Dealing with a Runaway Diesel

September 29, 2020 11:20 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

A lot can go wrong when you’re behind the wheel of a semi truck. A collision can set you behind on your schedule or ruin the product. A one-car accident can get you in trouble with clients. But there is nothing scarier than a runaway diesel. This frightening scenario is one of the worst things that can happen to your truck. Not to worry, though—there are ways to improve your trucking safety in Wytheville, VA and make sure you don’t end up in a life-threatening situation.

What is a runaway diesel?

A runaway diesel is a form of engine failure in which the diesel begins to draw fuel from a source other than the gas tank. This causes the engine to amp up its RPMs out of control until either the alternative fuel source runs out or the engine experiences total failure. As you can imagine, suddenly discovering that your engine has bucked your control and is running wild can be terrifying.

Your life is more important than your goods

The first thing to remember is that you are more important than whatever you’re hauling. If you find yourself in a runaway diesel situation, the first thing to do is prioritize your safety over the wellbeing of whatever’s in your trailer.

Turning the ignition off won’t work

As you may not be aware, when your engine runs amok, switching off the ignition doesn’t stop the problem. Diesel engines operate on a direct-air mechanism. That means all they require is a fuel source and an air supply to function. In other words, when handling a runaway diesel, you’ll need to get creative.

Smother the engine

When it comes to these runaway diesel trucking tips in Wytheville, VA, the safest thing to do is cut off the supply of air. You should have an emergency fire extinguisher in your cab to smother the engine with CO2. You can also use rags or a T-shirt to cut off the intake and deplete oxygen flow to your engine.

Don’t try to cut off the fuel source

Avoid the instinct to identify and exterminate the alternative source of fuel driving your engine. Any number of items in your engine could malfunction and feed fuel to your engine. Trying to pinpoint the problem item and shut it down will simply waste time and likely not solve the issue.

Let experts take control

Once you’ve successfully brought your runaway diesel to a halt, do not start the engine again. Instead, come to the team that prioritizes a safe trucking lifestyle in Wytheville, VA: Complete Truck Service, Inc. Since 1983, we have set the gold standard for trucking services in the Wytheville area. We offer 24-hour emergency service, and we’re ready to assist you when the worst happens. With one call, we’ll send one of our highly-skilled technicians to haul your truck into our state-of-the-art shop. There, we’ll assess the problem and put a solution in place at a cost that won’t break the bank.

Come to the team that values your dollar and your time. Reach out to Complete Truck Service, Inc. today to schedule an appointment.

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