Just curious on opinion out there...

Say you were doing your own oil change and had the oil drained out but not refilled yet, then you got in the car with the dongle in your pocket and instinctively started the engine WITH NO OIL! A "friend" of mine did this and is wondering if having the engine running for 2 seconds in this condition would cause any harm, particularly since oil shot out where the filter housing attaches.

thanks!

 

Two seconds? It certainly isn't a good idea, but this is so short a time, I would be extremely surprised if there was any damage whatsoever. This is basically the kind of interval the engine runs with no oil after every oil change.

- Mark

 

Only 2 seconds? Likely not bad, but it could cause damage.

 

relax your good.

 

If it was only for two seconds, you should be okay. Don't forget that, even after you drain the oil, there is still a residual film on all the internal parts. That's what lubricates the engine when you first start it up in the morning - it takes a couple of seconds for the oil pump to push oil through all the galleries.

No serious harm was done (but don't do it again!). Clean up the mess, refill the engine, and then go motoring! .

 

2 seconds, no rpm, no load, fine....just like a cold start when sitting outside with thick oil...not good, but fine.

 

two seconds isn't even long enough to warm up...there would still be enough oil coating after the drain that it surely wouldn't be able to even notice the difference...also, idle would mean the pistons wouldn't need extra lubrication....I wouldn't be worried...but I would punch your friend!

 

This sounds like something I would do. Yes, punch your 'friend'.

 

If any damage was done, you might want to teach your friend to count.
1,2, and anything beyond that doesn't matter.

 

Agreed with all the above.

While in college, I had a friend do that but he got in and drove to the store! Needless to say, he ended up buying a new engine after it locked up.

 

Years ago a neighbor of mine drained the oil from his VW in the oil change process,then came over to my house to talk to my dad. At the same time his wife walked out of the house got into the VW and backed out of the driveway heading to the store.My neighbor yelled but was unable to stop his wife so my father jumped in our car and chased down the VW she got about a mile, they put in some oil and drove the car another couple of years before selling it..

 

Well, if it's any consilation, 2 seconds is long enough to get the last bit of oil out of the system before refilling it, and
not long enough to do any more damage than a few normal startups with oil in the pan.