Breifly start car with no coolant?

Iamzod · 22 Feb 2014 at 09:52

Is it safe to start a car with no coolant briefly? I've just started an engine conversion and I'd like to make sure it starts before I start cluttering the engine bay with a cooling system. Will 20-30 seconds running be a problem?

ShakenNstirred · 22 Feb 2014 at 10:01

that should be fine, its not going to get that hot in 20 odd sec

Jez · 22 Feb 2014 at 10:07

I drove a Renault Laguna with no coolant in it before, it didn't finally seize until about 15 miles of driving. Impressive :cool:

Conscript · 22 Feb 2014 at 10:09

I'd probably do it for an instant, just to check the engine turns over. .. That's not to say is a good idea though

Iamzod · 22 Feb 2014 at 10:15

I'm worried about heat building up differently in a block/heads with no water and also running the water pump dry.

Hades · 22 Feb 2014 at 10:23

I wouldn't recommend driving it but it would be fine for a few seconds.

Matt82 · 22 Feb 2014 at 10:43

Id be more comfortable with 10-20 seconds. The oil also helps cool it

Skeeter · 22 Feb 2014 at 11:02

Jez said:
I drove a Renault Laguna with no coolant in it before, it didn't finally seize until about 15 miles of driving. Impressive

Why?

("For the lols" is a perfectly acceptable answer

)

rodenal · 22 Feb 2014 at 11:47

Will be fine, just don't let it run for too long or drive it unless you really, really have to

Jez · 22 Feb 2014 at 13:02

Skeeter said:
Why?

("For the lols" is a perfectly acceptable answer )

It was an old crappy one which one of my friends parents were going to take to a scrap yard, me and a few friends decided to drive it around for the lolz when we were all about 17

bledd · 22 Feb 2014 at 16:11

Not good for the engine or the pump

You could bypass the rad, and use a tline to fill it with water as a quick test.

rodenal · 22 Feb 2014 at 17:55

bledd. said:
Not good for the engine or the pump

You could bypass the rad, and use a tline to fill it with water as a quick test.

Only works if he has connected up the pipes elsewhere though, which it doesn't sound like he has.

In saying that it should be a two second job, really don't see any issue with starting it for a few seconds though

Dogbreath · 22 Feb 2014 at 19:22

bledd. said:
Not good for the engine or the pump

You could bypass the rad, and use a tline to fill it with water as a quick test.

For 20 seconds it won't make any difference at all.

Clarkey · 22 Feb 2014 at 19:30

A few seconds no problem.

I ran my crashed colt for about 15 mins with the radiator smashed to pieces though and it totalled the engine, knocking like a jack hammer after that.

Fuzz · 22 Feb 2014 at 21:50

I'd limit it to 10 seconds if I were you.
Or simply trust what you are doing and just get on and finish the rebuild, fill it with coolant, check for leaks, prime the system without the plugs in and then just get on and start it.

Just think about the fact the second you flick that key it'll be in the region of 130°C in there. If there is no coolant to wick away that heat, metal things start expanding rather more rapidly than desired...