running engine without water.

[aussie john]

While repairing my damaged griff I have been running the engine for about 15 seconds to move it out of the garage to work on it. I dont have a radiator fitted as I am still doing body repairs in the front, is it ok doing this or am I causing problems? help, John

[richb]

Personally I'd more worried about the fact that you only run it for 15 seconds which doesn't allow the oil pressure to build up than the fact that there's no water in it. I know if it were miune I wouldn't do it. Can't you roll it out? Rich...

[GreenV8S]

You can run the engine for a couple of minutes from cold before heat becomes an issue, as long as you keep the power down. If you only do it occasionally I don't see any problem. If you do often, it can be quite bad for the engine as cold running will build up acids inside the engine and exhaust.

If it is literally just for 15 seconds to move the car, see if you can just push it by hand. If the ground is firm it will roll easily on level ground. Rolling up slopes etc is harder but can be done single-handed if you use the right technique.

[aussie john]

Thanks Rich and Peter for your help, the oil pressure comes up in a second but I will move the griff to a garage where I can work on it without starting it until I put a radiator in, thanks again guys, John

[apache]

I drove my Griff through a deep puddle, it sucked in 5 lts of water and stopped, so I guess it depends where you put the water

[tvr4ever]

apache said:

I drove my Griff through a deep puddle, it sucked in 5 lts of water and stopped, so I guess it depends where you put the water

I'm not even going to ask....

[rev-erend]

I used to do that with a race car I was making : cortina mk1 with a rover V8 .. had not got round to the plumbing.. but ran the engine for short periods..

It eventually put the piston thru the side of the engine.. so I would not recommend it..