Can I crank the engine w/o any transmission fluid?

[dbritt]

The car will not be put into gear. I just want to turn it on to see if this new part I put in leaks. I need to know if it is safe for me to turn the car on with no tranny fluid in it at all.

TIA.

 

[sphillips91]

Well get a 2nd opinion here but I would think if youre not driving the car or actually using the tranny there shouldnt be a problem.

 

[xcelr8n]

yes, you can.

 

[dbritt]

Thanks, I tried it and it works great!

Now just gotta change that axle and add some fluid and I'll be on the road again! ::knock on wood::

 

[boostedinaz]

I wouldn't do it for an overly long period of time, but to just check for leaks you will be fine.

Michael

 

[98RedGs]

I wouldn't do it for an overly long period of time, but to just check for leaks you will be fine.

Michael

Right-O!
I was wondering the same thing a couple days ago and tried it...
Did fine.

 

[Defiant]

Yikes, I'd say no in a constant-mesh gearbox. The layshaft is still being spun, even in neutral. At least dump some motor oil in there.

 

[xcelr8n]

ya but defiant, theres always some oil in there no matter what right?
I knwo someone who blew a huge leak in there tranny, and ran it for a while empty without knowing. ( a while as in a couple hours) he ran it pretty hard and normal. and It didnt ruin the transmission.

 

[Defiant]

I don't like the idea. It's just not that tough to dump some lube in there. I wouldn't trust the residual to be enough to give sufficient protection.

 

[midnght]

Everyone/Defiant are correct..

It is constantly moving even if you have it in neutral. Yet, if you are *JUST* checking for leaks and are not moving it or driving it then you should be ok. Because as stated, if you have drained the fluid and are checking something you should be fine. Now if you just got your rebuilt tranny back from TRE or SHEP I would NOT do it. Yes, there is probly some prelube inside with the new parts and such, but nothing to the extent of a tranny that has just had its fluid removed 5-6 hours before the restart attempt.

I would not suggest anyone do it. But to each his own.

 

[boostedinaz]

He could have soneone hold in the clutch that way the imput shaft wont move. I doubt that it will cause ant harm to run it for maybe two minutes that way. If he did it all the time then i could see a problem, but for a one time thing for maybe a minute or so will be fine. I drove home almost 5 miles and didnt notice I had a huge hole in the tranny. I got home and my friend called and said there was a huge puddle in the spot I was in. The car never had any problmes or made and weird noises.

Michael

 

[iisbernhard]

why would u WANT to do this in the first place?

 

[dbritt]

Well, it's a really long story that I doubt anyone wants to read through...but bottom line was that the tranny had been drained and I just wanted to make sure I didn't have any leaks coming from the hardline I just installed for coolant. It was either I could do it w/o fluid and be safe, or I had to go spend $9 and end up wasting money if I had a leak. It would have been a waste because I had to put an axel in also, but it hadn't come in. The reason the tranny was drained was because I DID have the axel but it ended up being the wrong one and had to ship it back.