Diesel Ambulance Shuts Down Due to EPA Regs While Victim Dies

[bcp]

Found this, from:
https://sites.google.com/site/fordmustangjoey/ford-super-duty

Fail-Safe Cooling System

Ford's "Fail-Safe Cooling System" is designed to protect the engine due to loss of coolant. If the engine overheats, it will automatically switch from 8/10-cylinder (depending on V8 or V10 engine) operation to alternating 4/5-cylinder (depending on V8 or V10 engine) operation. Because there is now 50% less hot combustion, the engine will operate cooler. The vehicle will continue to operate, but with very limited engine power. The now so-called 'dead' cylinders also act like an air pump to cool the engine down even more. This system allows the driver to travel a short distance to obtain service or to reach a repair facility. The distance that can be traveled depends upon vehicle load, outside temperature, and current road conditions.

 

[KYErik]

The Cadillac northstar engine had a feature where it would alternate shutting down a few cylinders at a time and was able to limp/air cool enough to supposedly go 100 miles without coolant.


"One notable feature, advertised at the time, was the "limp home" fail-safe mode which allowed the engine to continue running for a limited time without any coolant. Supplying fuel to only one cylinder bank in turn, the engine would "air cool" the inactive bank. This technique, combined with its all-aluminum construction and large oil capacity, allows the engine to maintain safe temperatures, allowing a Northstar-equipped car to be driven with no coolant for about 100 mi (161 km) without damage." From: Northstar engine series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[pjbci]

The Cadillac northstar engine had a feature where it would alternate shutting down a few cylinders at a time and was able to limp/air cool enough to supposedly go 100 miles without coolant.

"One notable feature, advertised at the time, was the "limp home" fail-safe mode which allowed the engine to continue running for a limited time without any coolant. Supplying fuel to only one cylinder bank in turn, the engine would "air cool" the inactive bank. This technique, combined with its all-aluminum construction and large oil capacity, allows the engine to maintain safe temperatures, allowing a Northstar-equipped car to be driven with no coolant for about 100 mi (161 km) without damage." From: Northstar engine series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I thought all the GM engines did that. My 06 chevy owners manual says the same. Hope i never find out if it actuallys works though.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Maybe the drivers just shut the ambulance down to save us tax payers a few dollars? Not like it was a great loss. I know I would not try to save a cop killer.

Chris

 

[joshuabardwell]

Maybe the drivers just shut the ambulance dowm to save us tax payers a few dollars? Not like it was a great loss. I know I would not try to save a cop killer.

I confess that I had that thought too. I know that EMTs take their job very seriously, so I wouldn't seriously suggest it. But the thought did cross my mind.

 

[VTFireftr]

I've been driving ambulances and fire engines (my department can't afford a ladder TRUCK) for almost 30 years. I'm also a Ford diesel owner.

Presenlty my squad has four powerstoke diesel equipped ambulances (2 6.0 and 2 7.3). Several times I have had the ambulance just shut down while driving - both empty and with patients inside. Twice the problem was with the cam position sensor (CPS) on the 7.3 crapping out. Since I had this happen with my 2001, I knew exactly what happened. Thankfully, these were not critical patient transports, and mutual aid was close by.

Last july I was driving one of the 7.3 equipped ambulances to meet a helicopter with a cardiac patient (stabilized at the time) when I lost all power. The truck did not shut off, but barely climbed the hill I was on. Thankfully, the truck regained power after about 30 seconds (which seemed like 2 hours). This truck had been taken out of service several times and taken to the dealer for this issue. Finally diagnosed with a bad coating in the 58 gallon fuel cell that was plugging the fuel filters. Once the tank was replaced, no issues, and has run fine since.

When my fire department took delivery of a brand new International chassised engine 6 years ago, it had all sorts of electrical issues and still does today. Neither International or the aftermarket manufacturer have been able to diagnose and correct the pulsing light issue. We have replaced alternators, voltage regulators, and all sorts of electronic components but no luck. We have learned to live with the issue. The truck starts drives and pumps water just fine, and that's all we really care about. I have no problem trusting this engine when I'm in a burning building.

As for the DC issue, it's a large fleet that probably has limited spare pieces of apparatus and the local politicians are probably cutting their maintanance budgets every year, when they need to increase them. If the ambulance was written up for some warning lights, someone made a decision that it wasn't too serious and could wait to be taken out of service. Now, that person will lose their job and the scumbag's family will get rich. Can we send them a bill for all their past medical and housing and public assistance charges?

I'll shut up now before I get into trouble.

 

[riptides]

...

As for the DC issue, it's a large fleet that probably has limited spare pieces of apparatus and the local politicians are probably cutting their maintanance budgets every year, when they need to increase them. If the ambulance was written up for some warning lights, someone made a decision that it wasn't too serious and could wait to be taken out of service. Now, that person will lose their job and the scumbag's family will get rich. Can we send them a bill for all their past medical and housing and public assistance charges?

I'll shut up now before I get into trouble.

You have to live near DC to understand or get media influenced on the topic of police and fire services.

The ambulance fleet has many issues, this being another, over the YEARS, and no one can seem to figure it out.

I am sure someone in the fire department knows all about maintenance and how the machines behave and what not.
How that message gets up the chain of command, or through the budgets is probably the issue.


I too had a 7.3, the CPS was replace as per manufacturer recommended warrenty recall/alert. I cannot recall which.

 

[Soundguy]

i've replaced both of mine and now carry a spare in the glovebox with a wrench taped to the box. .. probably never need em now.

 

[kenmac]

The problem that I see with the EPA waiving emissions rules for Fire Engines.and Ambulances is. I don't believe any of the engine builders have an emissions complaint and a non emissions complaint engine.The same engine you get in a truck is the same engine that's in a Rescue Truck/Ambulance..So it's really a mute point isn't it ? My son's a Paramedic here, and the Ford Dealer has had the cab off the Ford Rescue/ Ambulance so many times they say the mechainc at the Ford dealer can remove it with his eyes closed

 

[aczlan]

The problem that I see with the EPA waiving emissions rules for Fire Engines.and Ambulances is. I don't believe any of the engine builders have an emissions complaint and a non emissions complaint engine.The same engine you get in a truck is the same engine that's in a Rescue Truck/Ambulance..So it's really a mute point isn't it ?

Its the same thing as the various tuners do with a DPF delete. Just pull the components and flash a different program into the ECU/BCM.

Aaron Z