water pump stopped
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Fredericksburg VA
water pump stopped
Somewhere driving back to work from lunch today I threw the alternator/water pump belt. About a mile from work at a stoplight I saw the temperature start to rise, and then it pegged far right. I foolishly drove it all the way to work, not realize what had happened until I got there. A ton of coolant came out along the way, and there's a nice trail of it all the way from the road. I've got a buddy that's going to take me to get a new belt and some coolant after work. Did I do any real damage by driving it that little ways? Anything else I should do/check?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Fredericksburg VA
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I realize I'm a moron. It was one of those it's just right there, I don't feel like pulling off the side of the road things. It got real hot, went past the red mark. How can I tell what kind of damage might be done? Time couldn't have been more than 5 minutes.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Others can correct me if I'm wrong, but the only serious damage from overheating is if you crack something (heads or block) or cause a head gasket leak. If you replace your belt and everything goes back to normal, then you're fine. if you end up with coolant in your oil or oil in your coolant, then you're not.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If it runs OK, at least CHANGE YOUR OIL and filter. If you don't use synthetic oil, the oil will be burnt and lose its lubricity. If you DO use synthetics, smell the oil and change if it smells "funny".
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
I had this happen to me years ago during the winter on the highway in my 68 Skylark conv. First the heat got real good, it was a cold night. Then smoke started coming up between the hood and fender. The stupid Idiot light never came on. Once I saw the smoke I pulled over immidiatly, and shut her down. Too late. It did turn over the next day but I could hear the main bearings squealing away! Had to replace the engine. The time frame was about 4-6 min. Hopefully you didn't sustain the type of damage I did. Good luck!
Glenn
Glenn
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
Others can correct me if I'm wrong, but the only serious damage from overheating is if you crack something (heads or block) or cause a head gasket leak. If you replace your belt and everything goes back to normal, then you're fine. if you end up with coolant in your oil or oil in your coolant, then you're not.
Change the oil, and look for signs of trouble. The older/looser the motor, the better the chances you got away with it.
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,452
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
i checked your profile and you say it's a '71 big block. you may get lucky as the mark IV block was a pretty heavy block whereas the later small blocks went on a serious diet that cost them some iron. that reduced iron makes them more susceptable to cracking heads.
as others have already said, check your oil. if it's not milky, you may have dodged a bullet. just keep an eye on your temperature and your water level for at least the next week.
three main damages caused by overheating is cracked heads, blown head gasket and cracked block, or worst case combination of all three. although, as someone else stated, you can also damage the bearings. no knock, no water loss, no milk in the oil and you're probably good. just do as others have said and change that oil. i'd run a quart of flush or ATF through it for 5-10 minutes first to help break down any varnish that might have cooked up from the temperature.
as others have already said, check your oil. if it's not milky, you may have dodged a bullet. just keep an eye on your temperature and your water level for at least the next week.
three main damages caused by overheating is cracked heads, blown head gasket and cracked block, or worst case combination of all three. although, as someone else stated, you can also damage the bearings. no knock, no water loss, no milk in the oil and you're probably good. just do as others have said and change that oil. i'd run a quart of flush or ATF through it for 5-10 minutes first to help break down any varnish that might have cooked up from the temperature.
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