Hi Folks, My girlfriends car is revving itself even after ignition key taken out and engine bellowing with white smoke, any ideas?

probably too late now it already gone boom, try blocking exhaust suffocate it.

I don't suppose you have a catch can fitted ??
If it's diesel, it sounds like it's pulling engine oil from somewhere, which is allowing it to continue running.

It is a diesel, 1.9 sporting, apparently it was coming out of the exhaust as well.

Just had turbo replaced about 4 hours before, and it started throwing out white smoke and then the engine started revving like hell after ignition key out then conks out. It does restart though, but after a minute does the same thing again.

I'm wondering if perhaps a coolant leak? oil was also changed and it was pretty clear when checked. I have to go on what my girlfriend says here because she's 45 mile away from me so basically until I can go up and see myself I'm going by her word lol

Think I've found the problem, blown turbo seal, cascading into an oil burnoff in the engine, sounds like its gone bye bye right enough Dave.

Who replaced the Turbo ?
Was it used or recon etc.

It;s not revved the engine to destruction has it ?

As you've found, it is engine oil passing through the turbo seals into the engine and being burnt instead of fuel. Diesels will do this. The white smoke is because it is the wrong grade of fuel and is not atomising or burning properly. You can stop the engine by deliberately stalling it, or else it will continue to run until it empties the sump, causing engine damage.

Tip: Not necessarily related to this failure.
The turbo spins at very high speed and requires a good supply of oil. When the engine stops, this oil supply stops. If the turbo is still spinning quickly, this can put a lot of wear into the precision bearings, then the seals will fail due to shaft float. With any turbo engine, allow the engine to idle for a few seconds after coming to a stop, to allow the turbo to slow, before turning the engine off.

To update.

The car did indeed use the oil and on inspection by the mechanic(who did the turbo) concluded that the engine was terminally damaged.

The mechanic was a chap doing jobs on the fly, both him and the company that supplied the recon turbo blamed each other so was screwed.

Managed to get a full(injectors/turbo etc) second hand engine for 900 delivered that had done 21000 miles(current engine had done 118000) and fitted for £460.

But tbf she runs lovely.

steve119 said:

To update.

The car did indeed use the oil and on inspection by the mechanic(who did the turbo) concluded that the engine was terminally damaged.

The mechanic was a chap doing jobs on the fly, both him and the company that supplied the recon turbo blamed each other so was screwed.

Managed to get a full(injectors/turbo etc) second hand engine for 900 delivered that had done 21000 miles(current engine had done 118000) and fitted for £460.

But tbf she runs lovely.

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You seem very laid back about it all. I'd be on the war path if I'd lost out to the tune of £1360 and it wasn't my fault.

jameshobiecat said:

You seem very laid back about it all. I'd be on the war path if I'd lost out to the tune of £1360 and it wasn't my fault.

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Me too. If the seals were faulty in the turbo, the fitting of it will not affect that, so the fitter would not be at fault. Turbo supplier should be contributing most of repair cost. Fitter could supply his labour free.

Bit of blackmail, would the fitter appreciate his employer becoming aware?

I've had my wee jump up and down at the time, but at the end of the day me and my fiancee both work 90 miles the opposite way from each other so I need both cars on the road.

The mechanic isn't running a proper business so what can you do?

I'm just a lot happier with the fact she's on the road tbh.

portland_bill said:

Me too. If the seals were faulty in the turbo, the fitting of it will not affect that, so the fitter would not be at fault. Turbo supplier should be contributing most of repair cost. Fitter could supply his labour free.

Bit of blackmail, would the fitter appreciate his employer becoming aware?

Click to expand...

The mechanic is full time working in his own garage, hes not paying tax, he normally taxi's.

And the work is already done.

I'm totally over it, was getting nowhere with either and didn't have time to argue over it, needed the car back on the road, but will maybe get a bit of satisfaction but cant put it on the forum yet.