Running an engine with a garden hose

[mopar367]

Hi I rebuilt and engine and transmission and want to break them in. I just don't have a spare radiator. Would it hurt anything to run a garden hose through the engine instead. To act as a coolant. I know it would always be fresh cold water going through. What would be some pros and cons of this?

 

[tpodwdog]

do it.....youll be ok just keep the water flowing. it may not warm up to operating temp....but youre not gonna hurt anything....as long as you dont do it too long. coolant lubricates the water pump and over time it will wear. half hour or so you wont hurt it.

 

[cu440da]

To properly break in a motor, it needs to get up to operating temps.

 

[mopar367]

Ya it would be more convenient for me this way, but i was worried that it won't get hot enough to break everything in. guess I could have the hose turned down a bit lower. Ill keep a temp gauge hooked up. I am excited about the break in, ill try to take a video to post up.

 

[Dako]

How much have you spent on this motor? Is it worth that to chance causing damage during a break in run?

The potential problems I see would be slowing the water flow enough to get the engine to a proper break in temp while maintaining adequate water (no air pockets) in the rear half of the motor so as not to incurr damage. There is a reason the hoses are 1 1/2" in diameter...provide sufficient water flow to properly maintain engine temp.

I take it you plan on running the motor outside the car? Any special reason why? I broke mine in mounted in the car...no problem. If you want to run the motor outside the car, say on an engine run stand, why not use the cars radiator and mount it in front of the motor on that stand? It would be worth the effort to ensure you don't waste a motor.

Off my soap box...

 

[mopar367]

I see where you are coming from. Just that the car is already running and driving with another engine in it. I just want to make sure everything is good on the engine before swapping them out. That is why i don't use the rad, as its already in use. I may borrow a friends rad to use. for the time being. I have ran other engines before with the garden hose technique and they seemed to run really cool. Don't think overheating would be an issue. But maybe air pockets like you mentioned

 

[Jim Bob The Dancing Bear]

How about a cheap Craigslist radiator? It only needs the correct hose inlet and outlet sizes.

 

[Dako]

The radiator in your Dodge pickup could be out in about 10 minutes...

 

[rrowdy]

I've personally run engines like this in the past with no ill effects just make sure the hose go's in at the bottom so the water comes out the top. This way the block and heads are always full.

Good luck!

 

[mopar367]

Thanks for the opinions guys. Always helps me make up my mind. I think I am going to break it in with the hose then do the rest of the 500 mile break in with it in the truck.

 

[2059]

You have probably already used the hose for the initial break in, which is ok. This is the guy i bought my Hemi from. check out some of the videos here.

http://www.hemihaines.com/hemi-engine-videos.html