[LYEGUY]

Ok so I was driving home from my girlfriends house today, not more than a 15 minute drive tops. A minute or so after I left her house the low coolant symbol popped up. Didn't really think much of it, I hadn't added coolant in awhile and it was a short drive so I was gonna too ip when I got home. Well I got home and put my car on ramps so I could look for leaks. Checked all the hoses no leaks or anything so I look at the Drain Plug for the radiator.....IT WAS GONE!!! I drove my car for I don't know 12-15 minutes without coolant In it. The Oil temp gauge did go up a little quicker than normal but never got above 200 (Again it was a short drive) do I need to be worried about whether or not I may have warped my cylinder head/blew my head gasket? The dealer won't have the part till Wednesday so I can't start the car or anything until then. I was going to run out to Harbor freight to get a compression tester so I could test my head but do you think it's necessary because of how short a drive was and the fact that the oil never got over 200? The car also never whent into limp mode and the coolant warnings other than low coolant never popped up. And help would be greatly appreciated!

1. Replace drain plug
2. Fill with coolant
3. "Burp" system
4. Continue on with life

[LYEGUY]

Originally Posted by FCobra94

1. Replace drain plug
2. Fill with coolant
3. "Burp" system
4. Continue on with life

Thank you for the response. Do you think there was any permanent damage?

[LYEGUY]

This is the way I'm looking at it right now (until I get the chance to test it) On normal highway drives in the summer I normally see 220-230 oil temps and people who track there cars see upwards of 250-260 degrees. My oil temp gauge only ever got to 200. Am I crazy in assuming that nothing bad would have happened?

[335e92tx]

my old n54 began to dump coolant out less than about 10 mins and 2miles away from where I turned it off after a clamp (1 day after thermo/WP install by indy) broke. Oil temp went to 265. Water never went red. It was about 1 yr ago and its still running fine with new owner - 135K miles.

I would do an oil sample or two. Depending on age and other $ you got in it.

[LYEGUY]

Originally Posted by 335e92tx

my old n54 began to dump coolant out less than about 10 mins and 2miles away from where I turned it off after a clamp (1 day after thermo/WP install by indy) broke. Oil temp went to 265. Water never went red. It was about 1 yr ago and its still running fine with new owner - 135K miles.

This makes me feel a lot better about my situation cause my oil only got to 200 but still a bit nervous. Did you run any tests after or did it just run fine so you didn't even bother?

[335e92tx]

Originally Posted by LYEGUY

This makes me feel a lot better about my situation cause my oil only got to 200 but still a bit nervous. Did you run any tests after or did it just run fine so you didn't even bother?

Nope, started looking for a replacement. It had been using oil and I didnt want to know what the coolant dump was gonna do. The new owner has since found a loose block fitting and it doesnt use any oil according to what he said. Sounds normal on cold starts and warm.

[Louee_90]

Originally Posted by LYEGUY

Ok so I was driving home from my girlfriends house today, not more than a 15 minute drive tops. A minute or so after I left her house the low coolant symbol popped up. Didn't really think much of it, I hadn't added coolant in awhile and it was a short drive so I was gonna too ip when I got home. Well I got home and put my car on ramps so I could look for leaks. Checked all the hoses no leaks or anything so I look at the Drain Plug for the radiator.....IT WAS GONE!!! I drove my car for I don't know 12-15 minutes without coolant In it. The Oil temp gauge did go up a little quicker than normal but never got above 200 (Again it was a short drive) do I need to be worried about whether or not I may have warped my cylinder head/blew my head gasket? The dealer won't have the part till Wednesday so I can't start the car or anything until then. I was going to run out to Harbor freight to get a compression tester so I could test my head but do you think it's necessary because of how short a drive was and the fact that the oil never got over 200? The car also never whent into limp mode and the coolant warnings other than low coolant never popped up. And help would be greatly appreciated!

Originally Posted by LYEGUY

Ok so I was driving home from my girlfriends house today, not more than a 15 minute drive tops. A minute or so after I left her house the low coolant symbol popped up. Didn't really think much of it, I hadn't added coolant in awhile and it was a short drive so I was gonna too ip when I got home. Well I got home and put my car on ramps so I could look for leaks. Checked all the hoses no leaks or anything so I look at the Drain Plug for the radiator.....IT WAS GONE!!! I drove my car for I don't know 12-15 minutes without coolant In it. The Oil temp gauge did go up a little quicker than normal but never got above 200 (Again it was a short drive) do I need to be worried about whether or not I may have warped my cylinder head/blew my head gasket? The dealer won't have the part till Wednesday so I can't start the car or anything until then. I was going to run out to Harbor freight to get a compression tester so I could test my head but do you think it's necessary because of how short a drive was and the fact that the oil never got over 200? The car also never whent into limp mode and the coolant warnings other than low coolant never popped up. And help would be greatly appreciated!

I think you should be perfectly fine, i drove my car all the way home one day when my water pump gave out, and its doing perfectly fine still now push it to its limits all the time and no problems but maintainance and usual n54 issues. Since it might still bug you in the back of your head yes get a sample, or even compression test if necessary. But you should be fine

[LYEGUY]

Originally Posted by Louee_90

I think you should be perfectly fine, i drove my car all the way home one day when my water pump gave out, and its doing perfectly fine still now push it to its limits all the time and no problems but maintainance and usual n54 issues. Since it might still bug you in the back of your head yes get a sample, or even compression test if necessary. But you should be fine

How far was the drive. Might actually sleep tonight thanks to you

[Louee_90]

Originally Posted by LYEGUY

How far was the drive. Might actually sleep tonight thanks to you

It was no more than a 15 min drive. Pretty much same as you. Worst thong was my situation was since pump wasnt working i had to stop midway to cool down before I got home. And my car was still fine. I know that sounds horrible and I will definitely not do that again but my car has been fine ever since. lol!

[lukasB]

Your engine will be fine but your water pump might be toasted after that much of running dry