Oil is a fundamental necessity for keeping an internal combustion engine running. Not only does information technology lubricate all of the moving surfaces simply also helps a petty with heat dispersion. On water-cooled engines, which are ubiquitous for modern automobiles, coolant is similarly important. And so, how long can a car run with neither of these vital fluids? Carwow finds out by draining a Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and Peugeot 206 – all of which are destined for the scrapyard already – and running them at redline until the engine can't take any more abuse.

The Focus is the first to die. The engine lasts almost 14 seconds earlier it begins to brand sputtering sounds. Past the 20-2nd mark, the powerplant is finished.

Oil Changes Are Important:

Every bit the Focus passes away to the automotive afterlife, the Peugeot starts smoking. The French model lasts a total of 47 seconds, which is over twice as long every bit the Ford.

Meanwhile, the Honda'southward engine is still banging off the rev limiter with a rock on its accelerator pedal. Later on around two minutes of this, the engine sputters and then rhythmically starts revving at around iv,000 rpm. The mill refuses to die, though.

Gallery: Cars Running Without Oil And Coolant

The host decides to endeavor to speed things along and gets backside the wheel. The engine's revs actually render to the redline, and the car gets going. The timer Finally stops at half-dozen minutes and 22 seconds. This means that the Honda's powerplant lasts roughly 19 times longer than the Ford in this test.

Then, things become silly. Simply to see what happens, Carwow fills the Borough'southward oil and coolant reservoirs with Coca-Cola and Mentos. The engine really restarts, and the car drives, although not very far.

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Chris Bruce