How bad is it to drive with an empty radiator?

[Duer 157099]

I mean, I know the purpose is to draw heat off the engine, but if the drive is only short and if the heater is used to remove excess heat, is there still serious danger?

[taterguy]

1. If you're only going a short distance, why drive in the first place?

[Duer 157099]

2. Groceries, for example n/t

[taterguy]

3. Don't you own a back pack?

:eyes:

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Even a short drive with an empty radiator can burn out an engine.

Fill some gallon jugs with water (for the trip back, if you must go) and use the garden hose to fill before you leave.

[Kali]

5. depends on the engine

good old hugemongous 8 banging heavy metal? It won't even warm up before you go 10 miles. Cheap efficient aluminum block small engine? Don't even think about it - they get ruined if they overheat, and they heat up HOT pretty darn fast.

Voice of EXPERIENCE. Trust me.

Edit:

Not saying you should actually do it on purpose, can't you do what screaming meemie suggested? fill some jugs and fill the radiator right as you leave? How bad is the leak? that alumaseal stuff works for a small leak and I've used that newfangled liquid gunk on a somewhat bigger hole - it lasted for a couple of weeks.

[Wapsie B]

6. I had a Ford 460 that was ruined because of a radiator leak.

Not a pretty sight.

[Kali]

7. I ruined one with no oil.

But my van's radiator is like a sieve. It runs pretty low all the time, no problem with the engine so far, but I do watch close for getting in the actual red zone.

[BethCA66]

8. Oil doesn't go in the radiator. n/t

[Kali]

10. that is one dumbass thing I have actually never done

but I bet you can't come up with too many others:rofl:

[BethCA66]

11. I should've used an emoticon. ;-) n/t

[Kali]

12. I figured you were kidding.

Still, I have trashed some vehicles over the years so that isn't too far off.

[BethCA66]

9. Might not be a leak but a broken water pump. n/t

[Swede]

13. Your engine will get hot very fast.

Crack the block and it new engine time. Thousands of dollars.

[Ikonoklast]

14. If the radiator is empty, the heater core will be, too.

Modern engines with aluminum heads will rapidly warp them without proper cooling.

Without external cooling the engine oil will rapidly exceed its temperature operational limits and break down, causing bearing damage.

It isn't even a good idea to start a motor without circulating coolant present, let alone run it under load.

[petronius]

15. The heater won't be removing any heat if there's no coolant - I'd say don't do it

at all. Walk, bike, neighbor's car, even a taxi would be cheaper than the hurting you'll put on your wallet by ruining your engine.

Good luck - hope you can get the leak fixed quickly...

[DemoTex]

16. How does 820°C grab you?

The mean temperature of gases in the cylinder during combustion stroke in a single-cylinder 4-stroke gasoline engine has been measured at 820°C.

[Shell Beau]

17. Your car will overheat and possibly mess up your engine.

Not a good idea AT ALL.

[Taverner]

18. Can't you just bring a gallon of water with you, pull over every so often, and refill it?

Let me explain what is going on inside an Internal Combustion Engine

Small chunks of gas are sprayed in (fuel injector) so that it can be sparked (spark plug) and then EXPLODE. This turns the cylinder and the car.

Exploding lots of gasoline will heat up an engine real quick, and if it gets too hot, it melts.

Its as simple as that.