90 Accord with no coolant

Driving my 90 Accord last week I noticed my heat wasn't working,
scratched my head, then realized in horror that the temp gauge was all
the way up, and immediately turned around, not expecting to get home
without the radiator boiling over. The Check Engine light came on, but
the car didn't stop going, and never steamed. I drove as lightly as I
could (though there were some hills involved) and somehow made it
home. The next I drove to the mechanic, who informed me that there was
no coolant in the cooling system, and that I was very lucky. But he
couldn't find a leak, so he filled it up and told me to keep a close
eye on the coolant temp and stains on the ground. So far I haven't
found any stains, and the temp is fine.

Questions, if anyone feels inclined to shed some light:
1. Is coolant prone to evaporation without a leak in the system? What
possible way could I have lost it?
2. How could I continue to drive half an hour with no coolant?
3. What are the long-term consequences of this? I have driven several
hundred miles since this incident and the car seems fine.

 

Well, I hate to say it, but if the coolant didn't leak out, then I think the
next most likely place for it to go is in to the exhaust (via a "blown" head
gasket). If it was a small leak, you might not notice.

It hasn't been much below freezing recently, so I don't think you would have
made it very far if it really didn't have any coolant, so I'm guessing that
your mech. was exaggerating a little bit. Also, I'm not sure of this, but as
I recall, the temp sensor registering HOT is a possible indication that
there was coolant flowing past it. I have heard other stories on this NG
where folks with low coolant (or a bubble in an improperly bled system) get
a temp gauge that is stuck in the COLD region, even thought the engine is
warmed up.

I guess if your engine fan was roaring away and it was near freezing, you
might have been OK.

Good luck!
Arthur

P.S. What garage do you use? Do you like them?

 

I once had a VW where coolant would leak out through the water pump axle
seal. It would leak only with the engine running and only after fully
warmed up (i.e. after the cooling system built up pressure). I never saw
a wet spot under the car, but the coolant disappeared gradually and had
to be topped of frequently. There was usually a little wet at the pump
bearing weep hole, but not enough to cause wet spots on the ground.

Replaced the pump and problem went away.

 

You *are* checking the reservoir level every day after that??

Unpressurized, i.e. leaking radiator cap, the system will eventually lose
all coolant... but that also includes *neglect*. You *must* check coolant
level regularly, just like any other fluid. If you have not been checking
the level, you could also have a slow leak in any part of the system, e.g.
the water pump.

Beats me... unless you are totally insensitive to the condition and
performance of mechanical systems.

At worst your engine is wrecked. How you avoided a blown cylinder head
gasket is a mystery... which is why you should be checking the coolant and
oil levels every day for a while.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Both were the case. Below freezing, in fact.

This was actually not my garage. I was visiting family for a week in
NJ. This all happened late at night in a very dark woodsy place over
the border in NY, hence my desire to make the risky drive back to
civilization. Not the most rational thing I ever did, but hopefully my
ignorance won't completely get the best of me this time.

 

I did this several times with several cars years
back, not as bad as yours. Car's still fine.

Simple. Almost near the red mark, cut off
motor in neutral and let engine cool off then
try again. The motor is design to go hot, hot
but not on the red-mark. Keep doing this forever.
I've driven hundreds of miles with your condition - I add
coolant every 15 minutes. It's NOT an OPTION,
You MUST carry SPARE COOLANTS, drinking
water, or whatever, ... it's your choice but DO NOT PUT
LIQUID until temp GOES TO NORMAL

Somebody better correct me before he wrecks something...

 

i have been in this situation too, the damage done to your engine will
most likely be a warped head because of the heat. what caused it in the
first place was probally, as was mentioned, a leaking head gaskit
slowly losong coolant and it eventually gets to the point where ther is
an air bubble in the system and when it makes its way to hte pump it
stops pumping coolnat. this is what happened to me lat year, i replaced
the ehad gaskit and have had no problems since

Andrew