So I just replaced my radiator and I forgot to put coolant back in the car and it drove it for about 20 min like that before shutting it off and letting it cool down then refilling it.
But then it was fine and didn’t overheat till it ran for about 30-40 min and then it started going up. I parked turned the car off for not even 5 min then drove about a mile or 2 back home and it wasn’t over heating
I just don’t know what it is
What makes this problem better or worse?
It’s worse when the car runs longer
How long has your 2001 Mazda Protege had this problem?
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Hello, Dave here, contributing to RepairPal and providing expert advice since 2010.
If you drove for 20 minutes without coolant it is more than enough time to cause significant engine damage internally. You may have a cracked cylinder head or breached cylinder head gasket.
It does not take very long at all for an engine temperature to get to dangerous levels without coolant being circulated.
All that said, be sure to purge any air pockets in the cooling system before guessing or diagnosing further. Air pockets can bubble over the cooling system making it look like it is overheating when it is not. It may not be "worst case scenario" - spend more time and see what happens.
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