# Rookie Mistake **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [July 26, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257 "2021-07-26T00:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Halter3692\_176387](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f19dbf/32.png) [@Halter3692\_176387](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Halter3692_176387)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/1 "2021-07-26T00:22:41Z")
Will starting my truck once for probably under 5 seconds with the oil filter out, drain plug out and oil cap off do any damage to my vehicle? The truck still had some old oil left in the engine probably around 1 qt. Don’t ask why or how I did this it was a long day and I was tired…probably should of waited to change to oil. I am just worried I did damage. I put new oil in buttoned everything up and it’s running just fine, but i am just worried. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/2 "2021-07-26T00:25:09Z")
Under 5 seconds you should be okay. ---
**Author:** ![Halter3692\_176387](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f19dbf/32.png) [@Halter3692\_176387](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Halter3692_176387)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/3 "2021-07-26T00:29:53Z")
It was probably a total of 5-7 seconds and the last quart went all over the dang place. I have done tons of oil changes on my vehicles and have never in my life done this. I am just freaking out slightly because such a rookie movie can destroy a vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 12:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/4 "2021-07-26T00:33:00Z")
I would not worry too much we all have made stupid mistakes at one time or another. ---
**Author:** ![Halter3692\_176387](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f19dbf/32.png) [@Halter3692\_176387](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Halter3692_176387)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 12:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/5 "2021-07-26T00:34:35Z")
Thank you I am a new member here and it’s seems like a lot of people are knowledgeable here. I just needed to hear from some knowledgeable people that things would be alright. I appreciate the feedback. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 12:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/6 "2021-07-26T00:38:39Z")
[Started car without oil - Maintenance/Repairs - Car Talk Community](https://community.cartalk.com/t/started-car-without-oil/109560) ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/7 "2021-07-26T00:39:29Z")
You are welcome and welcome to the forum we have people here from all walks of life with a vast store of knowledge hang around and you will see. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 1:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/8 "2021-07-26T01:27:35Z")
I can’t imagine it is a problem, especially if oil was being pressurized and thrown out. I was changing oil in the mowers at the cabin and my BIL was in a hurry to cut the grass so I handed the mower off. After cutting for a while it dawned on me I hadn’t put oil in it yet. No problem, still ran with no oil consumption for as long as we had it. It’s a secret though so don’t tell anyone. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 3:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/9 "2021-07-26T03:18:45Z")
You should be fine no longer than that event happened. Don’t worry about mistakes. Even the best mechanics have likely committed a few boneheaded errors. ---
**Author:** ![Halter3692\_176387](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f19dbf/32.png) [@Halter3692\_176387](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Halter3692_176387)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 4:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/10 "2021-07-26T04:17:45Z")
I appreciate it. Your secret is safe here my friend. ---
**Author:** ![Halter3692\_176387](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f19dbf/32.png) [@Halter3692\_176387](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Halter3692_176387)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 4:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/11 "2021-07-26T04:20:32Z")
Thank you I do believe it will be okay I am by no means a mechanic and try to only change my own oils, brakes, and other easy items and since I have never done this before and I read some scary stories on the internet and just needed some extra input. Thank you again. ---
**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 12:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rookie-mistake/178257/12 "2021-07-26T12:29:07Z")
> [@Halter3692\_176387](#): > > of 5-7 seconds 7 seconds or less is nothing to worry about.