so the short of it is i went t start my car, it started reving up on it's own, i turned the key off but it still kept going, dunno what rpm because i have no tach but it was a lot higher than i've ever heard it and i heard some knocking clacking louder than i've ever heard. i thought the motor was going to fall apart, but it came down and and shut off, i started it after than and it seemed fine i figured no hard no foul.

Well i went to start it the next morning it felt like it mis fired a few times for 2 or 3 blocks or so at every stop when it would go down to idle. I also noticed for the first time white smoke on start up, i've been told there was some when it's cold but i've never been able see it from where i sit before or maybe i jsut notice it now.

what damage do you think might have been caused? it seems perfectly normal after it warms up and is on the freeway, maybe even better but when it's cold it's worse than ever

interesting. Its a 240d right?

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

Oh sorry, 1980 300D N/A

What could have caused this on a N/A engine? No turbo bearings oil leak potential.....was the oil in the crankcase at the right level? (at or below max marking) Did the throttle linkage stick perhaps? Did you press the pedal when starting it? Interesting.....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I bet the linkage was stuck or he had his foot on the throttle instead of the brake.

As pawoSd indicated something has to be giving it fuel to burn. Engine oil can be one of them. How about this: May be the accelerator pedal is comming all the way up and appears to be OK but there is something messed up on the linkage (as Forced said) to the pump. Another possible is the little nut that holds the throttle lever on the IP is loose; also if it has been loose for along time the slot the throttle lever fits in can wear. Something inside of the IP causing the rack to stick or something amiss in the IP govenor. The rack of the fuel injection pump is lubricated by the engine oil perhaps it has gotten gunked up. Also If it is really cold in your area and you are not using winter oil and gunked up could cause a sticky rack; when it gets warm it frees up.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I had a slight scare once as I used hot water on the engine in an attempt to warm it enough to help start it (had worked before) but the battery was too drained and it didn't work....so I left for 25 mins to go buy a charger/starter unit and when I came back the water had frozen all over the engine/linkages (didn't realize this had happened, it was -12F outside ) to the point that when I got it started and gave it a little throttle to help it stay running it began to rev up and continued when I let off the pedal as the ice jammed it! Luckily I acted fast with my foot and pulled the pedal forward before it even hit 3,500 rpm, but that was a SCARE. 3,500 rpm can't be good for an engine at 0F, at least it had 5w40 synthetic in it and I stopped it after like 2 seconds....plus there was no load on the engine either. wshew. It happened almost 20k ago, so I am assuming there was no real damage done....

Runaways.....scary thing! Never again will I pour water on my engine!

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Apparently my heater cord has shorted out, so I was going to try the hot water trick tomorrow morning (starting is a tough bet at 16 deg. F overnight). I might rethink that now

It works, just don't pour it over the linkages! If you pour it down the sides of the block its ok....when I did it I just poured it over the valve cover.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Thanks for your help guys, I know this is a Merc site but it is the only place I have found where people have spoken about the runaway diesel in such depth, surely you don't mind a fellow German auto owner asking for some help

Spoke to the Mechanic this morning, he is in the process of assessing the damage as we speak, fingers crossed I might have got away with it and learned a valuable lesson in the process. The timing belt needs doing as well, as do the front passenger shocks and maybe the back ones too, I have dangled this carrott in front of him so maybe he will take it easy on me. He used to be my landlord, so I know him.

Regarding doing the work myself, well lets put it this way, I put 4 liters of oil in an already full engine, don't think mechanics is my thing, though I am planning to learn more now for sure.

try putting a hair dryer down the intake of the engine, that helps alot.

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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

Geographic location please.

Orange county, CA, USA
I had been cleaning the engine, see

i thought it might have just been some carb cleaner in there but i just found my friend's little brother put some seafoam in the intake, i'm guessing that's what did it. the linkage was not stuck and my foot was off the gas

Sounds like a darwin awards nomanee...

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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

don't disrespect folks if you can't even spell "nominee"...people might get the idea you didn't do so well in high school.

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1966 200D Fintail. "Flossie" 151k Dying a slow death.
2008 ML320 CDI 32k "Waiting for a name"