# SMH..Started car with no oil in it, it ran for 3 - 4 seconds! Is it ok?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 5, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861 "2019-03-05T20:38:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blackintegracoupe\_149051](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@blackintegracoupe\_149051](https://community.cartalk.com/u/blackintegracoupe_149051)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/1 "2019-03-05T20:38:49Z")
Ok let me preface this by saying Ive been changing oil in cars since 2000. And evidently im an idiot! Car: 2017 civic Si mileage 8k Doing an oil change a few days ago, i drained the oil, replaced the plug and oil filter, didnt put new oil in yet. Got distracted by someone for a few minutes. Came back to the car and started it like a freaking moron! By the time I realized how much of an idiot i am and turned it off, 3 to 4 seconds had passed! So, it basically ran for 3 to 4 seconds with no oil in it. The car wasnt at operating temp as it sat all night and i didnt start it or dirve it at all before starting my oil change. So i think that makes it even worse because there was no fresh oil remaining on the bearings or internal parts. Filled the car with oil. didnt make any weird noises or have any lights come on. Ive driven it for about 150 miles since this happened and nothing seems out of the ordinary. But have i weakened the rod bearings from this few seconds of no oil? will a bearing fail eventually now when i least expect it? I feel like the biggest dumba$$ in the world. At this point im just hoping that everything is ok… i hope as i still owe 18k on the car… ---
**Author:** ![anon86613489](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@anon86613489](https://community.cartalk.com/u/anon86613489)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/2 "2019-03-05T20:42:27Z")
Oh-boy that’s bad. I’m sure You tore around 8,5 miles out of the bearings. If it only ran for 3-4 seconds, the engine is fine. Don’t worry about that. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/3 "2019-03-05T20:44:21Z")
It’s fine. Starting an engine cold takes a few seconds for the oil to build pressure and start lubricating. Tester ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/4 "2019-03-05T20:44:52Z")
Don’t sweat it man. While it’s possible that some life was sacrificed, it is minimal in the grand scheme. In all probability, you will never see any adverse effect from it aside from never forgetting it happened. I did something similar with a prized big block I built. Never had any issues with it but I still kick myself for doing it… ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/5 "2019-03-05T20:55:01Z")
if that’s all you ran it- you’re fine. in an unrelated thought- a perfectly good International 7.3L IDI will run for approx 3/4 mile without oil before it locks up. Don’t ask how I know 😉 ---
**Author:** ![blackintegracoupe\_149051](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@blackintegracoupe\_149051](https://community.cartalk.com/u/blackintegracoupe_149051)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/6 "2019-03-05T20:55:46Z")
thanks dude, i need the reassurance. i know when it comes to oil starvation, it takes such a short time for the bottom end to be \*\*\*\*ed. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/7 "2019-03-05T21:49:20Z")
You reduced engine life by about 900 miles if you had to put a figure on it. On a 300,000 miles potential life that’s about 9/300000=0.00003 or 0.003%. A cold start in winter in Minnesota combined with a jackrabbit takeoff will cause that wear many times over. ---
**Author:** ![blackintegracoupe\_149051](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@blackintegracoupe\_149051](https://community.cartalk.com/u/blackintegracoupe_149051)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 1:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/8 "2019-03-06T01:48:04Z")
thanks docnick, that gives me a lot of confidence that the engine should be ok. ---
**Author:** ![blackintegracoupe\_149051](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@blackintegracoupe\_149051](https://community.cartalk.com/u/blackintegracoupe_149051)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/9 "2019-03-06T02:02:56Z")
oh, i forgot to mention that i filled the new filter with oil a little over half way before i installed it. do you think this may have prevented any wear that was done to the bearings during that dry start? or does oil only get suck up through the oil pickup and not the filter? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/10 "2019-03-06T02:07:50Z")
The oil pump draws the oil from the oil pan and passes it thru the oil filter and pumps it thru the rest of the engine. Tester ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/11 "2019-03-06T17:59:25Z")
SMH…Started car with no oil in it, it ran for 3 - 4 seconds! Is it ok?! **Wait… What?** 🤔 Is it just me? Everybody knows what an **SMH** is except me? (shake my hand?)(seconds, minutes, hours?) If it’s not suitable for publication then just give me some clues. _ **CSA** _ 🌴🕶🌴 ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/12 "2019-03-06T18:00:36Z")
SMH = shaking my head YW! ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/13 "2019-03-06T18:05:17Z")
> [@NYBo](#): > > YW! So, everybody did know it? **I win?** (YW = You win ?) **Great!** I don’t get out much. _ **CSA** _ 🌴🕶🌴 ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/14 "2019-03-06T18:06:17Z")
YW = you’re welcome! ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/15 "2019-03-06T18:16:36Z")
TYVMAHAGD! _ **CSA** _ 🌴🕶🌴 ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/16 "2019-03-06T18:26:30Z")
Thank you very much as had a gastric disorder? ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/17 "2019-03-06T18:53:19Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > Thank you very much as had a gastric disorder? Ding, Ding, Ding! That’s it! We have a winner! **WP!** _ **CSA** _ 🌴🕶🌴 ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/18 "2019-03-06T19:02:26Z")
> [@common\_sense\_answer](#): > > TYVMAHAGD! > _ **CSA** _ > 🌴🕶🌴 “Thank you very much and have a good day!” ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/19 "2019-03-06T19:07:55Z")
> [@NYBo](#): > > “Thank you very much and have a good day!” OOOh! Sooo close… _great_ day. **Have one!** _ **CSA** _ 🌴🕶🌴 ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861/20 "2019-03-06T19:14:31Z")
> [@common\_sense\_answer](#): > > > [@Barkydog](#): > > > > Thank you very much as had a gastric disorder? > > Ding, Ding, Ding! That’s it! We have a winner! > **WP!** > > _ **CSA** _ > 🌴🕶🌴 been there, done that… [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smh-started-car-with-no-oil-in-it-it-ran-for-3-4-seconds-is-it-ok/135861.md?page=2)