Over filled oil on Astra diesel - advice?

Having the correct amount of oil can't do any harm. So it might be worth draining some out - may be easier said than done. Perhaps drain it all out and refill correctly?

However having too much oil is unlikely to have caused the problems you describe.

Best he gets competent advice ....

What sort of overfill quantity are we talking here?

The usual problem caused by grossly overfilling a diesel is that it can then run on its lubricant, and be incapable of being stopped. The usual result is total engine destruction.

It's hard to see what effect the overfill would have that would cause the starter motor to run continuously.

Chris

had this happen myself, the vans 10 years old the ignition switch is probably well worn probably find the return mechanism is on the way out or full of crap.

Try turning the key back a little after starting

Thanks guys,

We had a go this morning. Ended up losing all the original oil, so refilled very cautiously. There's a reddy-orangey plastic bit on the end of the dipstick, and even in broad daylight we couldn't tell with any certainty what it was reading.

Anyway, we reconected the battery and rocked the car back and forth in second which I gather can free-up a starting motor(?). When he tried the engine it started and was running fine as of 10 minutes ago.

We are watching things cautiously and hopefully when the oil is a bit less clean it will be easier to gauge the level.

I suspect we may have got hold of the wrong end of the tree trunk on a couple of issues, and the "turning the key back a bit" info will be filed. :)

Cheers.

I did this once on an Escort. The mechanic simply drained the excess off cleaned the plugs and it was fine.

Whole different ball game with a diesel however...

Chris

Bit less clean on a 10 year old Diesel? Be totally black by, oooh, about now.

There's videos of this happening on You Tube with people standing round looking helpless until the engine blows.

Presumably you should be able to stall the engine by putting it in high gear, standing on the brakes, and letting up the clutch.

Unless it's an automatic.

Depends on how powerful it is versus how old the clutch is.

Standard VW workshop training is to try to throw water down the air intake, and if that's not possible evacuate the workshop.

Chris

I know nowt about engines but why wouldn't shutting the air intake off stop a runaway diesel?

Very fair point. But air intakes are not as obvious or as accessible as they used to be. I must have a look to see where mine is!

Remember - a diesel is normally regulated not by regulating the air, but by regulating the fuel. If (especially a turbo) is "running away", with an unregulated fuel supply available, then it's going to be sucking pretty damn hard at that intake. You approach that with a handful of rag and good intentions, you are _very_ likely to be injured. And that's assuming you aren't sticking your hand somewhere down in the gubbins next to a hot exhaust and whoozhing belts. And assuming it doesn't go POP spectacularly whilst you're doing it.

F*ck. That. For. A. Game. Of. Soldiers. I'd rather replace an engine (or even a shiteoldwheezel) than a hand.

And if you can't find it, they've hidden it - on a Saab 9-3 I was fettling today, the intake appears to be at the top of the O/S wheel arch on top of the liner...

Same place as it was on proper 900s.

I wonder whether discharging a Carbon Dioxide fire extinguisher as close as possible to the air intake would work?

Indeed. Hence the 'VW' advice of throw water at the intake, then hide.

Apart from the risks you mention, a diesel in a runaway state may well grenade.

Chris

Heh. Handbrake operated the rears though by the feel of it (assuming the

Both of mine were rear hb ones... And, yep, all the dull OpelSaabs are rear hb.