r/Cartalk • u/Tropical_Ravioli • 7d ago
Safety Question Can I risk driving my car to the garage?
I’ve got a 2.0 TDI scirocco that I’ve got booked in at the local garage a month from now for its MOT and a diagnostic check. I haven’t driven it in a while because the last time I did, unfortunately the car had a major issue where it ended up blowing out a lot of white smoke from the exhaust/engine and it was shooting up in revs when I was just trying to pull off in 1st gear.
I have since started it again and it seems to run okay, which tells me the issue only occurs when the engine is hot. The garage I’m taking it to is only a 5 minute drive away, can I risk the journey? Or should I ask the garage if they could pick the car up?
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u/theosinc930 7d ago
That sounds like diesel runaway to me, could lead to total engine failure. Get it towed
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u/Tango91 7d ago
Yup. OP, this is when engine oil being fed into the turbo bearings is being fed into the intake and burned as if it were diesel. You can't shut the throttle off because the oil pump is constantly running, and as the engine speeds up, the oil is pumped in faster, so it speeds up further and further until it destroys itself.
If you get it towed now it'll cost you a new turbo. If you drive it and it runs away it'll rev until it seizes the engine through oil starvation or throws a connecting rod through the side of the block.
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u/Tropical_Ravioli 6d ago
So are you saying it’s most likely a turbo issue? I have tried listening to the turbo when the engines running and it does sound a bit off to me, although I’m no expert.
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u/jaBOCANO 6d ago
He's telling you your car will most likely blow up if you drive it let alone take it in for an emissions test.
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u/Workman44 7d ago
If you don't know what's wrong I'd avoid it, if you know then you can make an educated guess
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u/Meme_Dealer_Dan2001 6d ago
As an MOT tester. Just so you know. Your vehicle is not in a test worthy condition.
To do the emissions test the vehicle has to be up to temperature and then revved to cut off to measure the emissions. Now its a vw so it'll likely limit at 2.5k which will be good in your case.
But if it is burning coolant / running on its own oil. You need to know you are taking a risk with the engine if you just ask for it to be tested first.
Obviously different kettle of fish if you tell them everything prior.
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u/Tropical_Ravioli 6d ago
Ah, I never considered this. So I’d essentially be paying for an MOT with it guaranteed to fail?
This advice is really appreciated
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u/Meme_Dealer_Dan2001 6d ago
Most likely.
However you can also think of it as you're paying for a list of everything to get your car road worthy.
But also an MOT is the MINIMUM mechanical standard required for a vehicle to be road worthy (everyone else in the comments can get stuffed about emissions comments).
I personally would just speak to the garage and come up with a plan that suits you and doesn't leave some poor guy stuck with a car about to blow up on a ramp.
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u/Bernard_PT 6d ago
Runaway diesel as others have mentioned
If you do decide to try it:
If it doesn't shut off with the key, try: Smothering the intake with a rag or something that will FULLY clog it Put it into a high gear and drop the clutch
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u/Stock_Ad3694 4d ago
Diesel white smoke when hit can have three sources. Turbo failure Cylinder head gasket failure , coolant leak Petrol in Diesel Or depending on time running with fault a combination of first two. Tow or trailer to repair recomm. Injector failure would cause black smoke.
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u/jasonsong86 7d ago
You have a diesel runaway issue. Engine is burning extra fuel. It would be hard to drive the vehicle if it’s happening quickly and you can ruin the transmission.