No coolant, drivable?

mOdO · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:02

I've just discovered my coolant leaks and the car (golf mk5) makes a loud crackling sound.

Is it safe to drive it to a garage?

Thanks.

ZG002 · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:03

paradigm · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:04

No, unless you want to risk a warped or cracked head.

Minstadave · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:04

Seriously?

Dabbles · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:05

Yeah, it'll be reet!

jon.bda · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:05

mOdO said:
I've just discovered my coolant leaks and the car (golf mk5) makes a loud crackling sound.

Is it safe to drive it to a garage?

Thanks.

As soon as you tune the radio correctly...

dalin80 · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:12

Unless the garage in question is less then 30 seconds away then no.

Lopéz · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:12

Engines do not last very long without coolant.

Matt82 · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:16

Minstadave said:
Seriously?

Haha thats what I thought

mOdO · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:23

Just making sure! I was browsing other forums and they said "if its a short journey.."

I'll get someone to come over to have a look.

I hope nothing major is damaged

Rich_L · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:35

Lopéz said:
Engines do not last very long without coolant.

My car apparently will run for about 100 miles without any coolant

*Moangroan* · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:39

Rich_L said:
My car apparently will run for about 100 miles without any coolant

would you give a u tube clip to prove it....mine runs 110 miles on soya sauce...but smells like chicken chow mein.

[TW]Fox · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:39

Rich_L said:
My car apparently will run for about 100 miles without any coolant

I knew when I saw you were the last poster it would be a post saying this

Sprinter · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:46

100 miles with no coolant? Air cooled VW?

[TW]Fox · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:47

*Moangroan* said:
would you give a u tube clip to prove it....mine runs 110 miles on soya sauce...but smells like chicken chow mein.

Its a Northstar V8 - it is indeed designed to run for up to 100 miles without coolant.

Draeger · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:48

*Moangroan* said:
would you give a u tube clip to prove it....mine runs 110 miles on soya sauce...but smells like chicken chow mein.

If it was a Northstar V8 it would be perfectly possible.

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.

**EDIT** Beaten by @1 min in posting by Fox.

Lopéz · 5 Jan 2012 at 11:07

As soon as I pressed submit, I knew some smartarse with a Northstar would rock up

Firestar_3x · 5 Jan 2012 at 11:26

That must be tested in an American climate too, i bet in the UK you could run for 1,000's of miles without issue

bledd · 5 Jan 2012 at 11:29

Is it bad advice to say, fill it with water in the meantime, drive it to a garage and ask them to drain it out, then fix the problem?

(assuming it's not freezing temperatures)

Providing the garage isn't hundreds of miles away

pepsilol · 5 Jan 2012 at 11:34

Driving with a leak can be fine, zero coolant, no.