Talk of Detroit engines caught my eye.. a while back I wrote about an incident at work where one of our drivers blew-up a motor. I said it was a Jimmy, but was wrong it was a Detroit. Essentially.. he ran low on air and stomped on the throttle to build it back up... a check engine light came one, but was told over the radio by the garage it was ok...then came the BIG BANG. What no one knew was the air compressor had blown a piston and, as it is oiled from the engine, was sucking the oil out of the engine and into the airtank and lines. Middle of a bridge the engine threw the piston out the block. I saw the engine today..apprx. 4" by 8" oval holes on either side of the block. You can see right through! Cost transit upwards to $30,000 for a new motor plus repairs to the air system.
