How far can an engine run without oil?
2 Answers
An engine can run for about 15 minutes without oil. Due to the high-speed operation of the car engine, the friction between the internal pistons and other metal parts generates working temperatures of 400 to 600 degrees Celsius. Without oil lubrication, the components experience dry friction and fail to cool down effectively. If the engine continues to run without oil for a few more minutes, it may suffer from issues like bearing seizure, cylinder scoring, or even cylinder explosion, leading to complete engine failure. Engine oil, also known as engine lubricant, plays crucial roles in lubrication, wear reduction, auxiliary cooling, sealing, rust prevention, and shock absorption for the engine.
I just experienced this and it was terrifying! At the time, I didn't notice the engine oil had completely leaked out. I drove for less than ten minutes before the dashboard warning lights started flashing red and smoke poured out from under the hood. After turning off the engine and checking, I found the connecting rods had fused together. The major repair cost me over 8,000 yuan. The mechanic explained that the engine relies on oil film lubrication for its dozens of rotations per second—running without oil is like stir-frying without any oil, just dry-heating. Metal grinding dry can instantly reach temperatures of thousands of degrees, causing piston rings to seize up in no time. It's important to develop the habit of checking your engine oil regularly—inspect the dipstick level every two months. Remember: driving more than five kilometers with the engine running dry basically means it's totaled. If the warning light comes on, you must stop immediately.
