Driving like NASCAR

[JohnnyO]

Yesterday I'm heading up PA Rt. 60 to my other office. Hit the toll booth and start rolling, road goes slightly downhill then uphill. Near the crest of the hill I'm almost ready to pass a slower-moving semi, all of a sudden "KA-WHOOOOM" from the semi, tons of smoke out both stacks like you wouldn't believe. One of the few times I said "Holy shit!" when there was no one around to hear me. The crap was so heavy it didn't go up, rather it came down real fast and for about 100 feet I couldn't see a damn thing. I mean NOTHING, looked like an in-car camera shot from NASCAR when the engine blows up in the car in front of you, and I'm doing about 70 mph. Fortunately I knew there wasn't anyone in front of me but I was just hoping to stay on the road so I kept going straight. I pull over and start backing up the shoulder, by then another trucker had pulled over too. Engine off, there's still smoke pouring out the stacks. I don't see any fire, but geez....me and the inside of my car stink like burning diesel.
Trucker #2 says that maybe the turbocharger crapped out. Myself, I know very little about diesels. Head gasket maybe, I dunno. Truck was still sitting there when I came back the other way a few hours later.
Moral of the story, it's good to pay attention to things all around you when you drive because I knew the road was basically straight and there was no one in front or behind me.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Sounds like the turbo let go.

We had it happen on school busses when i drove them.

later,
Dustin

 

[linuxman2003]

seen it before - probably the turbo... when those things go- they GO.

 

[Legion]

yup had a chance to witness it too.

awesome. i love the smell of a a diesel.

 

[PARKINGLOT]

yup, sounds like a turbo. I haven't had it happen yet, but my dad has. Like linuxman said, when they go, them bitches GO...

 

[rangerjr]

turbo

it was the turbo it does the same on heavey equipment

 

[Will]

I was hauling ass back from the Kentucky thing Sunday and spent a lot of time at the limit on the turbine inlet in those Kentucky hills. I asked my wife (Cummins engineer) if they do anything to protect the engine for when a turbo goes. She said no, they do things to protect the driver for when the turbo goes.

 

[krugford]

Yeah, nothing like 130,000 rpm that suddenly has a place to go...

 

[lil red]

ya a friend of mine had that happen on his 06 350 dually

goin down the road
and boom the turbo clamf flys off
(o and did i mention the 35 foot 5th wheel)
he pulls over and finds the clamp, crankes it back on and away he goes
then a few miles down the road, has a blowout on the trailer one of the back wheeles and doesnt notice
also the shreads knocked the valve stem on the front tire(tandem axel trailer)
so a few miles away a trucker is screamin out the window"u have a flat!!!!!"

along with this my dad and i were on his bike(no im not gay im 16) and out buddy big larry pulls off with a flat on his BRAND freakin new bike
rear tire is flat as a pancake
he calls the cavalry
and we go to wawa to get a bite
and notice a screw in the rear of his BRAND DREAKIN NEW $800 TIRE

long story short
3 tires
1 fire department
and allot of love for wildwood nj

nj state firemans weekend 2007
and screw anyone leavin nails in the road


srry bout the rant but it was a good story

 

[metalmacguyver]

Yeah, nothing like 130,000 rpm that suddenly has a place to go...

i knew those things spun fast but DAUMMMMN!

 

[AllanD]

Yes, that rpm of a turbocharger is WHY mechanically driven blowers have ZERO chance of being anywhere NEAR as efficient at moving air as a turbocharger.

You think 130K rpm is bad?

Car turbo's spin faster.

The little IHI used on the '87-88 turbocoupe would spin at 165K.

the Garrett on Volvo saab, earlier fords etc 140K-145Krpm



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