can I start car with no oil in trans ??

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I'm about to start the engine in one of my parts cars to see if it will be a good "loner" for the engine in my driver stepdown while its engine is out getting a rebuild.



The parts car is an automatic, so I thought I'd better check the trans oil before starting the engine, and sure enough, it was showing nothing on the dipstick, so I proceeded to add a quart or two. Well, the oil went straight out through a large dent in the pan near the drain plug, where it appears the pan had hit a rock or something way back when.



I'm wondering if I can start the car anyway, with no oil in the trans, because I'm not about to try to drive the car, just see if the engine has potential. If it runs ok, it'll just get yanked out, cleaned up, and temporarily installed in my other car.



Will I damage the trans by doing this, ( assuming its still a good one) or should I pull the pan, fix the leak, and re-install the pan with fresh oil before starting the engine ?



silverone

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    silverone wrote:
    I'm about to start the engine in one of my parts cars to see if it will be a good "loner" for the engine in my driver stepdown while its engine is out getting a rebuild.



    The parts car is an automatic, so I thought I'd better check the trans oil before starting the engine, and sure enough, it was showing nothing on the dipstick, so I proceeded to add a quart or two. Well, the oil went straight out through a large dent in the pan near the drain plug, where it appears the pan had hit a rock or something way back when.



    I'm wondering if I can start the car anyway, with no oil in the trans, because I'm not about to try to drive the car, just see if the engine has potential. If it runs ok, it'll just get yanked out, cleaned up, and temporarily installed in my other car.



    Will I damage the trans by doing this, ( assuming its still a good one) or should I pull the pan, fix the leak, and re-install the pan with fresh oil before starting the engine ?



    silverone



    If it were me, I'd rather fix the hole and fill the trans rather than have an "accident." For all you know, the linkage and/or neutral safety starter switch may be out of adjustment. You did say it was a parts car, correct? If so, starting the engine with the (seemingly empty) trans possibly in gear would not be a good idea. If for no other reason, I'd fill the trans before (more?) internal corrosion sets in.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Even though you do not plan to put the car in gear the internal components of the transmission are spinning. So its best to plug the hole and fill the tranny to make sure you still have a tranny after running the car.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Yeah, I think you're right. The previous owner may have already toasted the trans anyway, because he started the engine before I bought the car, so he could sell it on ebay with a running engine, and advertize it as reportably rebuilt as well.



    Turns out the only rebuild that it ever had was the head was painted red with a spray can, but that's a whole 'nother' story. I did hear it run before I handed over the cash, but they were choking it pretty hard with a hand over each carb, and using a 12 volt battery for the six volt system, so who knows what I've got here. After driving 1800 miles to get the car, I figured I'd better bring something home for the effort, so here it is now.



    No sense wrecking it furthur though, so I'll make sure the trans has some oil before the big test.



    Thanks for the advice Guys, I think I was just being a bit lazy, and hoping someone would talk me out of going the extra step. :-)



    silverone.
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