Ran out of coolant

Mishka · Aug 5, 2020

Ok so few days ago I found I ran out of coolant or so low I can't see any in rad. How much damage do you think was done when engine still ran fineand didn't overheat (did have a strange sound few days ago at startup that went right away after turning off and restarting)

IDIBRONCO · Aug 5, 2020

Did you top off the coolant? If so, how much did you have to add? I"d say that you probably didn't do much damage unless you had to add 5 or 6 gallons. In that case you may have damaged the engine. As long as there's coolant surrounding your temp gauge sender, your temp gauge will work. If the coolant level gets low enough that there isn't any coolant around the sender, then the gauge can read either low or higher (from steam).

Mishka · Aug 5, 2020

I'm draining and flushing the system tomorrow, I parked it till then as soon as I noticed it. My overflow tank had fluid in it and I believe my temp gauge worked as it moved normally (it's slow to get to the n location and slowly moves more towards middle as I hit the highway).

Anyway to tell if my engine got damage, like things to look for if she starts and drives normal?

Mishka · Aug 5, 2020

Also getting new radiator cap tomorrow as well

sjwelds · Aug 5, 2020

Wouldn't worry much about it. These are tough engines.

ih8minimumwage · Aug 6, 2020

You're fine. Even a gallon low and they'll run fine with no issues or damage.

rhkcommander · Aug 6, 2020

Sounds like you are ok, if rad is near full and it's just under the tubes I would think no damage at all. The cooling system pulls from the bottom so it doesn't have to be full to cool still.

MtnHaul · Aug 6, 2020

Since my coolant overflow tank leaks I've run the last couple years with a low coolant level. I just let the system spit out whatever it can't hold and haven't had a problem. Obviously not a pro move but it works.

groovemonster · Aug 6, 2020

A couple years ago I ran my truck all day more than 2 gallons low on coolant. It never overheated, and thankfully I realized there was a problem and fixed it quickly. My point is, the engine suffered no perceptible trauma . . . still going strong 2 years and 20,000 miles later! I wouldn't worry to much about it, just top it off and keep and eye on it.

Mishka · Aug 7, 2020

So I flushed her and she had nearly 5 gallons in it. Flushed it twice, added new fluid and some fresh WIX cool SCA's and new rad cap and no more rad cap leaks thankfully.

IDIBRONCO · Aug 7, 2020

You didn't hurt anything with that much coolant in there. The level was probably just below the cores in the radiator.

Ran out of coolant

Mishka

Full Access Member

IDIBRONCO

IDIBRONCO

Mishka

Full Access Member

Mishka

Full Access Member

sjwelds

Full Access Member

ih8minimumwage

Full Access Member

rhkcommander

Full Access Member

MtnHaul

Supporting Member

groovemonster

Registered User

Mishka

Full Access Member

IDIBRONCO

IDIBRONCO

Similar threads

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Members online

Share this page