Before starting a new engine there are things to do prior to starting it ,prime it to circulate the oil etc. A new engine will absolutely have no water or antifreeze in it.The water jackets will be dry ! If a thermostat is installed it will not completely be open till the block reaches operating temp in most cases 180 degrees.Should the engine be first started with the radiator installed with water, by running the engine( without any thermostat) ?? Gene
I was taught to add the coolant to the radiator and let it gurgle into the engine with no thermostat. If you raise the front of the vehicle it will help with burping the system. Reinstall the thermostat with an 1/8 hole in the flap. With this system there will be plenty of coolant in the system for the start up. I always use water instead of antifreeze initially . For some reason I always have some sort of coolant leak and water is a lot easier to clean up than antifreeze. After the cam break in I change the oil, filter, and change the coolant from water to 50-50 antifreeze. Your mileage may vary.
Yes to water, thermostat yes also, you want it up to operating temp sooner rather than later, drill a small hole in the thermostat to help get air out if thats a issue.
If there's a really good reason to start an engine without coolant, I'll do it..but usually I fill it up. Water is probably a good idea if it might have leaks, but not a good idea if it will freeze up and crack because you live in Minnesota.
I start up without water to make sure it will run, then add water to check for leaks, then add antifreeze
Ouch. If you dont have water in the water jackets, you will have some severe hotspots in a matter of seconds, with no way to spread out the heat. WARP, SCRAPE, CRAAACK. Never do that to a fresh engine that hasn't seated-in the parts or broken-in yet. Iron-warping hotspots are damaging enough in a loose worn engine. p.s. the thermostat will not get the temperature info without water flowing by to tell it the message. YES, there IS some water flowing with the therm closed. WHY BE ORDINARY ?
I always fill radiator with water and no thermostat until water comes up to level of thermostat THEN install thermostat so it will open, no air lock. I never put anti freeze in until inital break in is completed, had bad leak into oil once and wiped out new engine. My error.
A surprising number of people don't run either antifreeze or a thermostat, thinking they don't need that stuff where they live. The last several weeks have been kinda rough on 'em.
You have to let it run for more than 60 seconds if you're breaking in a cam. If you are...itll have to run at least 20 minutes...drill a hole in the thermostat...or be ready to add water when the thermostat opens and the water level drops..
When I start a new engine I want water in the whole engine. I don't plan to turn it off until the camshaft is broke in. I often but not always leave the thermostat out. Pete
On a new engine I may crank it over to see if she pops and dist is in right and thats about it. hard on the water pump also running it dry, from how I was taught. And get a quick glance at the oil pressure. That would be about it.
years ago when we had real junk yards, most would start an engine laying on the floor to show you "its a goodun" no harm done
I usually have everything ready to run for the cam break- in. Thermostat included. I try to fill it with plain water and let it sit for a while, look for leaks, then check the oil to be sure no water is leaking internally. I have started them dry (with no fan belts) to be sure it will start and I haven't missed on the timing, but only for a few seconds. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
A new engine at any engine for that matter should never be run without coolant . If you have an air lock take the heater hose off the intake manifold and fill it until coolant comes out. Put the hose on and finish filling he system.
Just sprat the outside with a hose while it’s running.... Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Yeah, but aren't they designed for that? No more than a couple of minutes or so before the race is over.
yup. The point is, you can safely start an engine without coolant. How long you can safely run it...that depends.
I am not as scientific as everyone else. I fill the radiator with water on a fresh engine and light it off. I leave the cap off and have a hose handy, I run it until the cam breaks in then I slow it down let it cool a bit an shut it off. It works for me. If I had a fresh engine and needed to break the cam in ( as in flat tappet cam) I would make sure tht there was water in it, I have had to shut them down during break in before but prefer the break the came in all in one jump.
The difference being the OP asked about a new, or freshly built engine, and you're talking about a used engine in a wrecking yard. A freshly built engine may have a new cam/lifters that need to be broken in.
Hey Gene don't make me come up there. Hey Jim (@squirrel ) pick me up lets go break Gene's motor in for him. It'll be fun.
I want that new engine to be able to run for a solid 1/2 hour as a minimum. Pre-oil the crap out of it, get the distributor in the ball park (at least dropped in right...), 50-50 coolant and a thermostat. Have a couple of guys around that can think fast... then I light it off. The last was my 355 Chevy and it went off without a single hitch.
LOL when we lit my 355 off the first time it was with open headers and split a combustion chamber ( never had that happen before). We jammed a hose down the radiator and let it blow water out the header until the cam was broke in, pulled the heads while it was still hot and started drying it out. That was 21 years ago this year. Shit happens and the best thing is to just be ready for it. Sometimes you pull it off without a hitch and others you just have to improvise.