Run an engine without coolant for one or two minutes?

[rv_safetyman]

Well, I have backed myself into a corner with my engine replacement project.  It is cold as the devil here and looks like it will stay that way for at least a week.  I hope to start the engine next week, but I do not want to put the new coolant in until I have run distilled water through the system for a few loops around the subdivision. 

The problem is that I have to run the distilled water, drain the system, and put the new coolant in in one day.  It is so cold here that the distilled water would freeze overnight in my unheated shop.

I would like to start the engine for a quick check of the systems and that would take less than two minutes.  I think that would have to happen before I could do the distilled water process.

I have an alternative that is possible.  I saved the old coolant and could run that, but it has turned a bit gray with the soot that got into the system.  I guess that would not do much damage for just a short run period.  I might be able to get it tested by my oil testing lab.

I have a block heater, but that would not protect the radiator.

Appreciate your comments.

Jim

[Van]

Jim, Normally I would agree with running the engine first time round with water only til determined all is well. In your situation you're right the heater won't help the radiator from freezing,I know I would not want to take the chance. Double check you lines and fill it with the good stuff, even if you do develop a leak it shouldn't turn into a gusher and give you ample time to recover most of it. That being said,hope fully things will turn out for the good and we'll see you in Az. Good luck

  IMHO Van

[bobofthenorth]

Got any friends with one of those diesel torpedo heaters?  Or a topper for a propane bottle?  Those shop heaters throw a ton of heat - you might have to get up in the middle of the night and refill the diesel tank but it might get you through a night.  You don't have to keep the whole shop warm - just the noisy end of the bus.

[luvrbus]

If it is that cold your radiator going to freeze anyway with no antifreeze while driving with the fan sucking cold air makes for a fast freeze effect.
No way would I run the engine with no water in the block or head


good luck

[rv_safetyman]

Clifford, had not thought about driving issues with just water.  I can turn my fans off, so that is probably not an issue.

I will see if I can get to my antifreeze in the snow tomorrow and take a sample in to see if I can run it. 

I guess I could just go for it with the new stuff.  I am so gun shy right now that I want to take baby steps.  Maybe, as my old boss used to say, "time to shoot the engineer and get on with it"

Jim

[HighTechRedneck]

I agree with Clifford, I would never consider running the engine dry.

If your concern about running it at first with antifreeze is to avoid any chance of contaminating the oil with antifreeze in case of such a problem, you could do the initial test with water as you were thinking, with the fans off or radiator covered.  Then assuming it passed your test run, while still warm, drain half the water and put in the antifreeze.  Start it back up and run it until the thermostats open and have mixed and circulated the coolant all through the system.

[Eagle Andy]

Hey Jim , sounds like your ready to rock and roll , I guess you have a right to be a  little gun shy , But heck with as much thought as you have put into this Motor and all the checks and rechecks you have done I would put the good stuff in and give her a run. Why take a chance now. I have built a few motors and didn't think twice about it. iam no expert FWIW . I'll keep my fingers crossed lol  spin her over and fix what ever you need to.  

[Busted Knuckle]

Hey Jim go for it! Can't be any worse than us having to use 55 gallons of fresh anti-freeze with the premixed additives in it to "flush" out the system after replacing the failed trans cooler. And then having to end up replacing the transmission afterword anyway! ( I did tell the shop I wanted to save and reuse the 55 gallons of brand new anti-freeze and the shop foreman choked and asked 55 gallons?)   BK 

yes by the way the Setra S417 runs 55 gallons of anti-freeze yr around to keep the high-tech HVAC system from freezing up and jamming the whole system even in the summer!

[TomC]

Jim-under NO circumstances are you to start a Series 60 for any period of time without coolant in it.  The cylinder liners have O rings that can easily melt or warp making the seal compromised to the point that a full overhaul would be needed.  The only engine I would feel safe to run for a very short period of time without coolant is the 71 series, since they have dry cylinder liners without O ring seals.  The best though is just never to run an engine without some sort of water or coolant in it.  Just fill with the coolant and go for it.  Coolant is relatively cheap compared to the cost of ruining an engine.  Good Luck, TomC

[rv_safetyman]

Thanks guys.  Sometimes I need a kick in the butt to get my brain engaged

Will go for the good stuff on the first try.

Jim

[RTS/Daytona]

Jim

What am I missing here - You're going to have to put antifreeze in eventually - why not put it in now for your test ?? - If your concern is Flushing the system - put a new anti-freeze filter in - put your anti freeze in - do your test - then replace the filter again in a month.

Pete RTS/Daytona

[rv_safetyman]

Hi Pete.  I can't tell you what my hangup is.  Not at all logical.  Kind of having a struggle going right now with the terrible weather, horrific fear of another major issue, and being so far behind.

The engine that would have had the bad antifreeze is long gone.  I have drained the radiator of the last drop, and nothing else has much residue in it.  Perhaps the Aqua Hot loop, but I can blow that out.

I did buy two filters and had planned to do as you suggested.

Jim

[Dreamscape]

Jim,

Hope it warms up for you guys soon. I'm thinking you sent the cold and snow our way, because it's really coming down and the snow blowing sideways!

I can't imagine what is going through your mind right now. I feel for ya!

Paul

[JohnEd]

Jim,

What Paul said.

I have worked on a Cat that had a turbo failure and ex gas got mixed into the coolant.  Analysis came back....ACIDIC COOLANT!  Do not operate.  Flush repeatedly.  But since you have drained and blown out everything completely....I won't bring that up here.   I sure would suggest that you have your coolant analyzed after you run it to AZ with the new stuff in it.

John

[buswarrior]

Am I missing something?

What coolant filters are you talking about?

The only coolant "filters" I know, aren't really filters, they are additive delivery devices.

No filtering takes place, they just make up the SCA package over time.

happy coaching!
buswarrior