Running a motor without coolant?

fourwheelinj1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2011
Location
Raleigh
Is it ok to run a motor without coolant for 1 or 2 minutes? I have a parts jeep that has a bad water pump and when you fill it with coolant it spits it all back out instantly. I will be pulling the motor in about 6 months to put in my other jeep, but in the mean time I want to crank it up every couple for weeks to keep everything free and lubed. I plan on replacing a lot of stuff on the motor when it gets installed in the new jeep so it seems like a waste to do it now. I figure if it isn't getting hot then it should be ok, but I wasn't sure if a lack of coolant would allow corrosion in the motor?
 
No, it won't hurt to run it for a minute or two, but no longer. Also your temp gauge will not be useful unless it is submerged, so don't count on it to tell you when its hot. Personally I'd pull the plugs squirt some wd40, atf or marvel mystery oil in each hole then just spin the motor a few revolutions by hand. Loosely install plugs, then repeat every few weeks.
 
It won't hurt it but like said above no more than bout a min. Make sure to put some fuel stabilizer in it if it's gonna be sittin.
 
Just pull the coil wire and spin it over....work the oil pump and such and never fire
 
Pull the fuel pump fuse/relay/unplug fuel pump and just crank it over, that way no gas gets shot in the cylinder. pulling the coil wire to do that will get gas in the cylinders. done the FP trick a bunch of times, works good. it may start for a moment the first time but it won't stay running.
 
My old Jeepster had a busted radiator that I never fixed since after I rolled it and crushed the top. I would fire it up and relocate it every once in a while, pull it onto a trailer, or just start it to make sure it would run. It had a 350 in it. I wanted to start it to keep everything working (carb, oil the motor, etc) because I wanted to fix it back up and wheel it again. Its fine if you don"t let it run too long. If it gets hot you are screwed.
 
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