How long will a car run with no oil?

[Andyjc86]

A bit of Friday boredom, we have a focus 1.6 zetec that we are weighing in on Monday. A piston ring has gone (going) so we have decided to drain the remaining oil and let her run. I recon she will last about 10 mins, my mate 45.

How long do you think?

[Mr Gear]

Andyjc86 said:

A bit of Friday boredom, we have a focus 1.6 zetec that we are weighing in on Monday. A piston ring has gone (going) so we have decided to drain the remaining oil and let her run. I recon she will last about 10 mins, my mate 45.

How long do you think?

Idling or at redline?

[Vocal Minority]

Mine got me from Shrewsbury - Northampton on a depleting sump. It pootled round Northampton a bit before dying (I was ignorant of these issues by the way!)

Hard to quantify in time as don't know when it got out. I would be amazed if it could last longer than 30 minutes totally dry

[GroundEffect]

With any sort of load, less than 30 mins. And that's giving it the benefit of the doubt.

[5lab]

some of the yank v8s (I think its the Hemis) will shut down one side of the bank so keep an engine running on no oil for something like 2 hours

[Exige S]

I once nursed a toyota tarago 800km through the outback in oz with no oil (at least no oil pressure), which was pretty exciting.

I think it depends on how you intend to run it revs/load etc.

Either way, be sure to youtube it.

[lawdevice]

A hell of a lot quicker than a Honda.

http://youtu.be/tomkUzSGGnc

[Andyjc86]

I'll hold it at about 2k rpm to speed things up slightly

[Dunclane]

About this long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h09ozzQxNw

[The Black Flash]

Can't see the youtube links at work, but 5th gear did it a couple of series ago.

[qube_TA]

20 mins if under load.

[Andyjc86]

And we're off. Sounds ok so far, not even got the pressure warning lamp on!

[anonymous-user]

5lab said:

some of the yank v8s (I think its the Hemis) will shut down one side of the bank so keep an engine running on no oil for something like 2 hours

Yup, it enables limp home if things go pear-shaped.

[Decky_Q]

well its made it 20mins so far.

Saw a similar test done with a yamaha 600 motorbike and it ran for several hours completely dry, also saw I think it was kawasaki run the ninja at full rpm(with oil though) constantly for 24hrs+ it got so hot the exhausts melted oil turned to black smoke along with quite a few other bits but it kept going without missing a beat so they kept refuelling it lol

[Andyjc86]

30 mins in and it still sounds ok. Occasional smoke, missfire, judder and general roughness but still going. Pressure warning light occasionally flicking but not actually on.

I have to say I'm surprised!

[richardxjr]

I crushed the sump bridgejumping my Lancia Beta HPE (a while ago ), made it home 60miles, was slick-50'd though.

[Dodsy]

Andyjc86 said:

30 mins in and it still sounds ok. Occasional smoke, missfire, judder and general roughness but still going. Pressure warning light occasionally flicking but not actually on.

I have to say I'm surprised!

If the pressure warning light isnt on it suggests there is still some oil in there. Maybe it was holding a fair bit in the filter and tubes ?

[J4CKO]

If there is no oil, seconds, there is a lot of residual oil in there, things are still coated but not long really.

[mat777]

As modern engine tolerances get finer, the length of time they will run without oil decreases. But why are you subjecting the car to this barbaric torture anyway? Besides, its probably worth a lot more in spares than it is weighed in

[Andyjc86]

The filter will hold a couple of hundred ml, car is still running fine. On idle the warning lamp is constantly. I have a job on now so will resume the test later/tomorrow