important engine question

[arson]

i've read and read about how much these engines can take, but i hope i didnt push mine past its limit. last week i was driving, pulled to a stop light, and an older rx7 revvs like he wants to race. i take it easy, not racing and pull to the next stop light. i smell coolant. he revvs again, i just look over and shake my head. i pull into a parking lot and my temp gauge is on the move. it gets past the red mark, so i shut her down. its like 1:30am. i see what i think is smoke coming out from under my hood and my heart goes into my throat. so i pop the hood, and smell the coolant-y steam, and see my prolem. the hose that connects to the top of the radiator has come off. well come to find out the plastic has broken inside the hose, so its got nothing to hold on to. i cant call anybody for a tow, so i drive her home past the red, like a 5 minute drive. have i melted or fried anything? i got a salvaged radiator the next day and problem solved, but i hope i didnt do any real damage to my internals.

 

[gixrman]

Is it still leaking coolant, or are you loosing coolant and can't see were it going? Is white smoke coming out the exhuast? Does it run like complete ass? If not then do a copression check and if everything is ok consider yourself lucky.

Change your oil too its probly cooked.

 

[Mackzero]

Yes, consider yourself lucky if she isn't messed up. I hope everything is still working well. Just fyi. Your engine temp skyrocket without coolant, I wouldn't do that again.

 

[gsxtasy]

Sounds like a good way to warp your head :thumbdown, always try to keep coolant in your motor

-aaron

 

[arson]

nope, not losing any more coolant. well, i did once but i found the problem, a small hole became a bigger one the next day. good thing i caught it before i took off no white smoke, no coolant into the cylinders. *prays to the DSM gods for watching over me* everything works pretty well, but it sounds like my lifter tick got a little louder. maybe because my oils cooked. she's gettin changed tomorrow (or this) morning. thanks guys

 

[sonicnofadz]

Don't be suprised if you warped your cylinder head. Driving without coolant is probably one of the worst things you can do to your car (besides driving without oil). I would have walked to the nearest gas station to get a can full of water and dumped it in the radiator. If it was only a 5 min drive then you should have walked! If you notice accelerated coolant consumption and there is lots of steam coming out of your exhaust then this is a sure sign that your head has been warped or your gasket is blown.

 

[arson]

i've had friends drive behind me to check my exhaust, no white smoke or steam, so im really lucky. if i see those problems in the near future, i'll know why, and while i'm at it i'll probably change some stuff under the hood since i'll have to have the head off. thanks for all of your inputs

 

[ballagsx]

seeing that you have a 13 year old dsm i would invest in a aaa card because this probably wont be the last time that you will want a tow

 

[arson]

yea thats a pretty good idea. i'll look into that. thx

 

[TSIfreek]

Yea I would have waited for the engine to cool down all the way and then fill the radiator if you could and then drive it home
As long as you are not going thew any coolant you are probably fine just keep an eye on it and the gauge next time. Shut the engine down right away if you suspect something. It was stupid to drive it home like that. Yea change the oil 10w30.

 

[arson]

yea i check the coolant every night now, and its holding. thanks for all ur help guys.