Silly Question - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

jononioo · 12-20-2004, 01:14 PM

How safe is it for me to drive my car short distances (1-2miles) with little or no coolant in my s14? Ive got a bad coolant leak in my ride and its wayyy to cold for me to be outside trying to fix it. Im also sick of paying for gallons of antifreeze.

SirWarrior · 12-20-2004, 01:51 PM

no fluid at all????
not good thing.

jononioo · 12-20-2004, 02:25 PM

well, there is a little fluid, but there also is alot of air... my temp gague seldomly goes above op temp... it only goes a little above op temp when ive been driving hard, but i don't do that hardly ever, well at least in the state my car is in now.

AutoRnD · 12-20-2004, 03:23 PM

well... you can always just put water... That will hold you over for a little bit.. Just bring a couple of gallons of water...

mellojoe · 12-20-2004, 05:33 PM

I would NEVER drive any car that hit operating temperature with nothing in there. I would rather have straight water.

But, then again, you are just ASKING for trouble.

Here's what you do:
BARS STOP LEAK: Go buy a bottle of BARS STOP LEAK. Dump that into your radiator. Then top off with 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water. That will HELP, but probably not fix your problem. But, if you are going to band-aid it, then you better be prepared to pay for coolant.

PS: It may be only 1/2 a can instead of the whole thing. Read the bottle for directions.

SirWarrior · 12-20-2004, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jononioo

well, there is a little fluid, but there also is alot of air... my temp gague seldomly goes above op temp... it only goes a little above op temp when ive been driving hard, but i don't do that hardly ever, well at least in the state my car is in now.

First of all, don't trust a gauge.
I seen gauge jump from totally cool to full hot when the air is in the system.
I would get some water, pour it in and see where its leaking from.
Than either fix it yourself or go to mechanic.

PinkPanther · 12-20-2004, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellojoe

I would NEVER drive any car that hit operating temperature with nothing in there. I would rather have straight water.

But, then again, you are just ASKING for trouble.

Here's what you do:
BARS STOP LEAK: Go buy a bottle of BARS STOP LEAK. Dump that into your radiator. Then top off with 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water. That will HELP, but probably not fix your problem. But, if you are going to band-aid it, then you better be prepared to pay for coolant.

PS: It may be only 1/2 a can instead of the whole thing. Read the bottle for directions.

Don't use any kind of mechanic in a can (stop leaks) on anything on your car, they only make things worse in the long run. It will destroy your water pump and likely clog the passages in your radiator, if it isn't fucked already.

TokyoNights · 12-20-2004, 06:40 PM

He says its wayy to cold outside and you guys tell him to fill it with water?

PinkPanther · 12-20-2004, 06:43 PM

when they said water, I thought vodka, so it seemed like good advice to me.

shortandsour · 12-20-2004, 07:05 PM

ever heard of the pepper trick?? will work with out damaging your system, but you will have to get a real fix

sciamop · 12-21-2004, 08:49 AM

Bundle up and bite down. The radiator is *not* that hard to replace -- it's certainly much easier to replace than a blown engine. Wouldn't walking 1-2 miles everyday in the cold be worse than working on your car in the cold for 3 hours? Really, how cold is it in Alabama?!

-- Unbolt top two 'fingers' on radiator support
-- Unbolt fan shroud
-- Disconnect hoses
-- Disconnect e-fan
-- Wriggle it out (be careful when you put the new one in there)
-- Refill with proper amount/mixture of coolant

Todd
93 Coupe
The North Pole

PinkPanther · 12-21-2004, 09:09 AM

I'm so glad I have a heated garage.

12-20-2004, 01:14 PM	#1
jononioo Zilvia Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: ALabama Posts: 264 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Silly Question How safe is it for me to drive my car short distances (1-2miles) with little or no coolant in my s14? Ive got a bad coolant leak in my ride and its wayyy to cold for me to be outside trying to fix it. Im also sick of paying for gallons of antifreeze.

12-20-2004, 01:51 PM	#2
SirWarrior Zilvia Addict Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 762 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	no fluid at all???? not good thing. __________________ 92 FastBack - Project 98 SE - Daily Driver

12-20-2004, 03:23 PM	#4
AutoRnD Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SF BAY AREA, CA Posts: 2,601 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: AutoRnD Feedback Score: 1 reviews	well... you can always just put water... That will hold you over for a little bit.. Just bring a couple of gallons of water... __________________ www.AutoRnD.com Nardi, Enkei, Stance, AME Master Distributors for USA Check Out Our Facebook!

12-20-2004, 05:33 PM	#5
mellojoe Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: ARKANSAS Posts: 518 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I would NEVER drive any car that hit operating temperature with nothing in there. I would rather have straight water. But, then again, you are just ASKING for trouble. Here's what you do: BARS STOP LEAK: Go buy a bottle of BARS STOP LEAK. Dump that into your radiator. Then top off with 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water. That will HELP, but probably not fix your problem. But, if you are going to band-aid it, then you better be prepared to pay for coolant. PS: It may be only 1/2 a can instead of the whole thing. Read the bottle for directions. __________________

12-20-2004, 07:05 PM	#10
shortandsour Zilvia Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: stanton socali Posts: 167 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	ever heard of the pepper trick?? will work with out damaging your system, but you will have to get a real fix __________________ wanna bang gears charlie?? "Horse power sells cars, Torque wins races." -Carrol Shelby

12-20-2004, 02:25 PM	#3
jononioo Zilvia Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: ALabama Posts: 264 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	well, there is a little fluid, but there also is alot of air... my temp gague seldomly goes above op temp... it only goes a little above op temp when ive been driving hard, but i don't do that hardly ever, well at least in the state my car is in now.

12-20-2004, 06:40 PM	#8
TokyoNights Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: garage Age: 42 Posts: 1,215 Trader Rating: (2) Rides Gallery: TokyoNights Feedback Score: 2 reviews	He says its wayy to cold outside and you guys tell him to fill it with water?

12-20-2004, 06:43 PM	#9
PinkPanther Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Johnston City, IL Age: 38 Posts: 372 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	when they said water, I thought vodka, so it seemed like good advice to me.

12-21-2004, 08:49 AM	#11
sciamop Zilvia Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NY Posts: 217 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Bundle up and bite down. The radiator is not that hard to replace -- it's certainly much easier to replace than a blown engine. Wouldn't walking 1-2 miles everyday in the cold be worse than working on your car in the cold for 3 hours? Really, how cold is it in Alabama?! -- Unbolt top two 'fingers' on radiator support -- Unbolt fan shroud -- Disconnect hoses -- Disconnect e-fan -- Wriggle it out (be careful when you put the new one in there) -- Refill with proper amount/mixture of coolant Todd 93 Coupe The North Pole

12-21-2004, 09:09 AM	#12
PinkPanther Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Johnston City, IL Age: 38 Posts: 372 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	I'm so glad I have a heated garage.