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Privileged customer

I own a 2005 Renault Grand Scenic 1.9CDi Privilege that has done 52,000 miles. I bought it used a year ago. We were travelling back down the A9 from Dornoch, just coming to Blair Atholl when the engine blew spectacularly. I was towing a caravan at about 55 mph, temperatures were OK and there was oil in the engine. We had been travelling for about 3 hours when I had to stop for road works. When the lights went to Green, I stalled the engine 3 times, unusually and had to wait for the next Green Phase. I was then able to pull away, although the engine sounded slightly hesitant in First, then in Second, but when I changed to Third the engine pulled away as normal. When I changed from 3rd to 4th, the engine screamed up to max revs, White smoke came out the back and after a few seconds, the engine cut out and stopped. I tried to start the engine - it would still turn over - but no result. Eventually the AA came and towed me and the caravan home. The car is now in the garage and the big debate is whether to change the engine or dismantle and see if any damage has been done and repair. But why did it happen in the first place? This is not a big mileage for a diesel engine. There had been no indication beforehand of anything going wrong. I have never driven the car hard. I normally drive at between 55 and 65 mph. The caravan was not above the recommended weight. The temperatures and pressures were normal. There was oil in the engine. I would be grateful if you could shed any light. I certainly don't want it to happen again. Have I been doing anything wrong in driving?

Asked on 7 November 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
You overheated the turbo possibly by towing uphill and possibly by switching off the engine at the road works while the turbo was red hot. This destroyed what remained of the turbo oil seals. When you restarted, sump oil was sucked up via the bearings into the fuel system creating a siphon effect on which the engine then ran uncontrollably until it stalled. You needed to idle the turbo before switching off after towing, for two minutes or so. Then engine oil circulates through the red hot turbo bearing, helping to cool it. Switch off a red hot turbo and that oil instantly carbonises. This applies to all diesel turbos, but not so much if the turbo is water as well as oil cooled and if the engine and transmission have additional cooling to cope with towing.
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