without oil ?

[bimma_318iS]

hey, I have a question. Suppose you break the oil pan, all of the oil drains out put you keep on driving. How long can the engine hold out? What damage will be done?

Thanks!

[strad]

Why don't you try it and report back?

Seriously, it varies. You're going to severely score (sp?) various finely machined metal surfaces, spin bearings, throw a con rod through the block, maybe even seize up the motor entirely. If the motor in question is installed in an aircraft, by all means run the hell out of it for as long as it takes to get somewhere and land the aircraft safely. If it's in a car, have it towed.

[kowalski]

were you cruising around without oil?

[sheepdog]

Bmwman91 had a crack and drive a while, but as soon as he shut the engine off, it drained out. Vacuum kept the oil in.

As for no oil... I have heard of people driving quite a ways with no oil in various cars. Sometimes 45 minutes plus. The engine was trashed at that point though.

A few seconds with no oil, especially if it just had oil in it is not a problem really. After that, hard to say. On our motors there are two fears of no oil. First is the obvious bearing problem, our motor bearings are not held in place well and could spin easily, though I have not heard of it happening with any frequency. The only reason I know is from having seen the locks compared to other engines. The other problem we have is the chain tensioner. Oil helps control the chain, if it is flapping around because you need a new tensioner or the chain s worn, low oil could trigger a failure here.

Telling you how long to expect the motor to last without damage though is next to impossible. Once that light comes on, you should shut off the engine as soon as possible.

[pwforprez]

i drove around a parking lot and left my car when i busted mine.. it didnt pour out till i turned it off now i have an ashtray.

[hoevesruperd]

there is some video on youtube of someone destroying an old M10 by draining the oil. i believe before swapping in an M42. it lasts about 45 seconds at high rpms


http://youtube.com/watch?v=I4EaI65UNyY

[gearheadE30]

Someone at school drove an old celica ST for 20 minutes from school to work after hitting a speed bump and putting a fist-sized hole in the oil pan. Got a new oil pan, and the car runs. It burns oil like crazy, though.

[1991 E30 M42]

A guy I work with took an old Toyota pick-up truck with the 22re 4 cylinder in it, drained the oil ,and put a brick on the pedal and ran the car for 30 minutes trying to blow up the engine and it wouldn't so he put oil back in it , drove it for another year, and sold it

[hoevesruperd]

A guy I work with took an old Toyota pick-up truck with the 22re 4 cylinder in it, drained the oil ,and put a brick on the pedal and ran the car for 30 minutes trying to blow up the engine and it wouldn't so he put oil back in it , drove it for another year, and sold it


hahahaha why would one do that?

[Spec 2]

A guy I work with took an old Toyota pick-up truck with the 22re 4 cylinder in it, drained the oil ,and put a brick on the pedal and ran the car for 30 minutes trying to blow up the engine and it wouldn't so he put oil back in it , drove it for another year, and sold it

Those engines are bulletproof though. :cool:

[Wizard]

I actually hit a rock in the road one day and knocked the whole corner off the pan. I drove about 25 miles when all of a sudden the oil light came on. Changed pan, filter and new oil.....This was over a year ago and all is well.
I have always used Mobil 1 since I got the car in late 2004. I can only assume that may have helped.

Dan

[swiss318is]

not using oil saves weight!! around 10kg if you add gearbox and diff...!! cool!!

[sheepdog]

not using oil saves weight!! around 10kg if you add gearbox and diff...!! cool!!

No need for coolant at that point either, remove the water pump, radiator, hoses belts, etc... After a short drive you can even remove the engine since it would be worthless too! Think of all the weight that saves!

[swiss318is]

Yeah... i did that!!i removed everything and now i am cruising around in town with my bicycle, 10kg!!with wheels and a complete transmission!! and no GASOLINE!!! i save on every corner

[bimma_318iS]

Why don't you try it and report back?

Seriously, it varies. You're going to severely score (sp?) various finely machined metal surfaces, spin bearings, throw a con rod through the block, maybe even seize up the motor entirely. If the motor in question is installed in an aircraft, by all means run the hell out of it for as long as it takes to get somewhere and land the aircraft safely. If it's in a car, have it towed.

Haha, sure.

Thanks for the info.

were you cruising around without oil?

haha, you're assuming I am a retard?

I was planning on buying a 318i vert. The lady hit the bottom pan and drove it about 30 more min. Then the light came on and she said she stopped and had it towed. She said that she thinks the engine seized but I was hoping it didn't and wanted to find out more about driving without oil and potential problems.

Bmwman91 had a crack and drive a while, but as soon as he shut the engine off, it drained out. Vacuum kept the oil in.

As for no oil... I have heard of people driving quite a ways with no oil in various cars. Sometimes 45 minutes plus. The engine was trashed at that point though.

A few seconds with no oil, especially if it just had oil in it is not a problem really. After that, hard to say. On our motors there are two fears of no oil. First is the obvious bearing problem, our motor bearings are not held in place well and could spin easily, though I have not heard of it happening with any frequency. The only reason I know is from having seen the locks compared to other engines. The other problem we have is the chain tensioner. Oil helps control the chain, if it is flapping around because you need a new tensioner or the chain s worn, low oil could trigger a failure here.

Telling you how long to expect the motor to last without damage though is next to impossible. Once that light comes on, you should shut off the engine as soon as possible.

Thanks. That was VERY informative.

there is some video on youtube of someone destroying an old M10 by draining the oil. i believe before swapping in an M42. it lasts about 45 seconds at high rpms


http://youtube.com/watch?v=I4EaI65UNyY

That made me sad for some reason. :(

not using oil saves weight!! around 10kg if you add gearbox and diff...!! cool!!

Yes, see I knew I was up to something. I am just trying to think outside the box. haha

[JHZR2]

A lot of it has to do with the oil chemistry that youve provided in the sump.

Get an oil that has good high-temp/high shear viscosity, and a good compliment of anti-friction and extreme pressure additives, and youre set.

A lower quality oil? anybody's guess.

JMH