343F!

Chris142 · Dec 11, 2006

That was the engine temp on a customers 1999 ford Exploder today. Taken at the waterpump.

No coolant left in the engine. The engine siezed 2 times while they were driving it to our shop.

It's cooked!

Why do people keep driving with smoke, steam, guages and lights telling them to stop?

Mr Nice · Dec 11, 2006

How many miles did this idiot drive ??

Do you think Redline Oil would of kept this engine alive with no coolant ?

55Test · Dec 11, 2006

I'd love to hear the person's explaination for that mess..

Steve S · Dec 11, 2006

Quote:

How many miles did this idiot drive ??

Do you think Redline Oil would of kept this engine alive with no coolant ?

no if the engine gets hot enough parts expand the wrong way and then stuff happens. Chris is your shop going to work on the engine? I have seen engines get so hot from no coolant that the valve seats fall out of aluminum heads but no problems with the lower end once the heads have been repaired.

Al · Dec 11, 2006

Quote:

Why do people keep driving with smoke, steam, guages and lights telling them to stop?

BC this country has killed Darwin. Common sense is dead. 50 years ago these people would just have died out. Also in cali you have many foreign born that really have not driven until they hit our shores.

Papa Bear · Dec 11, 2006

Hey, Chris ... what was her name ??

oilyriser · Dec 12, 2006

gas tank mentality:

Run out of gas? add more and it drives again.
out of oil? add more
out of coolant? no problem, just add more.

Drew99GT · Dec 12, 2006

Did you use an infrared temp gun Chris? Those suckers are handy little things for automotive, plumbing etc.

Hottest I've ever seen my car's oil is about 230 after stopping to get gas after highway driving in high summer temps. Coolent was about 220 at the outlet for the upper rad house.

andyd · Dec 12, 2006

hhmn, so if you let it cool down over night and it started in the morning. ................. Prolly the rings swelling in the cylinders is what was seizing. I'll bet the lower end is fine. Mebbe apples and oranges, but I once had a 36 hp VW air cooled engine that seized from over heating. Once cooled off it ran ok.

Carbonics · Dec 12, 2006

Quote:

Why do people keep driving with smoke, steam, guages and lights telling them to stop?

because marketing to these sheep is so easy, remember - it's built Ford tough.

Chris142 · Dec 12, 2006

I dunno how far HE drove it. Ya it was a dude. The bottom end sounds like marbles now. I use an infrared gun to see the temps.

This is the hottest I've seen so far. Next runner up was a Lexus @ 317........It was beyond cooked since it's alum head.

The Ford was so hot that pressing the gas with it idling in neutral caused pre-ignition. We don't do engine work so it went down the street to another shop we deal with alot.

Matt89 · Dec 12, 2006

GOTS to get there, man...

Rob Taggs · Dec 12, 2006

I may have that Ford beat. I went a total of 7 miles with zero coolant in my 1996 Dodge Neon. Barely got it into the driveway. The Neon still runs as good now as the day I got it. No smoke, and zero oil use still between changes.

JohnBrowning · Dec 12, 2006

If you are smart about it you can drive with no coolant. The trick is just to drive 1-2 miles at a time and to shut the engine off and let it cool completely between cycles. In an emergency like in the middle of death valley this is how you would limb home without killing the car or yourself. The problem is that youhave to be patient and it is a slow ride to saftey that way.

I have an uncle that goes through vechiles and engines like most people go through socks. When ever he breaks down he is always at an exit ramp with a gas station??? I am sure that hwe does not start haveing problems near one. He will drove the vechile until he is in a comfy location with steam shootingout, no oil pressure, rod knocking etc......He also does not check his oil or coolant levels between Jiffy Lube apointments. Now the problem is that he drives about 200-300 miles round trip to and from work. He drives at about 90-120 mph.He only makes to Jiffy Lube about twice a year! He usualy runs out of oil or coolant and drives it to it is about ready to drop. He has gone through more vechiles and engines then anyone I know. They are usualy GM vechiles purchased new as well. Their were only two vechiles that he could not kill and both of them were Toyota economy cars. The one went 4 years with no oil change his wife was good enough to top the oil off regularly dureing that 4 years or he probably would have killed it too!This was the vechile that I often talk about looking like it was packed with coffee grounds inside the valve cover and oil pan!

JohnBrowning · Dec 12, 2006

Oh I almost forgott, I was at the Toyota dealership picking up ultra long life coolant and some brochures on Camry's. What pulls in a Lexus with horrable smoke comeing from under the hood. Now while you could smell faint traces of burnt coolant the real problem and the large amount of smoke was from oil. The engine was so hot it was makeing a screaching noise like fingernails on a chalk board. The oil was so hot it was actualy burning inside the engine and billowing out from gasket's,seals etc....I over heard the service writer talking to a Tech and telling him that she had driven like 30-40 miles on the expressway with it like that. The coolant light was on so she was bringing it to the dealership!That right she did not check the coolant or add any water.This lexus was probably 6-7 years old at the time and was not looking that hot. That engine had an aluminum block and heads! I am sure that it was salvageable!

I too have never understood why people drive the vechile when it is obviously in distress. That is like going outside to shovel snow while you are haveing a heart attack!!! Heavn forbid they should have to use their cell phone and call someone or even walk a mile or two!

Shannow · Dec 12, 2006

Speaking of driving without coolant, some Oz Ford Falcons have a management system that will allow the vehicle to be driven (dunno how far or for how long) without coolant.

Engine management system drops fuel to cylinders as required to keep all under some sort of control.

Aldaris · Dec 12, 2006

Quote:

Speaking of driving without coolant, some Oz Ford Falcons have a management system that will allow the vehicle to be driven (dunno how far or for how long) without coolant.

Engine management system drops fuel to cylinders as required to keep all under some sort of control.

Yeah, I remember the hype behind the mid-90s Northstar Cadillacs that would let you drive without coolant for "up to 50 miles"

Chris142 · Dec 13, 2006

Quote:

Yeah, I remember the hype behind the mid-90s Northstar Cadillacs that would let you drive without coolant for "up to 50 miles"

Doesn't work. Those blow head gaskets regalary when the tiny water pump belt breaks.

JohnBrowning · Dec 13, 2006

I meant to say that I was sure that it was not salvageable.

brianl703 · Dec 13, 2006

I like the warning the Saab displays, something to the effect of:

"Hot engine."
"Make a safe stop."
"Run engine on idle."

It also displays the same sort of message if the automatic transmission temperature gets too high.

"Gearbox too hot."
"Make a safe stop."
"Open hood to cool down."

Hmm, make a safe stop..as opposed to stopping in the middle of a traffic lane?

343F!

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