? What could be the blame for this?

Many thanks in advance

When a diesel starts to run on its own lubrication system it will continue until it is starved of air, often a butterfly type of flap closes in the intake air. This basically saves you but the engine is typically toast by then. You probably should had bailed out of the car as when it comes apart it can be pretty dramatic.

 

[pfarmer]

When a diesel starts to run on its own lubrication system it will continue until it is starved of air, often a butterfly type of flap closes in the intake air. This basically saves you but the engine is typically toast by then. You probably should had bailed out of the car as when it comes apart it can be pretty dramatic.

 

[Imcata]

I did take apart the intercooler, and i drained around 100ml of oil out, so it was not actually full. Also the oil level is 3/4 between the marks in the tank, so i keep my fingers crossed that the engine is not damaged. Tomorrow I will remove the turbo to check the shaft play/sealing.
If I don’t find the turbo broken, it might just be that some remaining oil from the intercooler went to the engine, at least this is what i have read from other users (other car brands)

 

[Lou O.]

Diesel engines can experience what's called Run Away if the piston rings are wore out. The engine will experience exactly what you described, because it is pulling oil up past the rings and burning it as fuel, which it can do. Normally, run away is fatal to a diesel... hopefully this is not your condition. Keep us posted with details!

 

[Imcata]

Hello,
I managed to reach the turbo, and it looks ok. No axial play on the shaft, and it seems to be turning ok.
But i tried to start it(after making sure that the turbo is not leaking) and it failed.
It tries to start but it seems that the engine choked.
Could be the crankshaft position sensor. Does anybody know how i can reach it? My engine is ee20, and I simply cannot see it, even after removing the intercooler.

Also, i was thinking about the injection pump, could it be faulty? How I can test it?

Many thanks for any advice!

 

[sm15]

Hello,
I managed to reach the turbo, and it looks ok. No axial play on the shaft, and it seems to be turning ok.
But i tried to start it(after making sure that the turbo is not leaking) and it failed.
It tries to start but it seems that the engine choked.
Could be the crankshaft position sensor. Does anybody know how i can reach it? My engine is ee20, and I simply cannot see it, even after removing the intercooler.

Also, i was thinking about the injection pump, could it be faulty? How I can test it?

Many thanks for any advice!

Go to the mechanic man.

 

[Imcata]

Really: does anybody know where the crankshaft position sensor is located? This is the view with intercooler removed.
Thanks!

 

[Lou O.]

OK, Normally the CPS is located in the engine block, on one side or another. Low in the block, but above the oil pan. There is only one.
How this works is as follows: There is a special ring with teeth either pressed on or machined onto one of the crank shaft counter weight throws. The CPS will be perpendicular to the teeth. It is a Hall Effect sensor, in that it counts the gaps between the teeth, not the teeth themselves. Look under the vehicle (please be careful!) on either the passenger side or drivers side. (if longitudinal mounted engine)
Normally placed in the front half of the engine, closer to the harmonic balancer. It will be threaded into the block, similar to how a spark plug is attached to the cylinder head. Do not confuse the Knock Sensor, which is only bolted to the side of the block, and is really a microphone listening for knock....I hope this helps you out somewhat...I know its not perfect info, we don't have the Subaru diesel in the USA....good luck!!

 

[pfarmer]

View attachment 2632
View attachment 2633
Really: does anybody know where the crankshaft position sensor is located? This is the view with intercooler removed.
Thanks!

I have never done this on a diesel but have you taken compression readings to see if you have a piston ring problem.

 

[Lou O.]

Not on a diesel....

 

[pfarmer]

Not on a diesel....

You actually can but not through sparkplug holes. A piston ring is a likely source of a diesel eating itself

 

[Lou O.]

Correct, no spark plug holes in a diesel. He may have glow plugs, and that is an access point. The other is the fuel injection port, but disconnecting High Pressure FI is not for a novice.

 

[pfarmer]

Correct, no spark plug holes in a diesel. He may have glow plugs, and that is an access point. The other is the fuel injection port, but disconnecting High Pressure FI is not for a novice.

Disassembling turbos is not for the novice and tells you little about the condition of the rings, the most likely cause of a runaway.

The actual fact is cost wise probably source another engine where you can diagnose it on a stand prior to instalation is the best bet (or part out the car).

 

[pfarmer]

Hi,
Maybe i can find someone who experienced similar issue:
- car in discussion: Impreza Diesel 2.0D, 2009
- started my car ok, drive for ~ 10 km, then noticed that i could not get above 2500 rpm
- when I pressed the clutch, engine stopped
- I could not re-start it for several attempts (battery ok, starter worked, looked like it was about to start but then stalls)
- no check light, nothing on the OBD reader
- eventually managed to start (not doing anything different, just waited for a while on the side of the road)
- i was able to raise above 2500 rpm, but the car was vibrating a lot
- at a random moment, it started to rev to maximum by itself (>5500 rpm) . Could not stop it manually, but it did stop after an error occurred for “rpm exceed”
- while having the high revs, there was also a lot of white smoke coming from the exhaust.
- I did not restart it after this event.

I read some threads, some would blame the crankshaft sensor (was not able to find its location until now), some blame the turbo having leaks/shaft broken, some blame the high pressure injection pump.

Any of you had similar experience? What could be the blame for this?

Many thanks in advance

What was the oil level when this occurred? I researched this a little and if the level is high one poster mention the return lines located under the valve covers. On his one was split and dump fuel into the oil raising the level causing a runaway that was able to be stopped at a low rpm.