i'd need to get a radiatorless 90 civic from the shop to my house, which is about a half mile away. is it safe to do so in 80 degree weather? what if i stop halfway and let the engine cool?

 

if it's a half mile, find someone with a truck hook it to your tow hook in the middle of the front bumper, underneath, and tow it back...no way I'd drive a car let alone start a car without a radiator in 80 degree heat.

 

no way in hell, you wont even get half way there before it will overheat, tow it...


[Modified by Braveheart, 12:19 PM 8/20/2002]

 

why not put a radiator in it? or push it lazy

 

straight up, i am too lazy.

 

dude, a half mile. Fuggin go for it. The car won't even be warmed up going that far. Only thing is I would watch the guage. You could probably make it pretty far.

I only know since I had a DA that the radiator was leaking. I ran that thing out of water all the time. It would get hot, but the motor doesn't seize or anything.....don't get me wrong. I would not go rollin around lookin for hoochies, but down the street is fine.

 

i wouldnt even attempt it, just tow it

 

Dont do it, dont risk it. Just tow it. Then by friday were going to see this post...

I ran my car w/o a radiator blew my engine, what engine can fit an old school civic??


[Modified by JohnysZC, 10:31 PM 8/20/2002]


[Modified by JohnysZC, 10:31 PM 8/20/2002]

 

I can only imagine...whoever that guy is that said go for it...

 

I think there is a distinction that needs to be made. Radiatorless, or coolantless?

if there is NO coolant in the car, then it's not going to make it.

If there is coolant, but it is just being circulated around, without going through a radiator, then you'll might be ok. Just do it when there's no traffic, and you are sure to not have any delays (nighttime, when it's cooler out, would be best.). Don't let it idle at all, start it and drive right away, then when you get there, turn it off right away. Go half way there and let it sit overnight and take the next half the next day, if you want to be sure..

 

Ok, you guys are cracking me up. Coolant is not like oil. If it was oil, I would say "No way". Even then, on a bet, it might make it. But hell....running without coolant is only going to hurt the car if you drive it presistantly and mindlessly far. Seriously, down the street will not hurt it. The water pump might get a little pissed at you, but if you can do a straight shot at night, GO FOR IT. Don't be a puss.

I am not trying to get you to blow your motor. If you have any real reservations about this, don't do it. I am telling you right now, running for a few blocks, hell, even a couple miles, is not going to make a damn bit of difference. The car would take at least that long to even get warm. You guys have obviously never driven a car without any coolant in it. You can go for a while without it and not hurt the car at all.

If it was my car, and all it was was a wussy EF, I would fuggin do it in a heartbeat.


BTW, I can get you a new radiator for cheap if you want.

 

It should take about a mile and a 1/2 before it starts to heat up. Id go for it.

 

Just get the car up to like 30mph then turn it off and put it in neutral and coast the rest of the way (unless it is uphill) If it is down hill you got it easy. a car will coast 1/2 mile easy if you get it up to like 30mph

 

second that
that should work...... u can work with that...... u might **** ur water pump.... and remember since theres no coolant the temp sensor its not really going to read the right temp..... its going to be highger than the gauge says.... but go for it coast it, turn it off...... i wouldnt have it on more than 25 seconds.....

 

Well, coolant may not be quite like oil. But you must remember that if you run the engine without coolant, it will heat up MUCH faster than it would with full coolant. The reason for this is that water has a very high specific heat. In other words, it requires alot of thermal energy to heat it up. Aluminum, on the other hand, has a much lower specific heat. Add to this the fact that you don't have the water to take up the heat and you can see that a dry engine is going to get MUCH hotter MUCH more quickly than one with full coolant. And even if there is coolant in the engine, it is just going to get pumped out if the hoses are left open. So save yourself alot of grief and get the car towed!

 

AAA...within seven miles is free.

Use a strong rope and another car.

Or...blow a headgasket or something....

 

try it...seriously.

start it up, drive it up to 60mph and coast the rest of the way there with the engine off.

you say it's half a mile. .5 miles is not that far. the time it takes him to accelerate to 60mph, he'll cover a good 1/8 mile or more (if he does it slow enough).

As long as there aren't any stop lights...

 

I know it took me about 9 miles (2 in traffic) in 60 deg. temperature to start overheating when I drove my car with the upper radiator hose disconnected.
I guess I left a nice coolant track all the way to my work. It's not quite the same but can give you an idea about driving a half mile

 

yeah, I took chemistry too. You are right....but still...drive to next town? no. drive two blocks or so? yes.

 

just do it and tell us what happens you should make it.

 

werd, with absolutely no coolant it will get hot real quik, quicker than you think, tow it or get a radiator from a junkyard.

 

Agreed.. I wouldnt even worry about it... Why are you even towing it to a shop? it takes about 5 mins to install one, with a 10mm and a pair of plyers

Jeff





[Modified by AbaZ, 9:13 AM 8/21/2002]

 

it's not going to a shop, it's going to my house from the body shop. i'm doing the radiator myself to save money, but i'd rather do it in my driveway than in front of the shop. eh, sounds like i should just suck it up and install the radiator before i drive it home.

 

Where's Ben? He'll have good input on this one.

 

all i can say is lol