First start with no coolant?

[ethrty]

All going to plan i will be making the first start of the M52 tomorrow. however my radiator hasnt turned up yet and i dont want to wait, so is a first start without coolant going to be okay?

i ask because i know from the past M20 idles really really rough and can just die when it has no coolant in it. (dont know why?), just wondering if the M5x is the same?

[Adrian_Visser]

It should run okay with or without coolant. Obviously it will overheat to the point of destruction in less than a minute but as for seeing if it will start or not you should be okay.

[Danny]

Just wait, wtf.

[5KWattson]

just wait, wtf.

+1

[Adrian_Visser]

Well it would be nice to know it is going to start before waiting around for a rad and wasting time. If you want to be cautious wait until you have coolant, if you can't wait you (disclaimer: unreliable internet opinion) could start it with no coolant to see if it runs, just make sure there's oil in it though eh?

[5KWattson]

I just don't like the idea cuz the water pump will have zero lube on the seals

[Adrian_Visser]

Good point, that is not something that had crossed my mind. I don't think a few seconds will hurt it though. I mean there are people who run straight water with water wetter as coolant and I can't imagine there is much lubricity to that mixture. Like I said though it's totally at the discrection of the owner of the engine to decide on how he fucks it up, not an arm chair expert on the intrawebzz such as myself. Lol.

I personally have done it before with no ill effects FWIW.

[5KWattson]

Water wetter has enough lube in it to keep them fresh n clean heck straight water might not hurt either but, OP might get over excited an R3V the shit out ofhis new 24v once it starts and with no lube 4-6k on dry seals might not be that good. but that's all speculation that he gets r3v happy when it fires off

[7pilot]

Self discipline FTW.
If you cannot wait, you will shorten the life of the waterpump.


m

[ethrty]

i know it will crank over, but i want to verify i got my wiring done right and that i get spark and fuel. with EWS installed its not *quite* as simple as normal.

its got a brand new pump so i dont want to go and fubar it and have to buy another one. R3v to the rescue again :D

I have patience but there is a 24V E30 meet i want to make it to on the 17th and i work 6 days a week so time is of the essence for getting my shit together if it doesnt run first crack

[Iain]

You can start it, so long as you take some precautions:

- fill the engine with water. Don't need radiator, just fill it up with a garden hose
- make sure it has oil
- prime it a few time on accessories (reds), then give it a few hits on the key, just cranking it once.
- give it a few cranks to make sure it starts and don't run it for more than 60 secs