Starting a car without coolant

"TurboSloth" (TheTurboSloth) 02/12/2015 at 20:54 • Filed to: None

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So, in my last post about my dad's mustang, one of the main problems is that it doesn't start (it started after the crash, but my dad started the car to see if the engine still worked (it did). When the tow truck finally came, it didn't start).

I suspect that it's because of a lack of coolant, since the radiator is barely hanging off, and because coolant was leaking from it. The engine shouldn't be KIA right? Now, if I want to start the car to move it about 200 feet, should it work if I just put some water + antifreeze, just to keep it on temporarily (less than 5 mins)?

pfftballer > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 20:56

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It should run just fine without coolant until it overheats several minutes later.

TheHondaBro > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 20:57

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Blow on the engine while you're driving.

davedave1111 > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 20:58

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Engines need air, fuel, and ignition to run. They will overheat without cooling, but that's not necessary to start it briefly.

Frank Grimes > pfftballer 02/12/2015 at 20:59

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except the water pump might not be happy spinning with no lube.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 20:59

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Lack of coolant shouldn't cause a no-start. However, it's not good to run it for more than you absolutely have to, unless you want to replace the water pump (Coolant lubricates the pump in most cases).

So moving it so it can be winched onto a tow truck, 'sok. Driving to the shop, nope.

Steve in Manhattan > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 20:59

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Can you push it?

Garrett Davis > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 21:00

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Lack of coolant won't stop it from starting up.

Is it just cranking and then nothing? How long did it sit?

TurboSloth > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 02/12/2015 at 21:02

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What would you think causes a no-start? I started after the accident, but no longer starts, and the only thing I know is that there was some coolant, and no there's absolutely none left.

mazda616 > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 21:05

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Some cars have a fuel cutoff switch that can be tripped after an accident. Maybe it just now tripped for some reason.

CPT Speedbump > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 21:10

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Who needs coolant?

Boxer_4 > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 21:14

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I believe the Mustang has a fuel cutoff switch that activates when the airbags deploy. There should be a reset switch near the floor of the driver's foot well.

dogisbadob > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 21:16

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It'll start without coolant, but you'll overheat quickly. Water is ok to use in an emergency.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 21:20

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Are you getting clicking or other signs of life from the starter? If so, then I'd check the ignition system and the fuel pump. Sometimes there is a cutoff for the fuel pump that's triggered by an inertia switch.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 21:21

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what probably happened was the fuel-cut-off tripped while the airbags deployed. and the reasoning on why it started eariler was that there was probably still enough fuel left in the system for it to have a short run

TurboSloth > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 02/12/2015 at 21:21

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I'll check this when I get the car back, but my dad was able to start the car a day after the accident (airbags deployed). After that, it wouldn't start up again.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 21:23

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Then it sounds like the fuel pump is not pumping, and when he cranked it, it was running on residual fuel pressure.

Ford is notorious for the inertia switches.

Clown Shoe Pilot > TurboSloth 02/12/2015 at 21:23

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You can run it for a little while without coolant, though as others have said it might not be great for the water pump. Monster truck engines have no cooling system at all. They start them up, run the shit out of them for 60-90 sec and then shut them down and let them cool a while.

pfftballer > Frank Grimes 02/12/2015 at 21:25

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They all have metal impellers these days. They'll be fine. I remember some older boat motors had rubber ones that would overheat and be damaged but about everything these days has metal.

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 02/12/2015 at 21:48

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yup, switch a good place to start. Should be in trunk, behind side panel.