Engine runs better without coolant

[Tess00]

Hi,

The car has been running without coolant for over 14,000 miles. The radiator and overflow tank were both completely empty when I purchased the car. I added 50/50 coolant recently and the engine is now overheating. This is a really mind boggling, almost impossible thing but it is what is going on... Did anybody ever hear about something like this and has any idea what is going on?

 

[FIND]

The reason it is overheating with coolant in it is because there is enough coolant to reach the Engine Coolant Temp Sensor (ECT). Without coolant, it was overheating even worse, you just didn't know about it.

You need to replace your thermostat, and flush your radiator and cooling system.

 

[2000StreetRod]

glowing engine

Many years ago I helped my parents move from northern California to northern Oregon. I pulled a trailer with my V8 powered 1956 Olds hardtop. My dad and I were worried about my engine overheating in the mountains so we drove at night when it was cooler. I watched the engine temperature gauge and was pleased to see it drop after a while but noticed there was no heat from the heater. Suddenly there was so much detonation that the engine could not maintain any speed. I coasted to a stop, pulled off the road and opened the hood. The engine was so hot it actually glowed in the dark. All of the paint on the block had blistered off and the boots on the spark plugs were melted. My dad and I realized that the radiator header had separated from the core and all of the coolant had escaped. My dad used his truck to tow my Olds with the trailer to a nearby roadside park and we went to sleep. Early the next morning after the engine had cooled I cranked it and it started right up. I shut it off immediately and we pulled the radiator and took it to the nearest town to get soldered back together. Reinstalled the radiator, added coolant, and I pulled the trailer the rest of the 200 miles north with no problems. I kept and drove the Olds for another 3 years with no problems and then sold it when I went into the Air Force. Trust me when I say that modern engines cannot take that much abuse. You need to follow FIND's advice and get your cooling system fixed but it may be too late for your engine.

 

[FIND]

Jeez, I don't know how I missed that you said you have been driving it without coolant at all! Let's hope there was actually some in there, and that it just wasn't high enough to see in the overflow or something, or that you were just mistaken about it being empty... Otherwise, I'd be amazed it is still running.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

Hi,

The car has been running without coolant for over 14,000 miles. The radiator and overflow tank were both completely empty when I purchased the car. I added 50/50 coolant recently and the engine is now overheating. This is a really mind boggling, almost impossible thing but it is what is going on... Did anybody ever hear about something like this and has any idea what is going on?

Dude, what? There is no way. it had to of had some coolant, And engine can only run so long with out overheating, and seizing up. I know SBC can go for quite a long time without coolant, but in most cases that was in a Derby. I have also heard of air cooling an engine with a leaf blower, but that is dangerous if there is a fire. Regardless, there is just no way, I am not saying I don't believe you, BUT it is impossible, I guess unless you drive one mile, turn off the truck, let it cool, then drive another mile, and repeat 14,000 times... BTW the Coolant Temperature Sensor HAS TO be submerged in coolant to get an accurate reading. other wise It will just tell you that it is fine, The reason it is over heating now, is because it is actually reading the temperature of the engine when submerged in coolant.