How long can you drive without the fan belt?

[JackT]

I have a Momo Corsa steering wheel so I have turned the guages so I can see "most" of what is on the guages. The oil pressure is very important so that guage is tilted so I can read the pressure but the wheel now hides the battery light. My car's temperature was almost to the red so I looked around the steering wheel and saw that the battery light was on. I stopped the car and the fan belt was off. I dont know how long its been off.
I replaced the belt with one in the tool kit and everything seems to be fine.
Car drives just like it did before the belt came off. How do I tell if there is any damage? Is there any reason to be concerned with head damage?

[jyl]

The head temperature will have risen faster than the temperature gauge indicates, since the gauge measures oil temp and it takes time to heat up all that oil. So if the temp gauge was nearly at the red, you probably did overheat the engine.

When this sort of question comes up, some people reply that the engine is surely damaged, but others report having similar experiences with no ill effects, so I suppose I'd simply change the oil, just out of caution, then keep driving the car and see if you notice any problems. I don't think there's anything you can do about it now anyway. Besides a new steering wheel or a bigger and relocated warning light, of course.

[herman maire]

I think you caught it just before it damaged anything. Luckily.

I would say it was pretty much cooling itself with oil, so you should be alright since you caught it before it had the chance to overheat.

[Rot 911]

You probably dodged a bullet there. In the future either relocate the battery light or do what I did and install a voltmeter in your tach gauge:

[wholberg]

Originally posted by jyl
The head temperature will have risen faster than the temperature gauge indicates, since the gauge measures oil temp and it takes time to heat up all that oil. So if the temp gauge was nearly at the red, you probably did overheat the engine.

When this sort of question comes up, some people reply that the engine is surely damaged, but others report having similar experiences with no ill effects, so I suppose I'd simply change the oil, just out of caution, then keep driving the car and see if you notice any problems. I don't think there's anything you can do about it now anyway. Besides a new steering wheel or a bigger and relocated warning light, of course.

I would change the oil and drive the car. Evidence of engine damage could be any of the following: chunks of bearing metal from the main or rod bearing in the bottom of the crankcase, an increase in oil consumption and/or smoking, a drop in operating oil pressure, severe knocking noises (from bearing damage). If you don't have any of these symptoms, your motor is probably fine.

In most cases, engines are pretty tough and can take a little overheating and not suffer any critical damage.

[defcon65]

Kurt, that's a pretty slick voltmeter - you said you installed it? Where can I get one?

[scottb]

Originally posted by Kurt V
You probably dodged a bullet there. In the future either relocate the battery light or do what I did and install a voltmeter in your tach gauge:

Very slick set-up. Where did you get it, Kurt, and what did it take to install?

[larry@oma]

an oil analysis may show evidence of engine damage or excessive wear. take a sample when you change oil and filter.several companys do oil analysis. (google search)

[masraum]

That Voltmeter is, I believe, from North Hollywood Speedometer. I believe you send your speedo to them and they send it back like that.

[ficke]

The fan belt broke on my 79 911SC, It was about 87 degrees F. air temp. I was about 15 miles from home I figured this cars has as much oil cooling as a lot of 3.0L cars have water cooling, so I drove it home at about 50 mph. The oil temp went up but not into the red. When I got home I put a fan belt on it and it has been running fine since. the car had 212,000 miles on it and never had the engine apart when the belt broke now I think the guy I sold it to says he is pushing 300,000, tough cars.

[defcon65]

Thanks, Masraum! I checked out the North Hollywood Speedo site and they have anything and everything for VDO gauges. As soon as I get a price quote, I'll be sending them my tach for the retrofit and shifting by ear till it gets back.

Joe

[real550A]

15 miles without a fanbelt? You're a bigger gambler than I!

[ThePointman]

I would say it depends on how deep your pockets are ...

[Jeff Alton]

I was going to say, you won't make it to the shop that will be rebuilding your engine...

Cheers