I need to go to my friend's house to do some work on my car, but my downstairs neighbor hates my car, and he cut my Mishimoto radiator in half. Mishimoto is shipping me a new one since they cover accident damage, but it is not here yet. My question is can I drive 3 miles to my friend's house if I take the radiator and thermostat out, loop the inlet and outlet hoses on the engine and completely fill the block and heater core with water and run the heater on maximum, basically using the heater core as a radiator, obviously stopping if the engine overheats. I don't see why it won't work, but I figure I better check. I just moved to Tennessee, I can't work on the car in the parking lot at the apartment and I can't afford to have it towed to and from my friend's house. Thanks.

 

I'd say your neighbor needs to be charged with vandalism.

3 miles is not far, not even sure the engine will get to full operating temp by then if you do as you indicated. The temps outside are cooler so will take longer to warm up anyway.

The only real problem I see is not being able to purge the air from the system being you won't have a radiator. Depending on how large the air pocket will depict how troublesome it will be for you in that 3 miles.

Personally, I would just dump as much water in as you can when looping it and do the 3 miles watching the temp gauge all the way. You will most likely make it without having to stop for 15 minutes to cool down.

 

That thing will over heat quick. I do not advise.

 

He definitely needs to be charged with vandalism, but I don't have a picture of him doing it. I know that it was him though because he is the only one in this apartment complex that complains about my car and is always causing problems and being rude. When I opened the hood, he also said "ha ha I can't imagine who did this to your radiator. too bad your motor didn't blow." Who else would know about this? The police said that there is no proof that he did it. Also, I plan to pull the coolant temp sensor, start it and pour water in the hole after I fill it through the hose to get as much water in it as possible. That should in theory fill the whole system since the temp sensor is at the top of the head. Thanks for the advice.

 

How in the heck did they even GET to the radiator? Do you not have an A/C condenser, crash bar, bumper cover, lower valance?

 

Yeah, it's the head that is going to be the hardest to get water into without starting the engine.

I'm not sure how feasible it is opening up the sensor with the car running. I would think the water pump would push fluid out instead of letting you put more in. But hey if it works.... That might just do the trick to get the worst of the air out.

I do know you were talking about running with the heat on max of which I would to. If the heat blowing out the heater drops when driving and the temp gauge is still under half or at half, I would slam the temp control to cold to trap that air pocket in the heater core.

I know the car will run with a decent air pocket that affects the heater core and not over heat and the over heat comes after the air pocket is even larger. I also know the air pocket can be big enough to cause the temp gauge to rapidly come to temperature on winter days and not over heat until the pocket grows even larger.

So I know the car can still operate with a fair air pocket in it. I just don't know how large of a pocket that is and if that is larger or smaller than the pocket that will naturally be there from the head emptying of coolant from losing your radiator.

I got to watch all the symptoms as my head gasket got worse and worse over the month or so I was driving on it.

 

i think if it's really 3 miles max there you'll be fine, just make sure you follow everything you said you'd do

 

Like other members said for a short period of time (and cold engine), lets say about 1-2 minutes there wont be a problem.

if you see overheating you can stop, wait a little and here you go again.

You can use also a tube to connect coolan'ts inlet with outet, add coolant and make even more miles. (radiator by pass)

This thing with neighbor looks sad. You can try to ask your neighbor gently to pay the damage. Don't start "vendettas", let the specialist (police) handle it.

 

I don't have an AC condenser. I'm waiting until summer to fix the AC system. He cut the radiator through the lower bumper cover opening. I'll post pics once I get the radiator out.

 

Only sharing an experience and not recommending you to do so, is at your own risk.

We had lots of Russian cars here in the past.
when the thing was on the highway at plain summer, started overheating,
only way to deal was just open the heater and Windows to the max and start ventilator, God it was heat as hell, but the engine was cooled almost in the act.
You should look to add a dilation tank, or the pressure will build up and blow somewhere not intended.
You can try to use an aluminium pipe (instead the engine radiator) pipe from a hoover or any old vacuum cleaner Connect both water hoses and add at the top a bolt on flange for the factory expansion tank pipe. This way you don't need to fill the system on a running engine,
the car heater will sort of be your radiator.
if possible just in case remove the thermostat to ease the flow and avoid blow effect when the pressure builds and thermostat opens.
you will be able to fill the system trough the upper hose.

That's what I would do only:
​​​​​​If is winter cold
I am stuck 100 miles far from civilization.
and I really don't won't to fix overheated engine once I get anywhere else but to a repairshop.
​Anyway wish you good luck.

 

Some really good points there, looped, there would not be the 16 PSI release valve of the radiator cap.....

It's only 3 miles so I think I would likely pull over and shut her off just before the needle go to the normal half way mark and sit for 30 minutes in the cold before continuing.

 

OP, aren't you the same one who paid a shop to do shitty *** work, yet claim they are very knowledgeable? Yep...confirmed.

 

I saw something about using water from a hose.

All of this is a bad idea....but you should use distilled water.

Distilled though. Not mineral or drinking water.

 

if you're only going 3 miles, you should be fine, as long as its not all up hill.

 

definetvelly distilled water,
and don't hesitate when overheats,
Do it early morning, it's colder just before down.

Does anyone have knowledge how long it takes to the engine to warm up until the thermostat opens?
​​​​​​
You should not Rev above 2500 RPMs for sure.
10 minutes 3 miles, stop engine on all traffic lights.
have a break for coffee on the middle and you are there. I am wondering how cold is where you are.
Not encouraging you
but my engine reaches OT after about 7-10 miles city drive in the morning, and right now is about 5-10°C here. I certainly don't Rev above 2.5K as there is way too much traffic to do so.

 

Starting to think OP is a troll. All his posts are about him trying to do car mods for the least amount of money possible.